TRANSPLANT UPDATE 3

FIRST DAY TIMELINE

First of all we want to convey a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have been keeping up with us through this whole process. Joseph loves you all very much and if he could right now he would tell you so. 36 people made their way through the doors of Emory yesterday for one purpose: to love on and support Joseph and the family. Along with the 36, there were hundreds if not thousands of people joining us in prayer yesterday from 6 continents including these countries; Afghanistan, Kenya, Australia, Columbia, Honduras, Israel, Korea, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. And that's just the ones we can recall! After Lonnie Mussell (Joseph's father in law) shared this with a friend his friend said “well I have friends in the Southern tip of Chile who can strap a prayer to the back of a penguin and send it across a few miles of ocean to Antarctica to make it all SEVEN continents! (We didn’t do that, but we are crazy enough to LOL!)

Below is a timeline of what took place yesterday:

1:30 am Wednesday morning: Joseph wakes up and doesn't know why he feels so awake (or bright eyed and bushy tailed as he says)

1:45 am Joseph receives the call from Emory to come right away because they have some lungs for him

4:00 am at this point Joseph has been examined and they have determined that everything looks good and the doctor will fly out to get the lungs (we don't know where he had to fly for privacy reasons but we do know that the donor was young, so we need to continue to pray for the donor family as they are mourning the loss of their loved one today)

6:00 am the doctor returns with the lungs and they take Joseph to surgery

8:00 am we get a call saying they are about to begin the surgery

11:00 am, we got an update that they were about to take Joseph’s right lung out and put the new right lung in and they would call us with an update before starting the left one

1:00 pm, we got the update that the right lung was in and working great. They would now start on the left lung

2:00 pm, just an hour later we get the call that BOTH lungs are in and working fine. They will continue to monitor him a while and then sew him up and take him to ICU after

2:45 pm, they let us know they were closing him up and the doctor would come to speak with us after they finish and transfer Joseph to the ICU

4:30 pm, The doctor came to speak with us and he said that he felt very positive about everything but wanted to monitor the inflammation and watch for any excess bleeding. They had to put Joseph on a heart-lung bypass machine for 4 hours which caused the lungs to become inflamed.

5:45pm The Doctor decided to take Joseph back to the O.R. due to excessive bleeding. His blood wouldn’t clot and the lungs continued to swell and ooze blood. They had to re-open, drain, stitch, and clean. He was also given countless units of blood.

9:00 pm, the doctor came to speak to us and said that the 2nd surgery went well and the blood was clotting much better and his oxygenation levels were even better than before. So everything was looking great!

1:30am ICU called and said Joseph was waking up. Kayse (wife), Sherry (mom), Adrianne (sister), and Nadine (Grandmother) rushed down from the waiting room to see him. He could not open his eyes but was defiantly aware of their presence. The doctor asked him to move his feet and he did!!!! This was very exciting. His sister asked him to lift his eyebrows and he did!!! The ladies continued to talk to him and tell him of all the prayers and people who came to visit. While holding Joseph’s hand, Sherry (mom) said, “Baby, I love you” Joseph was able to lightly squeeze her hand 3 times, which is code for I love you too!

7:30am Dr. says he is recovering well and they lowered his ventilator to provide 30% oxygen (it was once at 100%). Normal room air provides 21% oxygen so they want to get him down to that amount. They tell the family that they are keeping him very sedated for the rest of the day to allow his body to recover from all of the trauma.

Stay tuned for more updates…

He's Awake!

Well, it has been a LONG 24 hours!!! It is now 2:20 AM on Thursday morning.... A lot has happened since we got the phone call at 1:45 Wednesday morning!!

Joseph has received such AMAZING care here at Emory and the doctors and nurses who have fought for him are my biggest heroes right now!!! They are just so amazing!! They kept us informed every step of the way as the transplant progressed. Things went well, but after the procedure Joseph was continuing to bleed A LOT.... so much so that they had to bring him back into the operating room at about 6:00 last night to do another surgery to take care of the excess blood that was pooling in his chest cavity and to try and stop the bleeding as much as possible. We were able to see him briefly before they took him back into surgery again. That was some of the hardest moments of my life (and I know for his mom, sister, and grandma!!) We all felt so hopeless - but something inside of me just screamed NO! This wasn't going to end this way! I felt something rise up in my heart and I just pointed my finger at Joseph and said, "Joseph McCanne! You shall not die, but you WILL live to proclaim the works of the Lord! You are healed! Your lungs are whole!! You wil die an OLD MAN one day!!" It was strange... as the words came out of my mouth, I almost didn't know who was speaking them. It kind of shocked me, actually. I know that it wasn't me. I didn't have the strength inside of me to do that. I know it was the Lord... He was fighting for us that night!!

