"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." – Helen Keller
Today is 6 months since my heart transplant. To celebrate this, I bought a Christmas ornament with Ray. Ray was at a conference on my birthday, so this is our make up “celebration”. I had “Justin’s Heart Transplant April 27, 2018” personalized on my Christmas ornament.
The 6 month mark is important because that’s when I was predicted to be able to start exercising (I already did). After 6 months, I can start training for running.
I had a swim lesson with my swim coach today. She introduced me to a swimming in intervals. She told me to swim 2 laps (or one lap, whichever you consider 50 meters) and rest for 40 seconds, then repeat. Usually with advanced swimmers it’s a lot shorter, but for my fitness it’s hard. I did this for 20 laps (10 laps) or 500 yards.
After just one lap I started to hear my heart pounding and my breathing got harder. I don’t know if that’s normal for other beginning swimmers or if it’s unique toward my heart condition, but I know I can handle it with more practice.
I had a great time swimming today. Before transplant I couldn’t swim as much as I can today, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity to exercise and play sports.
I had a swimming lesson today, but because of the smoke in the air my Mom cancelled it. I live in Pleasanton, 2 hours away from the fire in Paradise, so the air quality is bad. The swimming pool is outdoors. After my heart transplant, I’m not supposed to be in smoky places.
Instead I just walked on the treadmill. In the Ronald McDonald House I used to walk on the treadmill everyday. Today I walked for 30 minutes on 3.0 speed.
I met Amy McCarthy at the school library today. Amy McCarthy is the library substitute I met at my High School’s club fair (see August 24, 2018). She had a kidney transplant when she was 40.
Today I have a dental appointment. My last dental appointment was February 2018 because I’m not allowed to have a dental appointment until 6 months after transplant. The dentist told me I should brush more. If there’s plaque on my teeth, the bacteria can get in my bloodstream and potentially damage my heart. Now instead of brushing 2 times a day, I’ll brush 3 times a day. It’s a small price to pay compared to the alternative.
Today I couldn’t swim outside. The smoke from the fire is still polluting Pleasanton, so I had exercise inside. I instead exercised on the treadmill:
I used the exercise technique my swim coach taught me (see November 8, 2018). Exercising in intervals is a great way to build up my endurance. My main focus with exercise right now is endurance instead of speed.
I walked for 20 minutes, and ran for a total of 15 minutes.
Today the smoke was cleared. There’s rain today so the water must’ve brought the smog with it. That’s great because I can swim again.
Today I swam in intervals like my swim coach taught me (see November 8, 2018). I swam 2 laps with 40 second intervals. I swam a total of 700 yards.
I had a lesson with my swim coach today. Swimming is way easier after transplant.
I’ve been sneezing and blowing my nose all day.
I’m scared that I’m sick. I don’t want to be sick.
I don’t want my heart to be rejected by my body. Or my heart to have an infection.
Okay, so if I’m sick, is it really that bad? There’s a very little chance of that happening.
There’s still a chance though.
Idk maybe I’m just too worried.
I do everything to protect myself from being sick. In school when someone even coughs I instantly switch seats to the back of the classroom. I never participate in activities outside because I don’t want to get cold or muddy.
Oh wait… yes I do! Yes I do!
Everyday I swim at night.
Everyday I swim at night!
The one thing that’s supposed to be shielding my heart from infections, is giving my heart infections?
It’s also December. Ever since late November it’s been more and more cold.
Well, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow at Stanford.
Should I tell them about this? Is it even important?
They have dying children to take care of. Should I tell them I think I might be sick?
Today I had an orthodontist appointment. I didn’t need to take antibiotics for the orthodontist like before since I’m already 6 months post transplant.
I also had a swimming lesson. Reflecting back to before transplant, I’m so glad to be able to actually exercise. Doing sports is awesome, even if I’m really bad at it.
When I went to go swimming today, I saw my classmate in the locker room.
He’s better than me in every way: better grades, better friends, and better looks.
He was also changing into a swimsuit.
I didn’t want to swim with him in the pool.
Guess what I did.
I left.
I left the locker room and didn’t go swimming.
I don’t want to show off how terrible I am compared to him.
What the point of this journal entry?
Idk.
I guess I don’t have a point.
I had a swimming session today. I’m still pretty bad at swimming, but I’m getting better. I don’t think I have the confidence to actually swim in front of a classmate (see December 16, 2018).