Hello friends,

Well, there isn't really a whole lot new on the healthfront since I wrote last. I can say things have been calm, which of course is a good thing. People ask me how I am feeling, and the answer has become "holding steady." I suppose that's how I feel not just physically, but mentally too.

It's flu season, approaching winter and the cold season; and for the first time, that weighs on me if I think about it. Consequently, it makes me thankful for every day I go by without a cold or an infection. I make consious efforts to stay away from anyone who is sick. ....I just heard on 60 minutes tonight that the H1N1 can travel through the air, easily, ten feet. ... Doesn't fit my "three foot rule."

In the mean time, trying to do all the added regimens they (the medical team) wants me to do is not easy. I just want to keep doing what I want to do. I think that is starting to weigh on me mentally, because....well, I've never had any regrets with my health, how I conduct my life, always doing what is best in my opinion....but I don't want to get myself in a situation when I may regret. Always do the right thing....hmmmm.

As for the logistics, my records went to Denver; I don't qualify for the evaluation yet. Still a little too healthy...good problem to have.

I have had some interesting conversations with a couple of people who are transplant survivors. Encouraging. But even more so, educating.

I find it is best right now if I don't think about it too much. So I try to avoid it. Not successfully. But for now...that's the only approach that feels comfortable.

Hello friends,

This entry is going to be shorter. I am on my way out the door, on my way to a REAL vacation; we are going to Michigan today. Our first vacation in two years. A vacation that is not spent at the hospital; and with all the traveling I get to do for work, this will be my first trip in two years that is in summer, not winter. Oh, so, so many things to look forward to; including spending time on the beaches of Lake Michigan! And my cousin is getting married! Woo-hoo!

So, while I take my 12 day hiatus and do what I can to "forget" about the daily grind of life for a few days - including medical - I implore you to continue to help with the campaign. Right now, there is an email campaign going on. It is called, "Awesome August". This is a low dollar, easy campaign - donate five or ten bucks, and then email it to your friends. It's all about spreading the word! That's how this works. But what is of more significance is the overall dollar amount...

We are approaching one full year of my campaign...and depending on how much we raise, I get some matching funds from COTA. Right now the dollars sit around $36K. But if we can reach $50K by Sept. 30, then we get an extra $2500 from COTA. Now that is awesome! So spread the word, spread the word, spread the word, please! It all adds up!

And don't forget, you can keep sending us those old, used cell phones and cartridges. We've started to see dollars come through for those, plus we are helping the environment!

If you did not receive the "Awesome August" information, go to the volunteer page in this site and you will see information for Bridget Robbins and Pat Kies. Contact one of them; they can make sure you receive the information. You will also see information for Karen Wheatley for cell phones and cartridges. Send her everything you got!

I appreciate everyone's support.! OH and I have a new logo!!!! You can see it on the activities page and on facebook too. (The black and yellow one.) It is so cool! Thank you to my friend Pam Felthauser who designed it for me!

So, here's to $50K, here's to lungs currently holding there own, and here's to the beach!

Well I have left the comfort of UMNC Suites, I am back at work, I can sleep in my own bed again, pet my kitties and be a part of normal life. But normal life has changed a little bit. The hospitalizations contained several conversations. I think my CF staff took turns to hit me with what needed to be said. What was said? Well, I need to increase my respiratory therapy at home, I need to increase the respiratory medications I take at home, and I need to start an exercise regimen. This may seem like no big deal to someone reading this. The might be a no brainer from those who advised me of this. But here lies the dilemma: Theatre and bad health don't mix. Both need lots of time....If I am at work all day starting at 9am, and am going straight to rehearsals after work, and then I get to go home after that...that puts me home at about 9 or 10 or 11pm....then they want me to do all the added regimens. This regimen will take about 45 minutes. I should do the same regimen in the morning. What used to take me about 20-40 minutes a day, now should take me 1.5-2 hours. And that does not include the 20-30 minute exercise program.

Seems like a no brainer? Do you have an extra1-2 hours out of your day? I guarantee you, you don't. Otherwise, you would exercise or do other things in life you should be doing.

Well, I need to figure out some way to make it work. My main demon right now that I am fighting is motivation. Sure wouldn't mind a weekly volleyball team. That was fun, that day at Digz Day!

As far as logistics go, I am off the permanent oxygen. But I am supposed to wear it during sustained activity. And I've been wearing it at night to see if it makes me feel any better overall. I find myself abnormally tired a lot. I am hoping it'll help that.

And evening theatre is on hold right now; taking a bit of a break. So I have no excuse to do all that I am supposed to do.

One last piece of news; UNMC gathered my medical records and sent them to the Denver Center. They will read my records. This will tell us if I qualify for an evaluation for the transplant. And if I don't, then we will keep Denver updated until I do.

I just had a fabulous week of working the big conference I mentioned in my last entry; the Great Plains Theatre Conference (GPTC). What a WONDERFUL experience! I want to say to all reading this and who were there, thank you for all your help, support friendship, smiles, hugs, play readings, performances, words of wisdom; everything! Such a joyous time!

