Making Memories, Looking Back & Wishing You A Peaceful Christmas....

I’ve had a really busy fortnight since I last wrote, I’m enjoying every minute yet feel exhausted & just don’t ever seem to sleep!!!

Hannah the ‘Hank’ came from Portsmouth to stay with Dave the week before last, we have been talking since my transplant but hadn’t had the opportunity to meet face to face yet… On the Tuesday Dave came down to Totnes & brought Hannah to meet my beautiful babies - It was the first time he had come to visit my house & it was great to be able to finally meet the crazy cow. We had a few cuppas, giggles & cuddles with the snakes & then soon as Stef came home from work we ventured down the high street as it was late night Christmas shopping. Hannah & I had a few mulled beverages & I stuffed my face with a pork bap & Thai noodles! It was a good evening!

Hannah & I with my boy Thunder

Hannah & I at Guildhall with our

forever friend pressie from Lady Lungs

The following day I had my CF clinic at Exeter, so as soon as that was over with I went round to Dave’s to see everyone again for a few hours before I travelled home. Then on Friday, Marie joined us too & we went to Trago Mills for a browse & a bite to eat. We posed for lots of photo’s & basically just took the piss!! It was a good laugh & I was sad to see Hannah leave for home the following day, but I know I’ve met a friend for life & there’s lots more good times to be had….

Lady Lungs, KimBerry & Hannah Banana

Lungs & Heart!

Awwww He's sooooo FLUFFY!!!

Yes.... Butter Wouldn't Melt....

Horsing Around - Ha Ha Ha

Harefields Angels!!!

Last night I came back from Harefield after a long day at clinic.
I had a list as long as my arm of things to ask my consultant Dr Carby which have been on my mind, a few concerns that have worried me, but unfortunately he wasn’t there at all yesterday so I won’t go into it now. Hopefully in the New Year when he returns I will be able to get some answers but until then it’ll just have to wait. The day itself went really quite well, better than I could have hoped, my lung function has now reached 2 litres, at CF clinic the week before it was 59% so its slowly increasing bit by bit ! My X-Ray was good, weight is staying low but stable at 46kg & Simone seemed really pleased with my progress. Only thing I was disappointed about was that I definitely cannot eat my salami / parma ham etc this Christmas, it’s just far too risky but very a small price to pay considering I am here & able to enjoy it with my loved ones. I am sure I can find other delicious nibbles to feed my face with… She surprised me yet again by saying I could have a further two months break - so unless I become poorly, I won’t be back for clinic until February, absolutely outstanding for only 4 & a half months post!!!

I am exhausted but deliriously happy. I can’t express how much I am enjoying my life right now, I have blips here & there but I just get on with it. I cannot describe in any shape or form to you just how grateful I am for every deep breath I take. I am 100% certain I would have not seen this Christmas if it wasn’t for the generosity of my beautiful donor & his family. Some days I wake up as if it’s all a dream, I still can’t comprehend what happened only just a few short months ago…

As we approach one of the biggest celebrations of the year, I know that this Christmas is going to be extremely difficult for a lot of families who have lost that special person. My donor’s family included. To all the special people I knew & lost, long term friends, new friends & complete inspirations - Stuart, Chappers, Geoff, Alan, Lucy, Sarah & Julie to name but a few. Not a moment will go by this Christmas where I won’t be thinking of you, you & your families, my heart goes out to you.
I will also be thinking of those who are poorly & unable to be at home this Christmas, & an extra big wish for a very special couple, who I want to get the greatest Christmas gift of all …. Kerry & Josh, just praying your call comes soon - Love you both xxx

Bloody hell…. The above just HAD to be said, wiping away the tears ….

This year will be the first Christmas since Stef & I have been together that he actually has a decent amount of time off, & what with my new precious lungys, I am really looking forward to relaxing, going with the flow & just enjoying it. He breaks up from work on Friday & we plan to get our big Christmas shop done & out the way as we have our Morrison’s voucher & saver stamps already so our food & drink has virtually been paid for!! (She says… Stef knows what Im like down the alcohol aisle, whoops)

Then our special quality time just starts here…. We have a few little Christmases’ planned, seeing families on Christmas Eve & Boxing day, but having the actual day to ourselves at home with the snake babies. Maybe go for a nice winter walk, but mainly, onesie on! Yummy food & drink & lots of cuddles & Christmassy TV!! I will be seeing some friends too but we don’t plan to go out at all, especially Christmas or New Years Eve, 1) because its just ridiculously expensive 2) I really cant stand Totnes these days! & 3) I’m still protecting the greatest gift I have ever been given, I seem to be doing something right so I certainly don’t want to jeopardise it.

Tiger Lily & Blaze Wishing You A

Merry Christmas

I proberly won’t get the chance to blog again now until the New Year so that being said, I just want to say a few things….

To my angel & his family - not a second goes by where I don’t think of you, I hope I am doing you proud, & you are being looked after up there. My thank you will never ever be enough. Here’s to you my bright star ****

To everyone that has followed by progress; family & friends included - Thank you for everything. Thank you for picking me up when I’m down, thank you for the amazing messages I receive, the good luck, kick up the ass & well wishes & supporting every move I make since I was listed at the beginning of the year & beyond….

