For those of you not familiar with Taking Flight - it is a compilation of stories that I gathered from lung and heart/lung recipients who wanted to share their good fortune with others to encourage them that lung transplant means a great opportunity to continue and renew your life. Many of the contributors have started whole new lives with school, careers, marriage, travel, working, exercise and adventure.

Below are some excerpts from the book that you cannot read at the Trafford Web site for Taking Flight - but they are more good examples of the stories that Taking Flight holds. The stories are "Breathtaking" and every person in the book knows what a joy it is to take a nice clear breath after years of not being able to. Below the excerpts I have put the information for ordering Taking Flight, there are several ways it can be accomplished. If you have any questions about Taking Flight, or lung transplant, please feel free to contact me. luckylungsforjo@aol.com  Again, below are the excerpts and then the ordering info. Have a great New Year!

Joanne EXCERPTS Excerpts from-- Taking Flight: Inspirational Stories of Lung Transplantation My whole transplant experience has not been how I thought it would be - it has been how I DREAMED it would be. Anyone in the street who sees me thinks of me as 'normal' but underneath my shirt I wear my scar like a badge of honour as it signifies my fighting attitude and my new life. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for my miracle and my donor for their gracious gift that has given me life. I plan to live for many years to come but if I were to die tomorrow, the things I have achieved in these last four months have been truly worth it. I would do it all again in a flash because life is wonderful!! Megan Boler, 25 It is now three years later and I have had no major complications. I was able to return to work full time six months after my transplant. I've traveled, taken figure skating lessons, and painting lessons, helicopter flying lessons, participated in walk-a-thons and relay races for the heart association and organ donation and volunteer work for national donor awareness events. My biggest accomplishment of all is that the love of my life, my soul mate and a fellow double lung recipient (as of this year), will walk down the aisle and become my husband this September (and thank goodness he won't have to sleep in a mist tent with me). It is all because of the incredible decisions of strangers and the strength and courage of our donor families, that the impossible has become possible. My fiance and I have been truly blessed. We will be forever grateful for our precious gifts and our second chance at life together. Eve Shaffer, 37 How do you encapsulate the change in my life after transplantation? An appreciation of where I came from is a start. Where I end up is far more important. Brian Ryall, 33 In January 2001 she was skating on an outdoor rink in Toronto, she went downhill skiing and she also went back to school in March. She passed Grade 5 with the rest of her class and she has never looked back. She says she doesn't remember what it felt like not to be able to breathe. She remains a strong little girl with a positive outlook and a love for life. It is a miracle to see her now pink and active with no oxygen tanks or wheelchairs just a pair of running shoes or roller blades and a slam of the door and a call, "See you later Mom." Most people take for granted the freedom that being able to breathe gives you. Brenda Caldwell, Mother of Meghan Caldwell,

11 Cystic Fibrosis has actually benefited me. I am not concerned about displaying my material possessions. Petty things do not even enter my mind, and I don't gossip. I get to appreciate life. It is difficult to be selfish when you realize that the life of a donor was lost, and dedicated doctors toil up to 80 hours a week to keep us recipients healthy. I have returned to teaching, performing even better than before, free from the burden of failing lungs. But I will not preach; everyone has to find his or her own way in life. I am spending time with my wife and son, a closely-knit group of friends, and the rest of my family. I have traveled, walked on the beach and fished. I did my first scuba dive on the one-year anniversary of the surgery. Most of all, I am a dad unlike my own, playing marbles, shooting pool, and tossing the ball. I especially enjoy picking my son up from school and talking on our way to his swim practice. I love my son. His name is Stephen.

