My Friend Laree

Laree got her new heart on Oct 25th at 6pm ish.

3 December 2017

We are HOME after an amazing month and we want to say Thank You and update you on Laree’s progress.

We arrived home on Friday after 30 days in hospital and Hearty Towers following Laree’s heart transplant operation on 25 October. It is a wonderful feeling to be home here at Lovelock. It’s so peaceful. The operation and recovery so far has been as good as we could ever have hoped for. There is much still to do as Laree continues rehabilitation and recovery. She will be on essential medicine to manage rejection and other side effects for the rest of her life but being able to climb several flights of stairs already is a great sign for enjoying the future and having a more normal life.

Laree was called at 9.45am on 25 October to go to hospital. She was there 10 minutes later. The operation was later that evening and by 2am she was out of theatre and into intensive care. She woke later the next day and was able to stand up on the second day. She moved out of ICU to the ward on the third day. After a week in the ward we moved to Hearty Towers, which is the specialised rehabilitation unit for heart and lung transplant patients.

Progress over the month was incredibly fast but there have been many ups and downs along the way. The pain and side effects have needed careful management. Laree has been enjoying the physio and gym. Her new heart seems to really like the exercise. She quickly walked up four flights of stairs with no rest and no pain. It was impossible to climb just one flight two months ago.

We would like to thank everyone who has help us in the last few weeks, and many months before. We have had such amazing support in many ways from our family, friends and colleagues. This has been helped reduce stress in the most perfect way. You’ve all been amazing. Laree is determined to pay it forward as she recovers.

Share this update

0 comments | Login to leave a comment

Just an Update ... waiting patiently

27 August 2017

Hi. Laree here,

My amazing friend Jo set up this page for us. Jo (jo is the voice of wisdom as her daughter has had many cardiac surgeries and her family are troopers!) has really helped me to accept that this is long road and me not working and not being able to run our home does mean we need extra support. Its a hard pill to swallow to ask for help.

I want to thank you all. and I feel like words are really hard to come by... that's possibly why it's taken me so long to write this. I have moments of complete disbelief that we are at this point and then moments of elation that we are at this point. It finally means I can get better (all going well).

The donations you've so kindly given us have meant we can breathe. It lowers the stress levels and allows us access to the things that make this journey easier. Like access to meals and taxis and parking and bills (heating the house all day while I'm home waiting).

People have shared with me that the waiting is the hardest part of the transplant journey (so now)... the waiting while I'm getting sicker but still trying to keep active enough that my muscles aren't getting weak pre transplant. I need to be as fit as I can be so that my recovery is better.

I'm not sure what to tell you. Please ask questions.

I'm an A blood type which is a good type to be when looking for a match but I believe there are 5 of us waiting although we are all different shapes and sizes of course. and a good fit is important too.

I'm settled in to waiting now. the first month I was pretty anxious but now I'm just getting on with day to day things. Today we are gardening at home planting sunflower seeds and strawberries.