The Freeman assessment

Transplant

July 21, 2014

Now I have visited many a hospitals in my lifetime. But the freeman hospital is the best hospital. Some of you would heard of a man called bobby Robson who died of cancer. Cancer is very close to our family as my mother died and grandmother died and I have always said CF is chronic but cancer is worse because we grow up with this disease. We are used of bad news hospital needles and dare I say it the possibility of death. With cancer it can rip through your body and your family. I have one very close friend Ciaran Griffith and i will never forget sitting in agricultural science one morning when Ciaran came in. Now for those of you that know exxxxplooosssiiive you would now the positivity and gratitude the man possess ‘ s. He is a true gent but also the kind of person you like to be around. That morning he got word his mother was sick and his demeanor was totally different. It ripped his soul out. I felt for him that day. But what it brought home to me was that my family were going through this daily.

So bobby had set up a cancer specialist clinic in the freeman. If you ever have the chance to go to Newcastle you should see it. Amazing. They should also send our health minister over there. I know that the mater hospital is an unbelievable hospital now. With isolation and air vents etc. So we arrived in the freeman. Dad and myself. We were welcomed and then assessment started. Now here’s where it gets medical. I had 3 big problems. Weight gain, coughing of blood and number 3 was aspergillus fungus that was growing in my lungs. I was told there was a tablet to control the fungus. Blood was something i couldn’t deal with just that if I did get called my lungs would come out in bits as they were horrifically scarred. Weight was my problem and fuck did i put on them 4kgs. Power of the mind.

On the Tuesday of that week i walked with dad to the cafe and stopped halfway to cough up a cup of blood. 2 things stand out so clear on that stay. My father gave up smoking. There was about 4 patients in for assessment. One guy who wasn’t CF was told that he wasn’t accepted and basically sent home to die. Thursday I got news that they would meet and decide but was up in the air as aspergillus was not good. Thank god the lung wasn’t glued to my chest wall or i wouldn’t have been considered. On Friday a surgeon with hands like shovels rocked up so here it comes your fucked or sound. He then asks. Billy do you know what xplant surgery involves? The next answer was one of my best. Yes doctor it gives me the opportunity to live again. He then came out with a line that freaked the fuck into me. You do understand you can die on the table. I said of course I do but you can’t think of it like that. If this surgery is a success it prolongs my living. That was my final test they then knew I was physically and mentally ready for the transplant. I signed the forms and boom active transplant list.