Roderick Fraser

Daily diary notes of my single lung transplant - 1994

Geelong - Tuesday 6th. December, 1994

A very hot, clear day. A top temperature of 39 degrees.  Had my hair cut todat. Went to physio at Grace McKellar House at 2.00pm. Left early at 2.50, and told the Physio Tony that I probably would not be in on Thursday as I have an appointment with Dr. Greg Snell on Thursday at 1.30pm.

Too hot to go to the farm, my brothers place, and ride the paddocks on the little motor bike.

At 8.15pm. Louise Macfarlane rang, would I like a new lung tonight. Yes please. Louise said that there was pleanty of time. The operation would be tomorrow morning, going to theatre at about 4.30am. Louise suggested we leave to arrive between 12.00 and 1.00am

Ring borther Malcolm and daughter Samantha to organise the others  I rang Sandra and sat under the tree in the front garden and chatted.  It was lovely and very sad she could not come up with us.

Malcolm arrives with Samantha, Campbell and Denise (ex wife) and my mother. Off we go to the hospital at 11.15pm

Day 1 - Wednesday 7th. December, 1994 - Transplant Day

Arrived at the hospital at 12.15am. Jane Harris meets us at the emergency doors. We go to x/ray and I meet Terry Vaughan who is to have the right lung tonight.

I  have the chest x/ray then go up to 5D for pre admission and preparation. Louise Macfarlane and Jane Harris take me through it. Have a complete body shave, shower and start medications. Meet Mario Palandri, who had a double lung 3 weeks ago, he is having a blood transfusion.

After a lot of waiting, go to Theatre at 5.15am.  Was to be 4.30. Louise Macfarlane advised at about 3.00 that it was a definite goer, baring last minuite hitches.

Say good by to The crowd and go into the operating suite area.  Leave behind all the family. The doors close and were off. Thinking of Sandra, I take her with me in my heart.

I am in the Anaesthetic holding bay talking to the sisters and Jane and Louise for about half an hour. Into the theatre. Louise stays next to me and we chat as the Ananethisist starts his preparaton of his machines, and me. Puts main line into neck. Another line into the left hand. Sets a drip off in the hand and says it's time to go tp sleep. Puts a mask over my mouth and nose. Thats it.

Wake up in intensice care 1F sometime in the afternoon.  Can vaugley remember a group of Doctors, Sam, Ham & Cam, Malcolm, Mum and Helen at different times. First lasting memory after operation was of Angela, gowned up,  visiting at about 10.20pm

Respirator was to come out at midnight, was not ready.  Intensive care all night.

Day 2 - Thursday 8th. December, 1994

In 1F.- 5.30am breathing on my own but the tube is still in.  8.00am - Tube taken out of my mouth, what joy.  It's all up hill now.  9.00am - roll over, a big TV srt there, started watching TV.  9.30am  Get the nurse to bring over the phone and ring Sandra, sadly not at home.

9.45am - Dr Greg Snell and Louise Macfarlane call i for a chat, all smiles, mailny from me.  Have a nice chat with them.  10.30am - Physiotherapist calls for a first session. 1.00pm Had a light lunch.

2.00pm Shifted up from 1F to 2F, the cardio thoracic surgical unit.  I was greeted by nurses 'Lurch' and his Mate.  What a fun pair, did a great job.  Perhaps they really were escaped from a lunatic assylum.  Visitors in the afternoon plus Doctors, Chest x/ray, bloods taken, etc. Had first full meal at night.

My New Lung - As far as I know

A young male, very fit.  I believe my new lung came from New Zealand.  The first lungs to come from New Zealand to Australia for transplantation.  The donor was a skier.  The lungs were in pristine condition.

Dr. Esmore and Dr Greg Snell flew to New Zealand on a Lear Jet belonging to Kerry Packer to rectieve the organs.  The ishochemic time was either 4.10am or 4.40am.  I believe Don and Greg arrived back in at the Alfred in Australia with the lungs at 8.30am.

The Alfred transplant team had organised the paperwork for an International Organ Collection some time earlier in case it would be needed.

Day 3 - Friday 9th. December, 1994

Busy morning with x/ray, bloods, Doctors, Kylie Bennett the Dietician, Judy Allen the Occupational Therapist, the Anathetists.

Sandra and Barbara called in, great to see them.  Barb went into the city and Sandra stayed all day.

