Part 4: How Am I Doing Now?

Over a week ago, I sent out 2 posts updating everybody about what’s been happening since the liver transplant giving a snapshot history of the timeline of key events. This 4th post begins to answer the 1st of 7 key questions that are in the outline of the story. Now I want to transition to the present day.

1. How am I doing now?

Great! I am so grateful to be alive. I able now able to drive, go on 1-2 mile walks without a walker or a cane. I can cook, eat meals by myself, think & remember things, and type on my laptop keyboard at an almost normal speed. Finally, I can now keep myself from falling, stand up straight, go up and down stairs, without clutching the handrail, and lift way more than 5 pounds, etc. You get the idea. I’m probably 80 to 90% back to “normal.” I did close to 30 push-ups today. A big milestone for me. In my previous life I could usually only do 35 push-ups at a time.

The main thing I still have to be careful about is standing up too quickly after being seated or lying down for any length of time. It takes a moment, about 5-10 seconds, to get up slowly and get my stability before I start moving. I can walk with almost a normal gate now without shuffling. I had a couple of unexpected falls in January and late February, but lately I’m doing much better.

I was reflecting today as I was buttoning my shirt getting ready to go out and run some errands. This time last year I was unable to even hold a soup spoon, much less be able to button my shirt. Wow! What a difference a year makes. I have always loved walking outdoors in the woods and have often been told in the past to “slow down, you’re walking too fast.” But I’m getting stronger by the month. My old stride is almost back to where I was five years ago.

My new normal now consists of having my blood tested every other week, taking anti-rejection medicine at specific times during the day, and going up to Philly for regular check-ups with my liver coordinator, Samantha, who basically gets to call all the shots for the rest of my life. You’ve heard of men who have two wives. I now have two life-partners. He He. One partner runs my medical life, and the other one oversees my personal life. Vic and I have the privilege to finally reimagine our life together with a brand-new future ahead. It’s great! Both of us are getting to do things that we had to put on hold for a long time.

In addition to my new medical routine, my new normal consists of eating healthy food, getting plenty of rest and exercise, taking naps, learning to slow down and put life on the pause button in order to reflect and meditate. This COVID-19 crisis is allowing me to have the time to connect with my family and old friends in a much deeper and more meaningful way. Also, I’m getting time to do a lot of reading and writing. More on that later come.

For Vic and me, the healing process is more than just physical healing. Both of us are learning what it means to heal on the inside as well. Returning to life in the new normal is refreshing, but it is also challenging. Every day is a new day to learn and grow in order to experience life in its intended fullness. The two of us have always had a strong and loving relationship for over for 20 years, but now we are experiencing a deeper love for each other more than ever.

We have been through a lot of trauma over the past 4-5 years and make. In my opinion, we make a good team. I am very grateful for this wonderful companion in my life. We are truly soulmates and lovers.

In my next post (# 5), I am going to attempt to describe what it was like to undergo this incredible medical procedure. What did I experience before, during, and after the transplant? It was pretty wild, to say the least.
STAY TUNED. MORE TO COME!