Five years ago at this very moment UCLA called and everything changed. I regret not having tended to this blog since Jim’s recovery because I remember reading other blogs before the transplant and wondering what happened after those transplants. It is unnerving to see that last entry not knowing if the patient is still alive.

So yes, Jim is very much still alive and putting those lungs to good use.

He has been very busy here, here and here. He lives in a swanky bachelor pad with a view of downtown Los Angeles. Other than smacking the occasional piece of undercooked meat out of his hand, his father and I are not involved in his day to day care. We like it like that, even if it makes for a very boring blog post. In fact, we just can’t get enough of his boring good health.

While we were waiting for that call five years ago another family got the news that they had lost their twenty-two year old son. Under the weight of all that grief they were still able to make the decision to donate his organs and save the lives of several people.  Even today Jim’s dad and I breakdown when we think of our donor family, but we’d like that to change. We want to celebrate our donor and his family.

Celebrate with us today by visiting Donate Life and by speaking with your family about organ donation.

Thanks for checking on Jim.

Today, Jim is celebrating his 33rd birthday.  This year Jim has been working hard at 3dna — the business he started and traveling throughout the US.  Medically, it has been a quiet year which is great.  This is wishing another great year ahead for Jim and many more after that.

We love you.

Today is Jim’s birthday — 32 years old.  It has been over 2 years and 8 months since the transplant.  Jim has gained considerable weight and is looking and feeling good.  He is busy working on his projects and his company.  There is much to celebrate today.

Glad to report that Jim is improving this evening and was able to eat.  He also gave his presentation as scheduled this afternoon.  Jim is scheduled to return home tomorrow.   Keeping my fingers crossed.

Jim is in New York City tonight attending a conference — just found out that he is sick.  He has aches and is throwing up but no fever — not sure what is wrong.  We hope it is not the flu — or the swine flu.  Jim missed his conference today trying to take care of himself.   Jim is suppose to give a presentation tomorrow at 2pm and then leave Wednesday morning.  Jim is monitoring his temperature and taking medicine for the congestion.