It's me, 2 1/2 years out from a double lung transplant.

Welcome to my blog! 

My name is Sandy Ozanich and on September 30, 2005 I had a double lung transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital.

My disease  was Emphysema with an Asthma Component.  At the time of my surgery, I had only 20% lung function.  It was difficult to get through daily activities.  Simple things like taking a shower, walking up and down the stairs, cooking a meal was getting to be next to impossible.

Thanks first of all to my donor, a 29 year old man from Charleston, WV.  Our donors are our life givers and I have so much love and respect for the Donor Families without whom I would not have this new life to live. 

I also give all my thanks to the Transplant Team and other medical staff that got me through the surgery and all the nurses and therapists who worked with me with such kindness.  I could never repay those who saved my life. 

But I would like to give back in other ways.  I like to visit Transplant Patients on the floor that I recovered on.  I know the nurses, they are like family to me.  I love to visit a patient who has just had a transplant and let them know that they will not always feel like crap.  Because, you really do for a short while.  It’s hard getting used to tubes and IV’s, coughing and walking, therapy and steps.  It’s a hard thing to do, but once you do it, you realize that you can do so much more than you ever thought you could.  You are now on the life path not the death watch!

I’d love to hear from others who have had transplants or are waiting for one.

I’d love to hear from Living Donors who I hold in great regard and tell their stories.

We can discuss many things and if I don’t have an answer I will tell you because this is not the place for medical advice.  I have no medical degree and can’t offer suggestions, I can only talk as one transplant patient to another.

Blessings to you today

Sandy Ozanich