Saturday, May 4, 2013

Update of sorts

It has been too long. I really want to have more time and inspiration to post. My life has been consumed with getting myself to the world transplant games. The trip planning and organizing, the fundraising, and training. I feel I am on the right track, it is just a disciplined one. I found a blog posting app, so now since it is more accessible, hopefully I can post more. My journey to the transplant games has been full of amazing experiences and exciting coincidences. The most astounding thing to me has been how many people have shown an outpouring of love and support. I have sold over 250 shirts in my shirt project. So many people have gone above and beyond with their out pouring of love, friendship and donations. One organization, The Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation, has been a support and helped me with some of the registration fees. Also, The Living Breathe Foundation reached out to me and has been a tremendous help. Their kindness and compassion and support has lifted me up in so many ways. Both of these organizations help CF patients with costs. The CFLF is specific to recreational support, and the LBF helps with extra costs of a variety of sorts.
The other amazing thing that has happened along the way is that the YMCA where I belong has caught wind of what I am doing. They set me up with the aquatics director to give me a personal coach. We started together about 2 weeks ago. He has already helped me tremendously to push myself harder than I was doing. His workouts already took 5 seconds off my 100 base time. We are building my endurance now, and working towards getting faster :) watch out world games, here comes Anna ;)
My work out schedule consists of 4 elements: swimming, weight lifting, and Ujam fitness (dry land training), and rest. I am working out 5 days a week, 3 swimming and weights, 2 ujam, and 2 rest. My schedule is disciplined but I am motivated to keep myself on track. I have to admit the other day I was getting sick of the daily grind, as it never let's up. However, don't be fooled, because I do listen to my body. When I start to feel as if I am over training I take a day off.
I have been more than blessed with the health to continue this process. I have been out of the hospital for colds and such since the end of January, when I began swimming. I have been out of the hospital for stomach problems since September, 8 months! I think that is the longest I have gone in years! I am remembering last year about this time is when my crisis began of about 5 weeks of blockages one after the other. So glad that is over! Knock on wood!
Sorry, I digress. Anyways, life has been good to me thus far and I just need to keep on pushing through. Head to the grind stone? Nose to the grind stone? I can't remember the saying.
I realize my luck as there are so many people in my life struggling, or those who have not had the chance of new lungs. I work hard, never forgetting those. I do things while I can because others have taught me how precious my life is now.
This weekend is again filled with blessings. My Ujam instructors have been so gracious, kind, and supportive to set up a 90 min Ujam party fundraiser. I have set up for a donate life ambassador to come and man a table. Hopefully we can reach new people who are not yet touched by organ donation. Amazing blessings. Today is rest and weights, tomorrow we PARTY!