Harefield update as promised:

I am a tad put out. I always had this complex before my transplant that I shouldn't start thinking I was onto a winning streak as inevitably my body would step in and throw a spanner in the works (interesting mix of images there).

A year of playing it safe and my lung function has been impeccably behaved. Then I start my first ever full time job….and my lung function dips for the first ever time post transplant.

Now I know it’s not the job. How do I know? I just do. I am suspecting it has rather more to do with a certain head cold which had me snuffling all last week. But seeing as my immunosuppressant levels have also dipped a bit, I have had a change of medication doses which means….I have to go back up there on Monday morning.

If there is no improvement, then the dreaded “R” word is immediately investigated and I will need a bronchoscopy. I was less than amused when heading back out into the hospital grounds and may or may not have been sporting the face of a five year old whose ice-cream has fallen out of its cone and onto the floor.

As has happened to me before when I’ve been feeling sorry for myself, perspective introduced itself with a gentle nudge, this time by the way of a gentleman who hesitantly asked if my name was Emily. When I replied in the affirmative, he grasped my hand and informed me he was John’s father.

I had the privilege of meeting John when I was in for my last bronchoscopy. Really lovely guy, warm smile, friendly and emailed me at a later date to say thanks for popping my head round the door and we emailed back and forth a bit.

His father was gentle, dignified and kind, and informed me that I make more of a difference than I’ll ever know. How someone can have the inclination to tell someone something so warm like that at such a time is beyond me. I hope if John’s father reads this he will know what a lot that meant to me, and how I was merely humbled by his kind words.

So all of the above considered, I am absolutely fine. I need another little check up next week, but am working away merrily all this week and still loving it. If an additional appointment and some further tests is all that’s required at present I’m in a rather peachy position and intent to remember that this week.