There's a new organ in our family!!

Don't you just love that title?  Of the few people I told about how I would name this post; half thought it was as funny as I did, the other had that momentary shocked look on their face and then didn't say much at all.  I think we can all agree just where their minds went, can't we?

It is now Day 61 since transplant. In my last blog (can't believe how long it's been since I posted anything - sorry!) I talked about our meeting with the surgeon in which he voiced his surprise that we hadn't seen the lung x-rays (he actually appeared disappointed that we hadn't reviewed his work!  And to be honest, it had never even occurred to us that we should even want to!) so we made sure that we did a few days later when we saw Dr. R.  We could finally put a visual on being told that it is big, pink, and beautiful.  And yes, it truly is.  It took a couple of weeks but we got a disk of his x-rays of our very own to hold forever and admire as often as we choose. 

And of course, we want to share with you as well.  Isn't it truly beautiful?  Do you realize we are actually looking at a brand new life for Claiborne  Wilkinson?  Right there!  On that x-ray.  How wild is that?  It continues to be difficult to truly wrap our minds around the extent of this whole thing.  And we were there and participated! 

As you look at this photo (taken 3-02-2011) remember that the new lung is on the right because you are facing Clay as the x-ray was taken  (mirror effect).  See how large it is, how  it fills the entire chest space?  Just to put it a little more in perspective, the dark oval shaped spot at the bottom of the lung towards the center of his chest is actually the top of Clay's stomach! 

Looking at the "old lung" you can see how much smaller it is.  It is under half as long (top to bottom) and roughly 2/3rd the width.  I believe in one of my previous blogs I had explained that with pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) the disease is literally lifted out of a person's body when the diseased lungs are taken out.  It is a disease solely in the lungs, doesn't travel anywhere else in the body, nor does it affect any other organs.  However, since Clay received only one lung he does still have IPF in his original or "old lung" and always will. 

The other lung is left in place for several reasons; since it will not endanger the new lung leaving it in place it maintains the integrity in that side of the chest and keeps other organs in place, plus it continues to make whatever oxygen contribution it still can.  In Clay's case it can produce about 15%.  Good thing his new lung is producing 75 to 76%! 

Besides its smaller size (as IPF kills off cells those areas of the lung shrink) you'll notice that the old lung isn't quite as distinct in the x-ray,  especially on the left and lower portion.  The foggy white appearance is the fibrous areas of the lung.  Which also explain why the new lung is so much darker on the x-ray - because it's all healthy and pink and breathing like crazy!! 

We have been asked a couple of times if Clay would get another lung transplanted on the right side sometime in the future.  The answer is no.  The surgeon determines whether a recipient can maintain with one  lung or if a double lung transplant is necessary.  There are some diseases in which a double lung transplant is the only option.  However, there is never a time that someone would receive two seperate lungs from two seperate donors. 

The surgeon expresses it best when he explains that part of the responsiblity of transplant teams is to be good stewards of the priceless gifts of organs.  If he can save two people (as in Clay's case) with single lung transplants then he believes he is obligated to do so.  If Clay had absolutely needed both lungs then he would have gotten both.  But to give him both when one would save his life would be a waste of one of them.  I believe we all are aware that need far outreaches available donors. 

Clay is getting stronger all the time.  This journey continues to astound us as we move through it.  I will make sure that I don't wait as long again to bring people up to date; there is much more to share!