One Year On: Janyne (A Time For Reflection)

Amazing photo taken by Thomas Hawk.

A Time For Reflection

It is hard to believe it is twelve month’s since Ben’s transplant. Time has passed by so quickly.

As each day passes by, I am amazed at Ben’s tolerance and capacity to cope with what he has had to endure over the past year, let alone the previous years since he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and especially the twelve months prior to transplant.

As Peter Hopkins, the Qld Lung Transplant Physician said to both of us recently,

“Transplants aren’t easy”

and we both agreed.

Firstly, without “The Gift of Life” from his Organ Donor he definitely would not be alive today. Secondly, without the expertise of the Transplant Unit, the surgeon John Dunning and the Intensive Care Unit at Prince Charles, Ben would not have survived. One cannot realize what these people do and their dedication level. It is more than a job to them. Thank you to all those involved at The Prince Charles Hospital. I cannot say thank you enough.

Ben is really an inspiration to all of us. His ability to deal with the side of effects of all the medication and the ongoing health problems he has faced and maybe will face in the future. We take each day at a time and try to make the most of what we have.

As Ben tells me constantly, without a transplant the alternative is death.

Since we met some 29 years ago, Ben has always had his goals and dreams. Fortunately, he has been very successful at achieving many of these. His motto is – never give up and nothing is as bad as it seems!! His children have been told this on many occasions over the years. We both hope they will all remember this during their future years and will never give up.

Hopefully, the next twelve months and the immediate ongoing years brings you, Ben, a better quality of life so we can both enjoy what life has to offer, whatever that maybe.

You are always in my thoughts,

I Love You – Janyne