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can't believe it's been 7 months

Training for this half marathon is killin my can. I ran 7 miles! The longest ever. My endurance is getting better though I can feel it. When I am running my muscles aren't telling me to stop anymore and I am breathing much better too. I love that now I can continue to keep challenging my body. Yes, I know this might sound silly, but I love the feel of sore, tired muscles. So on Wednesday I had an appointment with the doctors and this time they just took my blood. So happy that they don't have to go through my neck for my biopsy. Just a test called Alomap. My blood work showed that my white blood cells are low. This means that my immune system is really, really low. No bueno. Some of the side effects of low white blood cells (WBC) are fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and recurrent of infections that are difficult to treat. I am very used too the first 3 and I am feeling a wee bit fatigue, but all is good. My doctors decided to lower my cellcept to 2 pills in the morning and evening. This is one of my anti-rejections drugs that depresses my immune system. My Alomap score came back at 31 which is good. I have to get my blood re-check on Wednesday to check WBCs.

Thursday the 15th was a special day. Happy day to my ticker and I for no rejection for 7 months!! Nothing fun planned until my mom got a call from Becky saying she had 2 tickets so Steve and I went to the Real Salt Lake game the day before. I was tired though, because after work I went on a 5 mile run that I did not want to go on and right after I got home Steve said hurry hop in the shower we are going to the Real Salt Lake game. I can't believe it has been 7 months since my I received the gift of life. I don't think there is a day that passes that I don't think about how blessed I am to be able to be going to work, I am able to run. There are some days that pass that I am not grateful for the ability to shower on my own, start my own laundry or walk up and down 8 flights of stairs. To me these things are amazing too, but I think it is silly that I am not grateful for these things on a day to day basis. It's the small and simple things that get us where the bigger stuff is but its important and essential to remember the small and simple things.

On October 12th, 2014 I went into surgery to receive GUS my LVAD. On October 12th, 2015 I wasn't having the best day. I had a slight headache, I was tired. Then, as I was working with my first patient I wrote down the date and realized what day it was. So very blessed for the technology and advancements in the medical field, especially the LVAD. I don't think I would have said this back in 2014, but now totally worth it! I want to thank my LVAD nurses for everything you have done for me physically and emotionally, you guys are amazing!

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