They took him back for the surgery and worked for about three hours. They gave him countless units of blood.... it was pretty scary there for a while. But, at about 9:30 Dr. Force (the primary surgeon) came to tell us the good news that Joseph was doing much better! The bleeding had been controlled, his blood was starting to clot finally, and they were able to remove the excess blood that was pressing against his new lungs. Seeing the doctor smile at us made releif just rush through my heart!!

We were able to go back and see him in small groups about an hour later. He was still under heavy sedation, but we were able to hold his hand and love on him a little.

Joseph's mom, grandma, sister and I searched for a place to crash for a few hours and found a WONDERFUL hideaway room close by all to ourselves! We got a couple of hours of sleep and the nurse just called us at about 1:45 AM to let us know that Joseph was AWAKE!! We rushed to his room and although he was unable to speak to us, he wiggled his toes and raised his eyebrows when we asked him questions!! He even raised one eyebrow higher than the other in a mischevious kind of way - he's such a nut!! He's doing so much better now!! They are already slowly weaning him off the ventilator and think he will be off of it completely later today!! WOW!!! That is just AMAZING!!!

Thank you so much for your prayers for Joseph over the past 24 hours!! We are so thankful for so many wonderful friends and family who have surrounded us during this time to cover us all in prayer!! Ya'll are our heroes!! We love you so much!! Pastor Scott Reece said that tonight Facebook was "Josephbook" and he was right!! Every post had something to do with Joseph and I know that he was being lifted in prayer literally across the globe!! THANK YOU ALL!!! Please continue to pray and rejoice with us as Joseph continues to recover over the next several weeks.

Check on the website or Facebook regularly for more updates!!

We're going to try and get some more sleep now if we can - we're so excited!!! God is SO good!!

Much love!
~Kayse (and Adrianne, Sherry, and Gee Gee)

TRANSPLANT UPDATE 2

THE TIME HAS COME!

Joseph and Kayse talk about getting the call only 2 weeks after being put on the list.

The lungs have been flown in and Joseph is prepped and ready to be put under. Here are the final moments before they wheel him back.

Chick-Fil-A MooCow L4J Charity Ride

Are you a Biker? Do you know any? Join us October 17th for a great ride beginning in Newnan and ending in Rock, GA. Destination:: The Rock Ranch Hot Air Balloon Competition!!!

For More Information e-mail us at... Info@Lungs4Joseph.com

Family Fun Night

The Lungs4Joseph Fun Night/Walk-a-Thon was alot of fun! Thank You ALL that Volunteered, Sponsored and/or came out for a wonderful time!!! It was so good to see so many of you out there!!! You just don't know how encouraging it is to know that I have your support in all of this! God has truly blessed me with an awesome community of friends! I love ya'll.

~Joseph

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Joseph and Kayse talk about finally getting on the transplant list.

Tooth Pulled = New Lungs...Weird!

Finally....another real update. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Well...after weeks of x-rays, blood work, vaccines, tests and exams...I'm ready to be placed on the transplant list. Before I could be cleared for the transplant and placed on the list...the transplant team needed to be assured that there were no hidden health concerns that may pop up and compromise things in the near future. Also...they wanted to make sure that my body was free of infection.

Well...the last thing on my "List of things to do before being listed" was a dental exam. I thought I was just going to go in, get x-rayed, hear a lecture on my not flossing enough and then get the all-clear for the transplant. Things didn't quite turn out like that. They found infection. About 3 years ago I had a root canal and was given a temporary cap that I was to come back and exchange for a permanent one. I never did. Not even after the temporary cap fell out. I know...my bad :o)

Anyway...This past Thursday (Sept. 10) they pulled the tooth and placed me on antibiotics to clear the infection. The transplant team will meet on Tuesdays and goes over my case...so I hope to hear something back from them on when I can be listed. It very well could be this week! After that happens...We wait for the phone call and my life changes forever!

