A year ago ...

[Isabelle2]

Hi all

Tomorrow is my birthday, not a special one, but yes it is a very special one as this time last year I was very, very ill. My OH, not used to big shows of emotion, was very sweet today when he said how happy he is today as this time last year he was so very worried about me.

I was 52 on 26 May last year and about to be put on the transplant list. Very soon I then had to be placed on the urgent/ super urgent list ( here in France) and ended up in a coma with HE. I was operated on on the 26 June so 11 months ago tomorrow and despite a fairly slow recovery at first I am very well, and have loads of energy. I do like a nap though too sometimes.

We have on here people who have just had a transplant and others waiting on the list. I hope that those on the list will be called up soon and that you will all feel as good as I do today. When I think about this time last year it’s amazing to realise I am the same person. I was so sick I couldn’t manage the stairs without a rest. I had to stop when I walked a short distance. Today I did 45 mins in the gym followed by a 45 min aqua fit session and felt great afterwards.

You may feel like sh*t today but I am sure that post op you will rediscover the delights of exercise, walking in the countryside, working in the garden. Life is wonderful now!

[hillyfields]

What a lovely post! There must have been times during your illness when you and your OH despaired that you would ever feel well again. Your transplant changed everything and it sounds like you are healthy and living life to the full again. A brush with mortality does often make us appreciate the simple things in life that are free.. Happy birthday and may your health and happiness continue. X

[Isabelle2 in reply to hillyfields]

Thx. Now all I need is a little op as I got a hernia post op. Then I won’t have to worry about lifting weights.

[Faithfull]

Thankyou for the beautiful post for all to read and give hope to people I wish you happiness and health and strength and love every day and for the yrs and yrs of birthdays x

[Hidden]

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and many more to come. Enjoy your special day and continued good health and happiness.

Laura xx

[kurtymac]

Great to hear Isabelle, really glad to hear about your success story, keep it up! I was really sick in 2016, isn't it a great feeling to be back to health or at least much better than on deaths door. Glad to hear you're doing well! Keep it up!

[Isabelle2 in reply to kurtymac]

Too right. Nice little things are so important. Glad you’re so well too.

[Donnadoo]

Well a very happy birthday to you sweetheart and I’m sure it will be one of your more special birthdays so far ☺️

Xxxx

[dizzime]

Happy birthday 🎂🎂. So happy to hear you are doing so well. Keep up all the good work and have a wonderful future together. Xx😀😀🌞

[Ginnymax]

Lovely post. Happy birthday, it's also mine today I'm 53 today x

[Isabelle2 in reply to Ginnymax]

Clearly it’s the best date in the calendar, and 65 was a great year! My brother shares my birthday but is 5 yrs older, born in 60. Happy Birthday!

[Hidden in reply to Ginnymax]

And a very happy birthday to you too xx

[Smyally]

Wishing you a very happy super birthday. You have done fantastically well and are an inspiration to many people. 😀😀😀🎂🎂🎉🎉. Thanks for making me smile 😊

[Isabelle2 in reply to Smyally]

😃😃😃

[Couch1]

Happy Birthday, Isabelle 🙆 loved your post. Thank you and look forward to hearing more.

[Isabelle2]

Thx everyone. I’m having a quiet day today as OH is working but will cook a nice evening meal - gammon. Our kids have already Skyped me. They are together this weekend in Manchester and going to a 2 day concert in Warrington. When tickets went on sale, at the end of last year, they invited me to go with them but I wasn’t convinced I would be up to it. Now I slightly regret not getting a ticket but will have a lovely relaxing day and yummy evening.

[sunnysmile in reply to Isabelle2]

Hey, I am Manchester and 15 mins from Warrington. If you had been coming, I could have said "come on down lol". I didn't even know of a concert - missed out there.

Hope the gammon was yummmmmm

G.

[Beture47]

Hi glad to here you ate doing well

I had a hernia post op

my surgeon told me to walk as fast as I could. I wore a strap around my stomach and did the walking. The hernia went.

I had my tx 2.5 years ago and I am 70

E

[Isabelle2 in reply to Beture47]

Hi I’m wearing one as well. Keeping active but still there. Hernia op though is nothing compared to what we’ve been through!

[sunnysmile in reply to Beture47]

Hi, not heard of that. I have hiatal hernia but doc and specialist want to leave it. I like to keep fit and use hand weights, do sit ups etc but coz of this hh, thought I should better tone it down. No-one has said about a belt - sounds a good idea.

G.

[31thevineyards]

Happy birthday xx

[Isabelle2 in reply to 31thevineyards]

Thx

[sunnysmile]

Hi there. OMG this site just keeps getting better. I have been on it all day after discovering it yesterday. What a fantastic post from you - to have been so very poorly last year to the way you are now. Just makes me want to cry for you. At 53, you have so many years to look forward to. You were obviously in a really bad way and to hear you now is fantastic.

So glad you posted this - this is what Forums are about - giving strength and inspiration whilst we are in the midst of a mindblowing awful and horrible addiction that is threatening to take us to another level that we don't want to go to. Thank you so much.

Keep enjoying the life you so deserve

G.

p.s. Hope you birthday was fab