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Aric received the most precious gift in the world. He received a second chance for life. On June 23, 2007, around 5 a.m., he got THE phone call from the Methodist Hospital transplant coordinator, telling him that they had his new lungs & pancreas. So he & his fiancee, Shelby, rushed around, packing clothes & getting his tanks of oxygen put into the Jeep for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Indianapolis. They thought it may be a "test run" or their first "false call". When they arrived at the hospital they were told that the surgery was scheduled for 4-5 P.M. The nurses prepared Aric for surgery, then they waited! Aric & Shelby's family arrived. Everyone nervous & anxious. Aric sat in the bed waiting & being very patient. At 5 P.M. they told him the surgery had been put off until 6. The only thing he complained about all day long was being hungry! Naturally, he couldn't eat before surgery. THIS WAS THE REAL THING! At 7:05 they came to get him. It was a very emotional moment. We all held hands & prayed with Pastor Judy. Aric had asked her to pray for his family, that God would help us through his surgery & recovery. As they wheeled his bed to surgery we all walked with him, Shelby, holding his hand. At one time he was holding up the X-ray, looking at his old lungs & smiling. When we got to the doors, we all gave him kisses & hugs, as I turned to look back at him, he smiled at me & took a deep breath. He was telling me that it would be OK, he was going to be able to breath again.The transplant coordinator called us several times, during the 11 hour surgery, with updates. He did GREAT. Around 3:30 A.M. they came out & told us that Aric was in recovery. Aric had received his 2 new lungs & pancreas.
Shortly after we were able to visit him briefly. He was on a ventilator, but awake. They removed the ventialtor at 9 A.M. His new lungs were working, he was breathing with his new lungs. The next day he walked from his bed to his chair & sat in the chair for a while. On Tuesday he had a little set back, he was bleeding from the abdomal area. They took him to surgery & removed a blood clot & his appendix.A couple days later they were able to remove the chest drainage tubes on his right side & move him to his own room. He started moving around more, going for walks & exercising. The nurses also taught him about all the medacines he would be taking at home. They were talking about releasing him on Friday. Just 12 days after this life altering event.
I am saddened that someone lost their life, to save my Son, yet, so grateful that they loved this person so much & wanted them to live on in my Son. I will never be able to express how thankful I am.
Aric's Grandpa said " For 27 years Aric didn't have a future, then over night, he has a life to look forward to."
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