Michael Horgan, 41 Transplant has given me a new outlook on life. I've come to realize how precious life is and don't sweat the small stuff any longer. I still marvel at my good fortune and am deeply grateful to my donor family for their kindness. My passion is Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness. I am a frequent speaker for Lifenet, the Organ Procurement Organization in my state. My favorite audiences are teenagers who appreciate the humor involved in hearing the story of, "Ben & Curtis, My Two Bosom Buddies" so named in honor of my transplant surgeons. Paula Huffman, 52 David is busy with his "new" 1996 Chevy Camaro, which he is restoring to be a show car. After high school he is considering going into a career with computers. All stuff a 16-year-old should be involved with. Melinda Masterson, Mother of David Fornwalt, 16 My new lungs enable me to do things never before possible. I have always worked out but now the intensity level is tenfold. At present I work out five - six days per week, mixing bodybuilding with aerobics plus I went back to teaching Tae Kwon Do and am learning Jujitsu (Brazilian submission wrestling). I think the greatest goal of all was completing a five-mile run.

You see one of the requirements at the school where I did my Tae Kwon Do training was a five-mile run after your black belt test. This rule was waived for me due to my lung disease. It was important to me to train for and complete this run. My new lungs allow me the ability to do this and anything else that I chose to do. Scott Jemison, 41 More than ten years have passed since my transplant and I still cannot conceptualize how unbelievable the past years have been. It has been a journey to rival no other. I am so grateful to my donor family. In a time of tragedy it is amazing to me that they saw past their own lives to give me life and for this I am honored. Lorrie Krebs, 35 It was a very hard decision to go through this lung transplant. But I'm so thankful I did. I've already had 16 more months of life than if I'd not gone through with it. Pamela Yvonne Simmonds, 51 Barnes released me on December 21st, just in time for Christmas. Since my transplant I can now breathe without oxygen, talk complete sentences, sing, eat until I am full, taking showers instead of just baths, go shopping, cleaning house and doing laundry. My new energy has allowed me to change much of my life; feeling good and not tired all the time, don't need as much sleep, can use stairs, jump on the trampoline, go swimming and swim underwater, and most of all I can dance again, which I did for my 30th birthday. Valerie Vandervort, 30 Only two more months until I receive my pilot's license!! Quite an accomplishment for someone who received a living lobar transplant October 25, 1996. Maria Urrechaga, 36 I am looking forward to being able to go back to school with all my friends an d classmates. I even plan to play soccer for my high school next year!Even though I haven't been dealt the best hand in the world, I wouldn't trade it for anything. During my life, I have met a lot of interesting people and I have got to do a lot of cool things that I would have never had the chance to do. I am asked often, how I have such a positive attitude and I tell them, "When the going gets tough, I get tougher." Krysta Rule, 16 My name is Melissa Reta. I am 28-years-old, and on May 24, 2000, I had my living donor lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis. I have done everything from driving a NASCAR at California Speedway going 165 MPH, to dancing the night away at one of the many concerts and clubs I have been to since my surgery. My recovery and life went on, but I had this continuous struggle inside me; what to do with this gift I had been given. How would I not only make my uncle Rickey and my friend Jerry, the men that willingly walked into the operating room to give me a lobe of their lung proud of me, but to make God Himself proud. One night, at a concert with my mom and her friend, it came to me. I had heard about things "coming to people", but never really understood it, maybe I was just really listening for the first time in my life. It was almost as if someone had whispered into my ear, "You can help other people get through this." Once again, calmness came over me; I knew why I was still here. Melissa Reta, 28 My life is filled with activity, hope and liveliness as anyone would expect.

I enjoy every day with my new lungs and finally can feel normal. Ashleigh Tiller, 16 Since the double lung transplant five years ago, I breathe better than I ever thought possible. A healthy person can never imagine what a person with CF goes through and a CF person would never imagine what it is to live with healthy lungs. I would tell a healthy person, "Take your sickest day where you are coughing and multiply it by ten and that might be how a CF feels at times on a good day." When talking to a CF person, I can just say, "Imagine your best day, after being on IV's and then multiply it by 100 and that would be life every day." In a sense of reality, I will constantly be reminded that every breath I take is not my own. I live a normal life now, because my special family generously gave me a second breath of life. As result of this gift, I gladly accept any opportunity to speak at events pertaining to organ donor awareness. Bryan Lawton, 34 As a Mother, words cannot describe the terror and fear experienced on and off again throughout the progress of this disease and seeing a child suffer so much throughout his or her disease, and then to experience the relief and joy after a transplant. It is hard to describe other than to say I feel that we have experienced a miracle. I am so grateful for so many people in all walks of life who helped Elaine survive. Linda Liberti, Mother of Elaine Speight, 17 My attitude towards life has changed and I certainly believe for the better.