& finally, My Stiff. I can’t imagine what you went through this year…. My thank you will never be enough to you as well as my donor. You have been my rock, my best friend, my hero. I love you mind, body & soul & promise to make you proud as long as I shall live. You have made me a better person, you have made me stronger & a pure fighter & you never fail to make me smile. I love you & our babies so much, whatever comes our way in the future I’m determined we can pull through & I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. xx

I hope everyone reading this has a Peaceful, Merry Christmas, I know it’ll be very difficult for some, but my thoughts are with you all -
I wish you the very best for 2013 & hope for better things for everyone.

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read..... 

Love Kimberley xxx

Getting Ready For Christmas !!!

Hi guys,

Just a little update to let you know what I been up to recently !!
I’ve been working really hard to stay well & germy free & look after these precious lungys, what with it being the 3^rd December we are fast approaching my favourite time of year & I so want to be well enough to be able to have one of the best Christmases’ of my life yet!!!

I decorated the living room & put our tree up on Thursday 22^nd November, some say a little too early but I say screw them! I love Christmas & making my home festive, what’s more this year I was able to do it all by myself, when this time last year I was barley able to stand up on my own for longer than 10 minutes without struggling for breathe.

My Christmas Tree!!

My tree wouldn’t be complete without a very special bauble which I had made, for my hero, my donor. A very good friend of mine is also making one for me for their family…. It’s just perfect, & when the lights are on, it lights up the little glass tree inside & you can see the special words I chose to have engraved; To My Angel, Eternally Thankful, Forever In My Heart.

My Hero's Bauble I Had Made For Them xxx

The snake babies even got into the festive spirit bless them……

Zante Helping Mummy Decorate The Tree

　
Talking of the snake babies, since my last blog, two more beautiful additions have entered our ever growing family.
Mace our special little boy who is severely underweight for his age, so we are feeding him up & taking good care with lots of cuddles in between & our big girlie, Dakota, a grown on female that is already pretty much up to breeding weight for this season if we wanted to pair her with an adult male. They are both gorgeous & settled in better than we could hope for… Still waiting on our butter royal girlie so will let you know when she arrives.

Mace - 66% Double Het Peach Ghost & TSK Axanthic

Dakota - Normal Royal Girlie

I was up at Exeter Hospital last week for a few hours as had to have a magnesium infusion as my levels had dropped quite low & I was really feeling the affect. Thankfully it gave me the boost I needed & it was great to see some nurses (more like family) on Culm again. Dave popped in & kept me company for a wee while too as the infusion takes a few hours to go through so that was really nice of him.I am back to Exeter this Wednesday for CF clinic, last one of the year I would imagine as I seem to be keeping things well for now & then up to Harefield a week on Monday - hopefully again last one of the year until sometime in January 2013 - will take some goodies for the staff as I know what they are like with Christmas & chocolate!!

Talking of Harefield, abit of great news to report as my cfer friend Neil finally got his transplant last week & is doing incredibly well, already on the ward & fighting hard to move around & recover, he still has a long journey ahead of him but hopefully without any hiccups he should be able to spend Christmas at home with his family & new lungs!! However, with this good news comes not so good news, sadly, my friend Kerry is still extremely poorly & desperately waiting for her call, she‘s getting weaker by the day & her, Josh & her family are having Christmas throughout December just in case…
I also broke my heart the day I put up my tree as my cfer friend Julie, sadly passed away after waiting 2 years & 8 months for her call that never came. I’m desperate to get more awareness out there for people to sign up to the organ donation register, if you can’t think of any new years resolutions this year that you won’t stick to, please please please, put your name down for this…. Some of us really don't know how lucky we are.

My Take A Break article came out last Thursday, I was really nervous as to how it would be portrayed & cacking my pants as I walked to our local newsagent at 6.45am to pick up my copies!! Thankfully although only a few minor mistakes, it was a really good piece & I have had so much support from friends & people in my surrounding towns after they had read it - So thank you to all who picked up a copy & even more so to those who sent me such lovely messages. Stef & I really appreciate it.

Issue 49 Front Cover - Shock!

Page 62 Double Page Spread

We’ve had a good couple of days recently helping & ‘hanging out’ with our friends Alicia & Kate from Exeter Exotics, then at the weekend we got up early Sunday & made ourselves actually do the car boot we had said we'd do for months… I was soooo pleased we did, we got there just after 7am and only stayed til 10am as we virtually sold all the stuff we took & made a fantastic profit. We were back home in the warm before I knew it, curled up under the duvet watching Christmas movies. I just love this time of year.
Other than boring mundane hospital appointments, I’ve got a few good things to look forward to in the weeks leading up to that special time, starting with tomorrow, where Dave (lady lungs) is coming down to finally meet my babies, & bringing Hannah who is staying with him for a week (Hannah had a heart transplant almost a year ago) too who I cannot wait to meet face to face after talking too her every single day for the last 4 months… After some cuddles & sweet hot cuppas we are going with Stef when he finishes work to have a nose around the Christmas market in our town & have a mulled wine/cider & hot pork bap!! Cannot wait…. Piccies of my up & coming pre Christmas antics to follow in my next blog :)

Blaze My Little Cracker Wishing You All

A Merry Christmas!

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read. xxx