MY ADVENTURE THROUGH TRANSPLANT SURGERY

It was 12:15 p.m. on 07/17/2008 when the phone rang startling me out of my fascination with whatever programming occupied the television screen. "Mr. Busby?"

"Yes this is Henry Busby" came my reply.

"This is Audrey Chapman from UMDNJ transplant team and we need you to be in our offices within the hour. We have a match for your transplant."

I was stunned into silence for a moment. I had only been officially placed on the list for two weeks. There is no way that I thought it would progress as quickly as this. "I can't make it to your office within the hour since I live over an hour from your facility."

Audrey's response was curt and aggressive. "We need you to get here as soon as possible. So how long do you think it will take you?"

"I can make it within a hour and a half with no problem."

Ms. Chapman said that would be fine and proceeded to give me the directions to where I was to report. She once again informed me of the urgency of my getting there as soon as possible. I assured her that this was of the utmost urgency to me as well and I would be there post haste. Thus began this new life that I find myself living.

I checked into University Medical Dental School of New Jersey at 02:30 p.m. on 07/17/2008. They began their battery of test as I signed my name for what seemed a thousand times confirming that I understood what was happening to me and what would happen in the coming hours.

The fun began as they began to attach needles and tubes in various places over my body. I was informed that it would be some time before the actual surgery was to take place. They informed my mate also that it would be best for her to go home and wait since the surgery would not take place until well into the night. That was nice of them but Teria was not about to leave at this point. Even with the notice that after the operation I would be out of it for at least two days. But just as I was, Teria was in it for the long haul.

The day crawled along and turned into night. At 11:10 p.m. the action began when a host of nurses converged upon my room and began the post op procedures. Within moments I was being wheeled toward the operating room.

Various nurses came by giving me updates on what I should expect from the upcoming procedure. At this point they administered drugs which slowly led me to unconsciousness. I was informed that I was under the knife for 24 hours and operated on by four different surgeons. The operation was successfully completed at 11:08, 07/18/2008.

Recovery time in the hospital lasted nine days. I will be honest and say that those nine days were not the most comfortable. I had tubes coming out of all orifices and the only thing I had to look forward to on a daily basis was the fact that hopefully one tube or the other would be removed. Finally all of the tubes and needles were removed and the day came when I was released to go home.

Here I am 40 days post op and doing pretty good. I went into surgery weighing 210 lbs and now weigh in at 183 lbs. I have not had an appetite to speak of until recently but it is returning slowing. My goal is to return to my muscular weight of 200 lbs. Now that I can keep my food down it should not be to long before I gain this 20 plus lbs.

As for the operation, I am almost out of pain and except for one spot, I have surface healing. As for the scar, I have the Mercedes Benz emblem forever on my torso. The one tender spot which is still draining a bit, and causes a bit of pain still, seems to be healing well and I rarely have to take a pain pill anymore. As for medications, I take a hand full every day. I must say though that I have progressed from 42 pills per day to 28 within this time period.

All in all I have to give thanks to my Lord and Savior for his healing mercy. I thank him for the knowledge he provided to the surgeons and for guiding their hands during my operation. I thank him for the technology He has placed in our hands so that we can have healing power here on earth.

I want to take this time to thank all of those who prayed for me before, during, and after my operation. I do believe that your prayers were heard and played a part in this miraculous event that has taken place in my life. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

I would be totally remiss if I ended this without given the utmost thanks and gratitude to the donor who provided me with these new organs and the gift of life. It is indeed humbling to know that I am alive today because someone had to die. I honor their gift and will forever be grateful to this person and their family.

I have written a letter to the donor network and forwarded a personal letter to the donor's family. So far I have not received a reply and maybe never will, but at least I have let the family know just how grateful and blessed I am to have been granted this precious gift.

So in closing I address each and every one of you to always stay prayed up because you never know when they will be needed. May God Bless and keep each and every one of you. And may your Blessing be as well received as mine are.