 So now, I am in the hospital, receiving one of my treatments. For those of you unfamiliar, this entails IV antibiotics and intensive respiratory therapy. These treatments last for two weeks, so I pack a a big suitcase like I am going on the road. The good part is I don't have to pack the medical equipment and medications! We'll be working on getting rid of infection, see if my numbers will go up. My breathing tests the other day read 35%. There is some hope of O2 levels improving with some improved lung function; however, I am keeping in reality as I can feel on a day to day basis how much I still need the oxygen when I walk around. We are going to do another sleep test and walking test before I leave here, towards the end of the treatment to get updated readings on that.

I got to thinking about a trip I took to Chicago a few years ago. I'd say it was around 1990 or 1991. I was visiting my dad. At the time, I worked for a graphic arts company, on the graveyard shift. I remember hanging out with my dad on the beach of Lake Michigan; it was about 2pm. Such a beautiful, beautiful day. I have become a huge fan of the beach too, so this is a slice of heaven; sitting there, in the sand, sun beating down on my legs, listening to the waves of the lake. But alas, it was time to go; time to catch my Southwest flight back to Omaha. And then the clock hits 11pm. I am sitting at work, in my blue cubicle, staring at the computer screen. And it hits me; just a few hours earlier, I was blissful on the beach; and now, I am in a cold, air conditioned, corporate cubicle.

That's about how I feel right now. I was just working the show 12 Angry Men, and working this wonderful GPTC; now I am in the "suites" of UNMC.

I've gone from Beach to Cubicle.

I will sit here and dream about the Beach.   : )

Got Oxygen?

This question on top of Pikes Peak at 14,110 feet is very funny and ironic at the same time. I immediately bought a t-shirt and the expression always makes me smile. But this question, in Omaha at 936 feet somehow loses all it's humor.

Remember from my last entry, breathing tests went up, but I still felt like I couldn't breathe. Well, I have been through a battery of tests. Heart tests that came back normal, scans that came back normal. But now this week, I have redone breathing tests and pretty much failed them all!...My functions are back down to 34%!! My infection level (blood test) is way up. And they had me do two new tests: a walking test and a sleeping test; they measured oxygen levels during both, and my oxygen levels sunk on both occasions.

What does this mean?....Got oxygen? Will now...the artificial kind...starting today, I am supposed to start wearing oxygen. I am told this may not be permanent. But the timing couldn't be worse, with the big conference I am supposed to work this upcoming week. Not only do I get to experience this wonderful tube up my nose, but I get the experience of 1,000 people over the next week enjoying it's loveliness on my face. UGH!

Also, back on antibiotics. In the end, yes, I have another infection (or still) to take care of; and yes, I need oxygen. But in the long run, we still don't know what is causing the lack of oxygen. Hopefully, we'll find out soon.

Good news! I did the breathing tests this week, and they went up some more! They went up to 40%. This is good. I am still unhappy the tests had gone so low, but the recovery back to normal numbers is very important.

I am not entirely happy, because I feel like I can't breathe, still, when doing some basic things; a flight of stairs, or walking point A to point B; seem to get out of breath for no reason. So I sort of feel like I am back to square one compared to a month ago. Of course, the improved tests, we know I am not. But that doesn't explain the shortness of breath. The best we can do at this point is to increase my albuterol breathing treatments and see if that helps. This is no big deal. It just means I can't get away with as much as I used to.

One final piece of good news; gained another pound! Woo-hoo!!

Hello everyone,

It's been about four months or so since I have given an update. A lot has been happening. After finishing my hospitalization in January, which went extremely well, life kicked into full gear. I went out of town three times; two for work, once for pleasure. Most of you know, this is great because I LOVE to travel. I got to go to Memphis; nothing beats a bit of warm weather in February along with some "true" Southern Sweet Tea and getting inundated with FAB Elvis everywhere! Now, I am going through Sweet Tea withdrawal! I also got to visit a dear friend of mine in Oxford, MS; got a tour of Ole Miss. That was fantastic! My other two trips were to St. Louis. St. Louis doesn't seem to like me. It gets cold every time I am there. A very good sign I should NOT pick St. Louis as the place to go for my transplant!

I also started working on two different shows; Wit at the Blue Barn and then 12 Angry Men at the Playhouse. Wit is now done. 12 Angry Men is now open and going very well. But now that we are open, I have to say, I am looking forward to having some evenings at home.

A lot has been going on with the campaign! So much help from everyone!! $5 February was a huge success, and I think we are going to make this an annual event! So everyone save your $5!  :)

The Playhouse did a night for me in February; an added peformance of Bat Boy. Thank you OCP! Sorry I couldn't see you all; that was one of my weekends in St. Louis! I was able to watch it when I got back, though; what a fun show!!

Many, many, many great people at UNO are doing TONS for my campaign. I cannot repay or thank any of you enough!!! UNO has been collecting extra dollars after performances, they put on the Breath of Fresh Art event and added a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Great performance everyone! And the Breath of Fresh Art was fabulous. I can write a whole page on that! So I will spare you all the wordiness and just simply say thank you, and a special extra thank you to Wesley, Katie and Chantel!