Awesome Night of Worship

To all of you who attended the Night of Worship at the Landing Saturday, Sept. 12th, and gave to Lungs4joseph....THANK YOU!!

Total Raised: $3,400!!!

Thank You Daniels, Harris and Shelley Families!

Hot Dog Fundraiser Held @ the Food Depot in Stockbridge. Thank You!!!

Thank You Gomez Family!

Yard Sale Fundraiser Put Together by the Gomez Family and Their Home Church.

Thank You Stone Family!

Starbucks Fundraiser @ the Festival of Lights headed up by the Stone Family.

THE DOCTORS SAY 8 YEARS ::: JOSEPH SAYS 31

VIDEO SHOOT

Last night Michael Hardie shot video interviews for a video that will be shown at the Walk-a-Thon fundraiser on October 3rd at Mt. Carmel elementary from 6-9:30pm
(2450 Mt. Carmel Rd. Hampton, GA. 30228)
The interviews were GREAT! I can't wait to see the finished product :o)

Also...We have had 2 more people sign on to be part of our fundraising team!!! That makes 21! For more info on what the "Fundraising Team" is....scroll down to the "looking for 40" posting.

PSALM 118:17

"I shall not die but live, and proclaim what the Lord has done."

SUPERHEROES NEEDED

I guess like any typical American boy I was fascinated with the idea of having superpowers. Many a safety pin was utilized to its maximum effectiveness holding bath towels together around my neck to serve as capes. In my regular play clothes I was average…mundane...vulnerable. But drape a towel over my back and world watch out!...I was a flying powerhouse. After five years of wearing the corners out of bath towels from poking holes and tying knots I was given the most incredible gift. A superman cape.

I wasn’t just simply pretending to be superman now...It became real. No more make believe for this six year old. There’s only so much you can do with a towel….but with a cape…

Shortly after receiving the cape I convinced my mother to buy me a pair of red fruit of the looms with a yellow band. After that I somehow ended up with a superman logo t-shirt and, to top it all off, a pair of solid yellow knee high tube socks. Now I was fully aware that Superman’s boots were red…but when your six years old and you’ve got it that close…who cares? My costume was complete. Well…at least it was complete enough for me.

I remember one particular Saturday going to my phone booth (closet) to turn myself into Superman. Yellow socks pulled up to my knees to serve as boots…Check. Red underwear with yellow band…Check. Blue T-shirt with Superman emblem on chest tucked into red underwear…Check. Last but certainly not least, cape…Check.

It wasn’t long after dawning myself in my superhero regalia, flying a couple rounds through the house and humming the superman theme tune that I found my first opportunity to rescue a citizen in distress. The problem: Bike accident. The victim: An older neighborhood boy. The villain: Neighbors mailbox

In no time flat I went from looking out the kitchen window to running out the front door; arms outstretched…still humming the superman theme. I was up…up…and away! It was a great feeling. I was a superhero and I was doing what superheros do…save lives. I ran…err…flew over to the boy as fast as I could, bent down and in as mature a voice as I could manage, asked the boy if he was OK.

Now you have to understand that the next set of events is etched into my memory clearer than the events described above. Follow me as I relive it for you…

I’m looking over at this boy who was, to me, a lot older (probably 9 or 10). He hasn’t even looked at me as he is too concerned and focused on his skinned up knee. He’s holding back tears in an effort to be a big boy. As any superhero would…I begin grabbing the boys arm and his ‘good’ leg in an effort to pick him up and take him to the comforting arms of his father…not even taking into consideration that he is at least 25 pounds heavier than myself.

It soon becomes apparent that my picking up the boy is not going to happen so I take a step back to reassess the situation. As I do…to the right…I hear the sound of bicycle peddles and rubber on concrete accompanied by the sound of growing laughter. I’m getting upset. How dare these four bullies laugh at this boy and his bike mishap? What? Oh my goodness! They aren’t laughing at the boy…they’re laughing at me. Even the hurt boy when he finally looks up at me begins to laugh. Why are they laughing? Don’t they know I’m superman?

I WAS Superman…until then. Then it hit me...I saw it. I saw it for the first time. I wasn’t a powerful superhero fighting crime and saving lives. I was outside in my underwear. I ran home. I ran home and I hid. Talk about a humiliating and disappointing slap in the face!