Shifted , at 12.000 to the respitary ward 5D.  Feel a lot better now.  At night one drain tube taken out and also one main line out of my neck. Chest x/ray at 11.00pm.

Day 4 - Saturday 10th. December, 1994

Busy morning, Jan Kirkpatrick the Physiotherapist, Louise Macfarlane, Anaesthisists, x/ray in room, bloods, normail bodily functions working again.

Dr. Esmore called in with two Japanese Doctors who are looking over the Transplant Unit.  They are starting one up in Japan.  More visitors in the afternoon.

In the other bed in the room is Debbie.  Her husband Andy is visiting.  Debbie is No 5 heart and lung transpalnt at the Alfred and was transplanted four years ago.  After starting to have a baby her new lungs are rejecting.  She is very, very low and finding it hard to battle on.  She is on a Bi-Pap machine at night.  Dr. Snell came in on the Sunday morning to talk to her and comfort her. They have shifted here to a single room so her husband and family can stay the night with her.

I have had a few talks with her, not very easy.  I hope I helped her, i think I did.  She really wants eternal peace now.  Debbie passsed away soon after.

Day 5 - Sunday 11th. December, 1994

A nice quiet day today, a time to reflect.  The usual x/rays, bloods. and Doctors.  Debbie moved out to a single room and Daniele Barotta moved in - Asthma.

I had the cather out and also another line out. Had a shave and a shower.  More family visitors in the afternoon and some at night.

Day 6 - Monday 12th. December, 1994

A new week starts and the hospital revs up again.  Bloods taken, physio in for a session, doctors do the rounds.  Other drain tube removed and also the Epidural line is taken out.  The epidural has has been a great friend, I have had no pain but rather only some discomfort. The main line is also removed

I sent a letter to Dr. Franklyn Rosenfeld at the Alfred Baker Institute as I had promised I would let him know when I had the transplant.  I met him when  I was being asessed, he was in the room next to me.and I was surprised when he told me he was a Transplant Surgeon.

I have been retaining fluid.  I started taking small walks. I got the phone on.  Was wheeled to x/ray.  Denise and Gaye called in, Margaret Mayo and also Gary and Pat from Western Australia.

Had a long talk to Terry, who received the left lung, and Lorraine Vaughan.  We both had a consultation at his bedside with Dr. Greg Snell.

Day 7 - Tuesday 13th. December, 1994

Sandra rang, Jon down so won't be up today.  Good to be able to talk.  Samantha rang and will bring things up tomorrow. 

A lovely quiet day the most relaxed I have felt in ten years. Wheeled to x/ray and wheeled myself back but got caught.  Had a chat with Jane Harris

Day 8 - Wednesday 14th. december, 1994

First full shower alone today.

Debbie... died peacefully yesterday afternoon, exactly the way she wanted it as she discussed with me before she moved rooms on Sunday.

Getting better, feeling beter, no pain killers today.and Greg Snell said everything going smoothly. A bronchoscopy organised for next Tuesday.  If I feel like it I can go out during the weekend.

A mob of people called in today and Ted moved into the other bed, he is doing a sleep test.

Day 9 - Thursday 15th. December, 1994

I had a very restless night last night but could move around more.  Got to sleep late and slept late.  Jan Fitzpatrick bought Jack, Paul and Jack's Auntie Margaret up to see me from the clinic, great to see them.   Jack is on the wating list and was was at Grace McKellar physio with me.

Samantha ans Steve called in to see me and Judi Idle telephoned.  She heard about the transpalnt last night and she will call in tomorrow morning at 11.30am.

Trevor Williams on rounds with Greg Snell, thanked them both for everything.

Day 10 - Friday 16th. December, 1994

Went to the Gym in the Physio department for the 1st. time.  did some very , very, very light work.

Judi idle called in and it was lovely of her to come up from Geelong ot see me. Sister Helen and Brother Malcolm called in with some clothes.  Walked to x/ray .

Greg said that the x/ray looks great and that if the bronc on Tuesday at 9.30 is clear I should be able to go home on Wednesday.

I went outside and walked up and down the steps to the road, ok and feels good.  I am walking around the Hospital more now.  Sandra rang, she is off to Gosford in the morning, wish I was going too.

Day 11 - Saturday 17th. December, 1994

Took some panadene fort last nightmn then slepped. Marco readmitted this morning with a 40 degree temperature. I went down and bought some tattslotto tickets and then went outside and sat for a while, it's great to be able to breath normally again, what a relief.

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