I Had a Good Day

Courtney Nicoline James

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Challenge

Challenge #1: Change Your Daily Outlook for Seven Days (Click to view challenge.)

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Courtney
23 years old
Fearless.

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Recent Posts

  • Finding Power When Your Disease Makes You Feel Powerless
  • The Healing Powers of Good Nurses
  • I AM READY TO BE FREE – Overcoming Depression
  • Without a Compass- Navigating Life after Illness Changes You
  • The “I’m Fine” Feeling

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I debated posting this but as I have documented my journey so far, I felt this should be included as the news and progress only keeps getting better and better and maybe it can bring hope and encouragement to at least one other person. I have physical therapy that comes to my house to work on exercises for strength and endurance a couple times a week. On the days they don’t come, I continue to do my exercises to continue getting stronger each and every day. As a result of the support I have from the medical community and especially my loved ones, I have been able to take the rail off my bed (that helped me get in and out of it), the assistive bars in the shower, and the raised toilet seat with handles. I no longer use my power wheelchair and rarely do I use my handicap parking pass. Not every day is an easy day and I still struggle with the pain and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but despite that I am able to push myself and gain independence. While this may not seem like a huge deal to most of you, these were all things I had to rely on that I no longer need, which is an amazing feeling. I am unbelievably blessed and every day just gets better and better. This is proof that no matter how bad or how rare a disease is, there is always hope and the chance of beating it. A year ago I rolled into my transplant surgeons office in a power wheelchair unsure of my future and artificially fed through tubes. I had very little independence and several tubes coming out of me. Here we are, a year later, and 4 months after my major transplant surgery and I can eat, walk, and generally get through a day on my own. Blessings and miracles do exist and the power of prayer is extraordinary. Thank you for taking this journey with me and for the support and love. It has made a huge difference in my fight and recovery. “It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair, but we’re getting stronger now.” #transplant #intestinaltransplant #donatelife 💙💜🦋💜💙
I think the hardest part about this journey has been learning to trust my body again after so many years of not being able to sustain itself. With that being said, today my transplant team told me “my transplant was officially a success” and that I “am out of the woods.” Exciting words to hear, the team then REMOVED MY CENTRAL LINE after so many years having it!! NOW is the time to trust the body God has given me and the tools I now have to sustain on my own. My kidney numbers are also coming down to a reasonable number. I can eat again. There is no reason not to trust myself anymore. Typing those words have me in tears as today was such a monumental day. I am a free birdie!! Please, donate your organs. Organ donation makes such a difference to those who are still on earth 💙💜🦋💜💙 #transplant #donatelife
My face is naked!!!! NO MORE NASAL TUBE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which means......ITS TIME TO (slowly) START ADVANCING AN ORAL DIET!!!!!!! #lifeisgood #donatelife #transplantwarrior
There’s a lot I could say about receiving this transplant 2.5 weeks ago and it’s recovery. This has been one of the hardest recoveries I’ve ever done but slowly each day I’m kicking ass. It’s hard to keep everyone updated individually so I apologize. Thank you to everyone who has prayed or reached out. They had to put the NG tube back in a week ago to drain my stomach, and it’s still in. Hopefully within the next few days it’ll come out. I also had to stop oral foods again at that time and go back on TPN. This isn’t a complication or set back, recovery takes time and everything is moving in the right direction!! There is one thing I wanted to take the chance to say. My surgeon appreciates my devoted family who has selflessly sacrificed there last few weeks to be here with me, but said that having family here or not doesn’t affect patient outcome. While he is a brilliant man that I greatly appreciate, I have to disagree with him. Having such a dedicated family constantly by my bedside has improved my mood, my fight, my strength- it goes on. Huge shoutout to my family for putting their lives on hold so I could better mine.#transplantwarrior #donatelife #intestinalfailure #intestinaltransplant #ngtube #tubie
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