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Here are two amazing quotes I just read:

“He [Heavenly Father] is our perfect Father. He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He knows what is best for us. He sees the end from the beginning. He wants us to act to gain needed experience:“When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence.“When He answers no, it is to prevent error.“When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth.”

Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 30

“Faith exists when absolute confidence in that which we cannot see combines with action that is in absolute conformity to the will of our Heavenly Father.”

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 82

One Week...

... from today I find out whether or not a heart and lung transplant is a possibility. The appointment was made over a month ago, but it has come so fast! I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm sure that's normal to be having opposite feelings though. I don't want my scoliosis to be the reason they can't do it, but my lung doctor thinks it will be. Only time will tell I guess.

My heart doesn't look THIS good, but you get the gist. Plus my heart is turned around.

This image is false except for one thing. I do have pulmonary hypertension, BUT I don't have two lungs. I have 1 1/3.

Unique Restaurant

A little over a month ago I went to dinner with my friends' family to Mining Camp Restaurant. It's been around for years, but I'd never heard of it; probably because it's a little drive to get there, but so worth it. Here are a few things that make this restaurant unique...

- the silverware is all tin
- there is native things all over the walls
- wooden long picnic tables so you might sit next to someone you don't know
- they bring out tons of food for everyone to dig in and share
- it has a gift shop
- location
- cool name

It was cold, wet, and rainy

For the Beauty of the Earth

I'm always amazed at the beautiful flowers that surround the Temple. I didn't have my camera with me yesterday, but I did have my phone. I'm pretty impressed with how well they turned out. Well, it's a new phone so that may be why.

Hi.lar.ious!

This makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it!

Faith

Quote from Young Single Adult Gems-- “To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to ‘ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.’ “ ‘Real intent’ means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.” Russell M. Nelson

At institute tonight the instructor said we can't have fear and faith at the same time. It's just not possible. I really like that. Lately Heavenly Father seems to be telling me to have faith and everything will be alright. I've had some pains in my leg and arms and both of my lung and heart doctors say it's nothing. I don't think it's just nothing. Obviously there's a reason why it's there; pretty frustrating. But I have to just have faith they know what their talking about. Their the educated ones, not me.

Well, I'll get off my soapbox now. Maybe someday I'll figure it out.

Approved!

Yesterday the transplant coordinator called and say I have been APPROVED by my insurance to have the heart/lung transplant!! That sure made my day! I couldn't stop smiling. The next step is to meet with the head guy of the transplant team to discuss everything. The main thing we'll talk about is can I even have the surgery- will I live through the surgery itself, my scoliosis being a big problem. So we'll see. If everything goes well then I'll start doing what's called the "transplant surgery clearance"; the testing before I get put on the list. They have to have all this information as a baseline so when I start getting worse they can compare the results from what I use to be. I think it may also determine where I get put on the list and move up at some point.

Transplant Surgery Clearance:

Heart

• Complete history and physical
• Chest X-Ray
• EKG
• Echocardiogram
• MUGA scan
• Cardiac Catheterization
• MV02 Treadmill test (stress test)
• Holter Monitor (ambulatory electrocardiography device)
• Labs and Cultures
• Skin Testing (TB, PPD, Histo and Cocci)
• CT scan of chest and abdomen
• Vascular Doppler Studies of the legs and carotids
• Dental exams
• Consultation with Transplant Social Worker and Transplant Psychologist
• Immunological studies

Lungs

• Complete history and physical
• Complete pulmonary assessment to include:
• Blood Gases at rest and during exercise
• Pulmonary function tests:
• obtained and % predicted with pre and post bronchodilator. Helium dilution lung volumes, single breath diffusion capacity, flow volume curve inspiratory expiratory
• Six-minute walk for distance
• VQ Scan
• MUGA Scan
• Chest X Ray
• EKG
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Labs
• Cultures
• Skin Tests (TB)
• CT Scan of Chest and Abdomen
• Vascular Doppler Studies of legs and carotids
• Complete Dental Exam
• Consultation with Transplant Social Worker and Transplant Psychologist Immunological studies
• Nutrition Assessment

Some of them are the same so I'm guessing I won't have to do it twice. They can just use the results for both.