Most recently, my friend Jim Knierim, in Plattsmouth, had a dinner. I'm waiting to hear how it went, but I hope all my Plattsmouth friends, and old high school buds were able to make it. I was running 12 Angry Men so being there was a bit impossible. I appreciate everyone doing what they can, even when I can't be around!

We have two exciting events coming up! One is Silpada Jewelry night. May 13! And "Can you Digz It?" day on June 27. This one is a day of volleyball and music, with silent auction, raffle, carwash....more information coming out on both events on this cota site on the activities page as well as facebook!

Now to what you all probably want to hear more about; my health. Where does that stand? Mmm. Good question. I wasn't feeling very good in the end March/April. Out of breath. You'd never know looking at me...just couldn't catch my breath from point a to point b. Went on a couple of meds; didn't help; so my doc added IV antibiotics. I have been on them now for 2.5 weeks and hope to get off them this week. But the thing is, I don't feel much better than when I started. A little. But not much. My tests had dropped to 30%. When I tested last week, they were at 35%. My doctor was happy. An increase of 5% is pretty good. But I am NOT happy with this. Recovery is not like it used to be and that is disturbing.

I couldn't go in the hospital again, so it's been interesting doing my IV meds at home and at work. Walking around the playhouse hooked up to an IV, or driving to work "hooked up". Kind of amusing. And since I have to use some Benadryl before each dose of antibiotic...a "Benadryl high" at work is amusing too! In fact, the only realling annoying part of doing the meds is not at work - but the ones at home; they interrupt my sleep pattern, big time! Some of the meds are messing with my sugar levels too. But we are tapering me off those particular meds to help that.

And good news...I am gaining weight. Yay! Last week I was up to 110 pounds..which means I have now gained back five pounds of what I lost on tour. I will keep going; I do my g-tube feeds seven nights a week! So I better see some pay off, right??!!??

So that's the update. Keep the word spreading about donations. Every $5 helps. Keep sending those cell phones and printer cartridges. See the activities page on that too, or ask us if you don't know about that. That's the "Recycle For Life" program. Ask about it. Again, every bit helps.

Last but not, least, I want to leave you with this thought...are you an organ donor? Have you thought of becoming one? I ask you to think and ponder, and if you are so inclined, sign up, and spread the word to friends and family.

Thank you all my friends. I will try not to take so long in updating you again.

Love,
Lara

Hello everyone,

We are starting a new campaign! "$5 February".

We are asking you to donate $5 to my campaign, and then spread the word to 10 of your friends to donate $5 as well. And then have them spread the word to 10 people; and so on.

The goal is to get 10,000 people to donate $5 during the month of February.

This is so exciting, and I really think we can do it! Email your friends, text your friends, facebook your friends, you name it; let's technology the heck out of this $5 February!!

Totes!

Lara

Hello everyone,

It has been quite some time since I have made a journal entry; so I have a lot to catch you up on. But I will try to be short and sweet.

After The Odd Couple night out, my world took a 180. Long story short, I needed to fill in out on the road with our East Coast Tour as Stage Manager. And oh, what a time it was! For those who do not know our East Coast Tour, it is fast paced, energizing and busy. I was out for 18 days. In that time, I traveled to 13 cities. The days were long, hardly any down time; and I loved about every second of it. (Especially when we got to Florida!!!) It was a exhausting and exhilerating at the same time. But the best part is I got to learn some new things; after being with the caravan for nine ACC seasons now, I couldn't believe how much I could still learn!

As far as my health goes, it was amazing. I did catch a cold, but I kept up; it was all the physical labor this particular job required. Exercised my lungs everyday! I know the hospital staff was worried about me; but the amount of exercise I was getting; there was just no way to convey to them what all I was doing and keeping those lungs in shape. But when I sent an email back saying, "Trust me"; well, what else could they do? lol

So when I got home (on Dec. 25) I felt pretty good. And the January hospitalization reflected it. I was able to get rid of the cold quickly, and move forward in my treatment in trying to make up some old ground; and I did!! So for those of you who have been to this site, or facebook, and saw my FEV1 chart that John posted for me (thank you John!)...you will see that my numbers have been at 37 percent. Well, this January stay, I bumped up to 44 percent. Surprised us all! Hoor-ah!!!

Now to maintain; which of course, the docs and everyone are giving me a hard time now on keeping up some kind of exercise regimen. (I know, I know...)

And now I am back at it in the real world; back at work, back into "normal life"; getting back in the swing of things with the campaign. Thank you all who donated, called, emailed; everything- during December and January, when I was out of the loop.

Also, thank you to Andrew McGreevey and Skullduggery Productions for having the performance of Night with Reg for me.

Another thank you to the Bellevue Little Theatre for the weekend of fundraising they did for me with A Tuna Christmas.

And yet another great thank you to Newman's Pasta who had a Newman's Night Out. The night was a bad weather night; so a bigger thank you to all who braved the weather.

Finally, continued appreciation to Wesley Houston and UNO and everyone there who have continued to keep asking and raising monies like nobody's business! You all rock!

There are many more things coming up with the campaign that I am very excited about. So keep your eyes and ears open, and everyone keep spreading the word!

Love, Lara