The Tin Man Turns 26

Happy Birthday to me! Although today is my actual birthday the celebrations have been going on all weekend. Saturday was spent doing a little pre-birthday shopping at the mall. Vicky and I had gone to return clothes that we didn't like but a quick stop into Banana Republic proved to be quite dangerous but my wardrobe has improved because of it so all is well. In recent weeks my closet, which I cleaned out and donated a bunch of clothes to the  Vets, is beginning to look as full as it did before I cleaned it out. Our shopping plans were cut a little short because Vicky's sister was in town and her sister's cat went all exorcist o her Mom so Vicky and I had to rush home, corner to crazy kitty and put her in a carrying case so her sister could take her home. The cat got a few good bites on her Mom's leg so she had to go to the ER and get things cleaned up. She is doing well now and recovering nicely lol. There is never a dull moment in that house!


Saturday night was my party at Just Jake's in Montclair and it was so great to see a bunch of my friends and just to clear my mind for a night. A few of my friends even drove up from PA just outside Philly! Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves. I know I did! Yesterday I just relaxed and Vicky and I continued our unfinished shopping by going to Bed, Bath and Beyond which proved to be equally dangerous because I spent far too much money. I got a new garbage can for the kitchen, which I know isn't very exciting news but my Dad has named it R2D2 because he's crazy lol. Last night I went out to dinner at The Cloverleaf with my family. This birthday has a been a little hard on me since it my first one without my Mom but going to the Cloverleaf seemed appropriate because I would always go there with her and it made me feel like she was there with us.


Today I'm taking it easy. My nurse came and changed the dressing for my PICC line and I plan on not doing much of anything else for the rest of the afternoon. Tonight my friends Nicole and Danielle are taking me out to dinner and then I think there might be cake or some sort of dessert.


So all in all it's been a pretty good Birthday. Especially for one that I wasn't really looking forward to. I miss my Mom everyday and especially today but I know she is looking down on me doing everything thing to make my BIrthday Wish of getting a new heart come true as soon as possible. Also, you may have noticed the new look of the blog. I figured with the new age the blog could get a new look.


-Bryan

No News is Good News. I Guess...

Sorry I've been MIA the past couple of weeks. I haven't really had anything new to report so just take it as no news is good news. I have though, been keeping busy. Well, busy for me anyway.


Last week Vicky and I went to a taping of The Nate Burkus Show which was a lot of fun. Since I'm sitting at home most of the time I thought he may be able to give me a few tips on how to easily (and cheaply) redecorate things around the house. The show was about how to deal with major life changes which one would think I would be able to take something away from it but it was mostly about this couple who found out they were having quadruplets. A few days before they had sent an email to audience members asking if anyone had any major life changes that Nate could help with. I responded but I think my story was just a little too deep for his show. I guess I'm more of an Oprah or Dr. Oz show type of story. After the taping we headed to Midtown and met up with our friend Karen for dinner. The morning had been cold and raining but by 4:30 the sun was out and it was beautiful out so I decided I would try to walk the 20 or so blocks. It took a little over an hour with me having to stop to rest but I did much better than I thought I would.


Later in the week Vicky and I had lunch and then spent the afternoon shopping in Montclair. It was gorgeous out! It felt good to get out of the house and be in warm weather. Saturday I went out to dinner for Karen and Nicole's birthdays (Karen's is the 19th and Nicole's is on the 20th so they have a combined party). We ate at Charrito's in Weehawken so we had a great view of the "Super Moon" as it rose over NYC then headed into Hoboken to celebrate some more at The Village PourHouse. A good time was had by all.

The new logo I designed
for Hrt4Bryan.

This past week has been pretty low key. I finally got CS5 up and running on my computer so I've been playing around with that and created a logo for Hrt4Bryan. Hopefully, Hrt4Bryan will be up and running as true nonprofit soon. I was also contacted by The Gift of Life Donor Program to participate in their "Why We Dash" blog to promote their Dash for Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness (which 2 of my friends are participating in so please support them!). I will be the first participant in the series and the blog is scheduled to go live on Monday, which also coincides with my 26th birthday! 


Speaking of my birthday, I will be making a few changes here on my blog on Monday so be sure to come back and check it out. Nothing major, just some spring cleaning I guess.  I will also be recapping my birthday celebrations from the weekend. My party is Saturday night at Just Jake's  and I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends, especially the ones coming up from Pennsylvania!


I will talk you all Monday and I hope you enjoy the changes I have in store!


-Bryan

Update on my 4th Right Heart Catheterization and 6 Month Checkup

My office checkup went fine. My usual Nurse Practitioner NIcole was out sick with the flu so I saw another one who I had only spoken to over the phone a few times. She was nice but the office seemed to be in disarray and we waited quite a while to see the doctor. This made me late for my procedure which caused me to wait even longer to be brought into the Cath Lab. The staff in the Cath Lab is great. They always remember me and are so friendly.


So I guess it's good news that my right heart catheterization went fine and I wasn't admitted. But it's all how you look at it. Had my doctors seen a significant difference and admitted me, they would have kept the SWAN in my neck and I would have moved up to Status 1A while they adjusted my medication. SInce everything appeared to be OK, it was removed and I am now waiting for my heart from home, as a Status 1B. I guess I really was expecting to be admitted. I had all my bags packed and all my gadgets to keep me occupied. Two out of the last three times I had this procedure I was admitted and the one time I wasn't, the nurse told me after that she was surprised and about 80% of patients get admitted. It's safe to say I was a little bummed that I wasn't admitted since it would allow me to start to get my cluster-fuck of a life back to normal.

My next appointment is scheduled for three weeks (March 30th) instead of the usual four weeks. Apparently there is a conference and most of the doctors will be out of the office for the first 2 weeks in April. My Dad seemed annoyed with this so I will talk with my NP Nicole and see what the deal is. So in the meantime, I will do what I have been doing for the past 6 weeks and continue to wait from home. I don't really have much of a choice...