The ARDS Foundation - Body, Mind, & Spirit

By Pastor Ian

“BEING “1 YEAR OLD” AGAIN! “

 Today is a VERY special day in my life because today, I get to be one year old again. Not many people get to be one year old twice in their lifetimes, and I would not blame you if you said that it was impossible. ‘Not so,’ is my reply, and here is why….

One year ago to this very day, July 8th. 2003 I was terminally ill with lung disease that came as a result of having ARDS (Advanced Respiratory Distress Syndrome) in the year 2000. As you may know, ARDS attacks the lungs of its victims, and then, if this is not able to be halted, continues to damage other vital organs of the body. Well, I had survived the ARDS thing only to discover months later that I was now a victim of IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis which can result in death in 2 to 4 years from diagnosis). When I was informed of this I was given two options:

Do nothing and accept the consequences of an early death…..or
Try and be listed as a candidate for Lung Transplant.
I chose the latter and was blessed to be placed on the pre-transplant list.
That’s the bad stuff over…. ☺ so let’s celebrate……

Today I celebrated my 1 year anniversary of my lungs transplant. What a GREAT day to be one year old again. The sun is shining; the garden is in full bloom; the birds are nesting in the trees around us; I walked 2 miles this morning before breakfast and I plan to cycle 5 miles tonight after supper. My wife and I went to our favorite coffee house this morning for a treat, and to discuss how we could mark this special occasion. Food is always high up on my agenda (what’s wrong with that!!!) and I suggested that I take her out for lunch or dinner. “Nice, but not what I was thinking,” said my wife. “What about something more permanent. What about planting a tree?” “That’s it,” I said. “‘That is what I want to do.”

The next stop was the garden center where we purchased a beautiful seven foot high Flowering Almond tree. Very carefully, we brought it to our home and set about the location and planting process. When we had found exactly the right spot, the tree was planted. We said a prayer to dedicate the tree to my organ donor and his family who had given me The Gift of Life, and then gave thanks for a wonderful year. As we hugged, my wife said that this was the first of many to be planted….the beginning of a veritable forest….

Today I am one year old again and much wiser than my year would attest. Today I feel The Gift of Life in a very special way….a way that only someone in a similar situation can appreciate. I now have many friends who are transplantees, and we celebrate each other’s anniversaries because we know just how precious they are. We have a joy of living that is often impossible to put into appropriate words. We also share a feeling of ‘need to give something back’ to others who are less fortunate, and others who are walking the early steps of the Transplant journey.
As I respond through The ARDS Foundation, to a late night request for help knowing that someone’s loved one is in crisis, I try to provide feelings of hope, even when all looks dark, because there CAN be life after ARDS and we are here to attest to it.

And so, to my friends and fellow survivors in the ARDS community, I bring my best wishes and encouragement to you for the work you are doing in reaching out to others in the many ways that you do. Celebrate with me today the successes we have had; celebrate the confidence we have given to others to ‘stay the course;’ celebrate that there are people in this frantic world who really do care for others and are prepared to spend some of their precious life acting and showing it.

In the years to follow my ‘tree of life’ will bear witness to the fact that ARDS can be, and is able to be overcome.

So let’s Celebrate…. Pastor Ian

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