The little things that cause other people so much grief seem very irrelevant to me and I take each day as it comes and make sure I enjoy it. Every day I am alive is a bonus and a great day. Diarmuid Meade, 32 ORDERING INFO:

New Discount Prices for Orders of 5 or more Books!!

TAKING FLIGHT - INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF LUNG TRANSPLANTATION Those who have a lung illness such as; Kartagener's Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, Emphysema, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Silicosis, COPD, Bronchiectasis, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Sarcoidosis, or Lymphangioleiomyomatosis often will hear the words, "lung transplant". What next? What does it mean? Who has done this? Will life go on? These are just a few of the questions that one with think of. Lung recipients know this gut-wrenching feeling. They've lived the fears, the wonder and the surgery. But they also know the joy of life after transplant and that the adventures, goals and pursuits they've accomplished are part of the determination they've held onto. Their new given abilities, or their return to former careers, family and desires after transplant, provide inspiration to other pre and post lung and heart/lung recipients, family members, colleagues and to the doctors and surgeons they are now involved with. It is difficult to gather stories from all around the world (New Zealand, Australia, Israel, United States, etc.) for all various lung illnesses from those who were now leading full, healthy lives. So I took it upon myself to contact this determined group of people and asked them to write their story, or if so desired, I would write their story for them. Write they did! All 255 lung recipients, heart/lung recipients, and caregivers were more than happy to share their "Flight Record" for others to learn, gain hope and inspiration from.

TAKING FLIGHT is a first for all of us that are lung recipients. A much needed first that will help so many to Take Flight on a smoother, more comforting journey."

To read excerpts online, please go to: http://www.trafford.com/robots/02-0497.html  There are several ways to buy the book:

1) From the Trafford Website (which is above)

2) Or by calling Trafford at 1-888-232-4444 (U.S. & Canada Only)

3) From Amazon http://www.Amazon.com

4) From me directly. (Do not place your order at the web site if you want to order it from me. By placing your order at web site, you are ordering from Trafford and the cost is different, (shipping can add up through Trafford) you need to read this entire email for directions to order it through me.)

Prices of Books - Comparatively Joanne Schum vs. Trafford One book - through Joanne Book - $20.00 - Includes shipping anywhere in the continental United States Shipping takes up to 9 days One book - through Trafford Book - $19.95 - Shipping approximately $6.00 to $10.00 Shipping takes 1 to 3 weeks by ground (air is available at higher cost)

5 or more books - through Joanne (20% discount for 5 or more)

Book (5 or more) - $18.00 per book - Includes shipping anywhere in the continental United States Shipping takes up to 9 days

5 or more books - through Trafford (20% discount for 5 or more)

Book (5 or more) - $15.96 per book - Shipping approximately $10.00 (please inquire when calling Trafford)

Shipping takes 1 to 3 weeks by ground (air is available at higher cost)

(Bookseller Discount available from Trafford. Please contact them directly for prices.) Here is the info you need to order from me:

1. You must live in the continental US to order from me.

2. The only method of payment that I can accept at this time is MONEY ORDER.

3. To order: Send payment for each book ordered by MONEY ORDER. Send to: Joanne Schum, 1104 Bay Road, Webster, NY 14580

4. INCLUDE: Name and address the book will be shipped to.

5. Shipping will be via US Mail - Book Rate. Book rate means that you should receive the book within 9 days.

6. If you want me to autograph the book, just mention it to me and happy to do that. Any questions let me know.

Joanne Schum
luckylungsforjo@aol.com

http://www.trafford.com/robots/02-0497.html

1104 Bay Road Webster, NY 14580
585-671-7635
"Taking Flight - Inspirational Stories of Lung Transplantation" Compiled by Joanne Schum Authored by lung recipients around the world http://www.trafford.com/robots/02-0497.html

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