Happy New Year all!

What a fantastic New Year it was. We danced the night away, and it's only as I was on my way home that I realised for the first time in years... I didn't cry. It surprised me as I genuinely expected the usual tears to flow, as it has been a year and a half to say the least.

I am full of mixed emotions as tomorrow draws nearer. I didn't sleep last night, although I wasn't aware of anything being on my mind. I have been running round like a headless chicken for the last 24 hours; I think it's something to do with me trying to prove to myself that I am making the most of this amazing gift that I was given almost a year ago. I worked really hard at the gym both yesterday and today - I want to show myself how much life has changed.

Hundreds of emotions seem to be flooding through, many of which are taking me totally by surprise. The below letter is a result of some of these feelings, it's a bit strange I know, and as I say I didn't expect to miss them, but there you go, the human brain is a weird and wonderful thing...

To my old lungs…

It’s been almost a year since you and I went our separate ways. As the anniversary draws near I am finding the most unexpected feelings and emotions are welling up – ones I didn’t even know I had.

It’s almost a feeling of grief that you have gone. I mean I don’t miss your terribly naughty attention seeking antics or life-threatening stunts, but you were quite literally a part of me, and we spent 22 years together, and during that time you worked damn hard.

I guess what drove me to write this is the feeling that you never get thanked. You are always painted as the bad guys and are the sole things which were merely disposed of as soon as the opportunity arose. And yes you definitely well and truly needed replacing but you exceeded all expectations in your capabilities of getting me through things. When breathing seemed so hard as to almost be impossible you kept on going, working hard to keep me alive till I got the call for your replacement, for new lungs.

You overcame the greatest atrocities that CF brought your way – surpassed obstacles that no one thought you could. I remember more than once hearing “This is too much for even Emily to bounce back from” and fearing they might be right, but even when things got so bleak my family were rushed to my bedside in the early hours, you carried on working, out of stubbornness if nothing else. You were a part of me, went through everything with me for 22 years, cried, laughed, sung, shouted with me, and fought back against everything that CF threw your way.

Nearly a year since you became superfluous – thank you for 22 years of magnificent service.