Grateful for second chance at life
IN JUNE 2010, I was diagnosed with fibrosing alveolitis, a disease of unknown cause mainly involving the gas-exchanging portions of the lungs.
After numerous tests and incorrect diagnosis, I was finally referred to a thoracic heart surgeon, who performed a bronchoscopy and then biopsy to establish what was wrong with me.
He referred me to a pulmonologist, who determined that I had a 40% lung function and there was no treatment for the illness except a lung transplant.
The disease is terminal without a transplant and rapidly debilitates a patient.
My daughter was 10 years old at that time and my husband had passed away in 2008, two years before I fell ill.
The doctor said I should take care of my affairs and make arrangements for the care of my daughter. I am a practising attorney. He said I should close my practices because my condition would become so frail that I would be unable to do anything. I was in total shock. I did become progressively more ill and continued to keep my practices open, but could not work with the same capacity as before.
I went to the office when I could, employing other attorneys to do what I did effortlessly before.
In March 2011, I went to the US to try and have a transplant because about 12 lung transplants a month take place there.
In South Africa, there is such a shortage of donors. Most patients die while on the waiting list. I became so ill in the US that I returned after two months, certain that I would not live very much longer.
From June 2011, I was completely incapacitated.
I was bedridden, started losing my sight, hearing and hair. I was a shell of my former self.
I needed assistance with everything and was so frail that I could not lift a newspaper.
I had to be carried from my bed to a wheelchair to be taken to any part of my home. I was unable to leave my home except in an ambulance to hospital and back.
I frequently fell ill and went into respiratory failure, and an ambulance would be called. I had to be stabilised and then taken to hospital.
From June 2011 up until the time of my transplant, I was on permanent oxygen.
My lung function had deteriorated so badly that I was unable to use a portable oxygen. I was placed on the transplant list in 2011.
THE TRANSPLANT
I received a double lung transplant in February 2012.
I was lying in my hospital bed and the doctor had just told me that my condition was so critical and I would have to be moved to a hospice.
My parents visited and I told my mom that God must do one of three things for me because I could not manage any more.
I was gasping for breath despite being on pure oxygen. I had lost all dignity as I was unable to do anything for myself – even the most basic things.
I said: “Jesus must heal me, give me new lungs or take me away.”
Two hours later, the doctor came to me and said there was a donor.
It was truly a miracle I was in that hospital. The surgeon was at that hospital and the donor was there. The odds of that happening are rare and I was on the list for about eight months.
I had the transplant the next day. I was in surgery for more than eight hours. I took a long while to recover and relapsed many times.
Now I am often told I had to be resuscitated and it was a touch-and-go situation – no one thought I would survive the night.
During that time my dad passed away and I had been in a coma just before his death, so I was too frail to be told.
I missed his funeral and was told a few days later.
TODAY
February marked five years since I had my transplant.
I am eternally grateful to the family of my donor, who made the choice to donate the organs of their loved one, so I could be alive today.
My donor also donated to a few others. I am so grateful to the doctors and thank God for their skill.
I marvel at the nurses and their love and compassion. I am extremely grateful to my family and friends for their love, support and prayer.
I can see my daughter grow up to a beautiful young lady and not be an orphan. I can see my nephew grow up.
I still have my practice, Dlamini Michael Incorporated, and two years ago purchased the first and oldest law practice in uMhlanga, Gavin Gow Attorneys.
I have purchased four Property.Co.Za franchises and my health continues to get stronger every day.
I would never have been able to do anything if it were not for my donor.
It was a long road. I had to learn again how to walk, how to write and all the things I took for granted previously.
I still go for bronchoscopies, dilatations and blood transfusions. I am on chronic medication for the rest of my life.
I use a wheelchair for long distances, and try and avoid infections at all costs.
These are just little inconveniences for the gift of a second chance at life. But I am alive because of a donor. I don’t take for granted the ability to just breathe on my own.
I was fortunate to attend the World Transplant Games in Malaga, Spain, in June, and that was just another example of how an organ donor can change a life.
One donor can save seven lives.
I urge everyone to register to become an organ donor. Tell your loved ones that you want to be a donor.