Twenty four years later and I still love helping people. The desire to save lives and be someone’s hero still burns inside. I don’t wear a costume or a cape…but my heart is still in the same place. Through the years I’ve had the opportunity to run to the rescue for the young, the elderly, the orphans, the widows, the incarcerated, and the homeless. I love doing it all but I’m now being faced with the sad realization that I'm no longer as strong as I once imagined I was and I'm quickly losing the power and ability to do any of it. I’m realizing once more that I'm outside in my underwear.

Just looking at me you may think, “He looks healthy enough “. Well, Thank you! But the truth is…It's all a facade. My reality is that my lungs are operating at 14% of their expected capacity. I’m a frail 110 pounds and lately the simplest of tasks have become a struggle.

The simple truth is… I now need a hero.

YOU CAN BE THAT HERO! YOU have the ability to save my life…literally. You can do it in a variety of ways.

FIRST and foremost I need your PRAYERS.

SECOND…Money. The procedure and post transplant medications are very expensive.

THIRD…Fundraisers. Help us with raising funds for the transplant and immuno-suppressant drugs.

FOURTH…Get the word out about my need for a new set of pipes

“A hero is a man (or woman) who does what he can.” – Romain Rolland

God Bless!
Joseph

Video Blog Entry 002

Video Blog Entry 002 from Joseph McCanne on Vimeo.

Looking for 40

We are trying to raise the initial $100,000 for Joseph's transplant and we need YOUR help! :)

We are looking for 40 individuals to be a part of our "Fundraising Team" to help us reach our goal! The idea is that each person will conduct their own fundraiser(s) to raise $2,500.

40 x $2,500 = $100,000!! The power of multiplication is AMAZING! :)

Working TOGETHER, I know that we can reach our goal!! We would LOVE to raise this initial goal of $100,000 by the end of October!! I know we can do it!!

SO FAR, we have 19 people who have stepped up to the plate!! Thank you ALL so much!! 21 more to go!!

If you would like to help us by joining our team: comment to this blog, send us a message on our Facebook fan page, or email us at info@lungs4joseph.com.

Here are some ideas for fundraisers:

* letter writing (we have a template you can use)
* church fundraiser/ love offering (we have a video you can show during a service)
* change containers in local businesses, churches, etc.
* road blocks
* bake sale
* pot-luck supper or spaghetti dinner
* car wash
* krispy kreme donut fundraiser
* product sales (through catalogs, etc.)
* garage sale
* raffles
* benefit concerts
* auctions
* school fundraising
* spirit days at restaurants (example: Chik-fil-A)
* house parties (Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia, Arbonne, Avon, Mary Kay...)
* ??? Your own creative idea!! ???


Thank you ALL so much for helping us!! You are helping to save Joseph's life and I can never thank you enough! I am so excited at the possibilities this lung transplant is going to give us! I can't wait to see what our future holds! Thank YOU for making that future a possibility for us!!!

We love you all!
~Kayse

Thank You!

I just wanted to thank...

CJ's HOT DOGS in McDonough and also GEZZO'S GRILL in McDonough for both of your continued support in helping to raise funds for my new lungs!

Also...I would like to thank LISA KELLY for all of your hard work in printing the Lungs4Joseph t-shirts!!! I am sooo humbled!

Also...I want to thank the UPS STORE in McDonough for graciously donating a mailbox for Lungs4Joseph for a year!

Your love, care, prayers and support amazes me! Thank you! God Bless!!!

- Joseph

Thank You Glad Tidings Assembly of God!!!

Thank you Glad Tidings for having us this morning! We love you all so much! Ya'll are family to us, and we are so thankful to have you in our lives! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share about our cause and for your very generous donations! Because of your generosity and love, we know that Joseph will be around for many more years to come!!

Speaking of Joseph... the last couple of days have been kind of rough for him. He's been running fevers off and on, and has been very congested. He's only been home from the hospital for a few weeks, and he's already thinking he will be needing to go back again for another "tune up" very soon.

We cannot wait for the time when he will get that phone call that his new lungs are available! No more lung infections or hospital stays... no more hacking and coughing.... he will finally be able to breathe... run... climb stairs... swim... dance... and LIVE his life!! All of this will be possible BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!! Thank you so much again! We love you!

~Kayse

VIDEO BLOG ENTRY 001

Video Blog Entry 001 from Joseph McCanne on Vimeo.