IMPORTANT UPDATE!

This morning's treadmill walk: 30.41 minutes.

This is the dealio. Pulmonary rehab works, but most patients dismiss it. Pfffft. Most IPF patients lose hope with the initial diagnosis. They don't give hope a chance, a whit of respect.

I once asked my doctor, "So. Though I can't repair my lungs, what good tissue remains will become stronger?" And that's precisely what happens. The past two years I've been on and off loyal to rehab, but since the transplant evaluation, I've been 100% dedicated.

Any given day there are variables that affect our goals. This is true for all of us. This morning I was exceptionally lazy but couldn't fall back asleep (and I tried real hard). I finally dragged my cranky body out of bed, started the coffee, and lugged myself to the treadmill.

On the treadmill I noticed my oxygen saturation remained high, so I cranked up the speed a notch. Another few minutes and I cranked the speed up another notch and then another.

Despite all odds I finished my walk at 2.3 mph and trimmed about 6 minutes off my time. A mere seven days ago I was dragging along at 1.5 - 1.7 mph.

I was surprised. Nothing about my attitude this morning indicated this would happen.

It just goes to show: Well, it shows a lot. It's about not giving up, maintaining, being open to all possibilities... and so much more! It shows it's important to get out of bed!

Hope is essential. Rearrange those letters and you get phoe. Um, which means nothing at all. Ya gotta keep hope.