07/07/2026
💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙
Three years ago today, I was given the greatest gift imaginable... a second chance at life.
This anniversary isn't just about surviving a lung transplant. It's about everything that has come after.
First it was ICU deliriums that made it hard to know what was real.
It was dying three different times, and God's grace bringing me back. It was fighting rejection, desperate prayers, renewed strength. It was spending five long months in the hospital. It was five more weeks in rehab, learning how to walk, move, and trust my body again.
There were moments I truly didn't know if I would ever make it, let alone make it home.
But God...
He carried me through every setback, every fear, every prayer, and every impossible day. He held me, and comforted me. He renewed me both physically and spiritually.
He also surrounded me with incredible people who carried me, and prayed for me, and loved when I couldn't fight any more.
To my husband, best friend and ride or die. You never left my side. You prayed for me. You fought for me, believed for me, loved me when I couldn't give anything in return, and reminded me every day that I wasn't fighting alone.
To my children and grandchildren—you gave me something to fight for. Every hug, every smile, every "I love you" became another reason to keep going. Watching you grow and making new memories with you has been one of the greatest gifts of these last three years.
To my special friends who have become family. Thank you for every prayer, every visit, every message, every meal, every laugh, every tear, and every time you stood beside us. You held us up when we were too exhausted to stand on our own. I will never forget your love.
Today I celebrate three years of life that I wasn't promised.
Three years of hugs.
Three years of dancing.
Three years of games around the table.
Three years of birthdays, holidays, vacations, ordinary Tuesdays, quiet mornings, and all of the little moments that don't seem little anymore.
I've learned that the ordinary days are actually the extraordinary ones.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible generosity of my donor and their family. In the middle of unimaginable loss, they made a decision that gave me life. I think of them often and carry their gift with me every single day. I pray they know that their loved one's legacy continues through every breath I take and every memory I get to make.
I also want to I also want to honor the incredible doctors, surgeons, nurses, therapists, and every member of my medical team.
Thank you for never giving up on me, even when the road was long and uncertain. Thank you for your skill, your compassion, your patience, and the countless hours you poured into my care.
You celebrated every tiny victory with me, encouraged me through every setback, and helped make the impossible possible.
You didn't just save my life, you gave me the chance to live it.
I will never be able to thank you enough for the role you played in my miracle. You will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Most of all, I thank God. Every breath I take is a reminder of His faithfulness. He sustained me through the darkest days and has blessed me with three years I will never take for granted.
Life looks different now. I don't rush past the ordinary anymore because I know those ordinary moments are the miracles I once prayed for.
Happy 3rd Lungiversary to my husband, my kids, my grandkids, and everyone who fought for me when i couldn't!
This year has been about God's grace and provision. It's about my donor, my family, my friends. It is about learning to live again, and not taking life for granted.
Here's to every breath, every sunrise, every laugh, every tear, every hug, and every day I get to spend with the people I love.
I am forever grateful.
💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚
If my story encourages even one person to become an organ donor, then sharing it is worth it. One decision can save and transform so many lives.
