My name is John Vernon. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 26, 1937. I left home in May of 1954, to join the U.S. Air Force. In 1957, while assigned on Oahu (Hawaiian Island where Honolulu is located) my hometown sweetheart and I were wed. We raised five children (four sons and one daughter).

After spending twenty-two years on active air force duty, I retired on August 1, 1976. Along with my family I moved to San Antonio, Texas. We located a three year old home to purchase. Before moving in I promised my wife that I would completely paint and clean the interior making it look brand new.

With the painting completed and the cleaning nearly done, I had but one task remaining and that was to clean the floor in one bathroom. I was becoming disgusted as the floor was not getting clean enough fast enough for me. Without reading the warning labels on two ingredients, I hurriedly mixed ammonia with Clorox and commenced to scrub the problem floor. After approximately two minutes I began to feel very sick and experienced great difficulty breathing.

I screamed for my wife and she got me into the car and took me to a hospital emergency room. I was examined and was told I had caused permanent damage to my lungs. I was told the ingredients I had mixed had produced chlorine gas! This is a deadly gas and I was fortunate to be alive.

THIS WAS ONE OF TWO DAYS IN MY LIFE I'LL NEVER FORGET!

I also learned that my breathing the chlorine gas had caused instant emphysema along with asthma, bronchitis and I also began to have allergies! All this happened in August 1976. Emphysema is a very slow debilitating disease and it wasn't too long before I began to notice shortness of breath.

Through the years my breathing impairment and other problems with the asthma, bronchitis and allergies began to take their toll. By 1991, I was taking prednisone on a daily basis along with nebulized treatments and other meds. In 1992, I took early retirement from my second career as it had become too difficult for me to work. I had so much of a problem attending meetings that I was having to appoint someone to attend in my place. This wasn't fair to the company nor to the person I designated to attend in my stead.

I continued my downhill plunge. In early 1996 I went to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri to be evaluated for the LVRS (lung volume reduction surgery). I was told my lungs were too far gone for the LVRS, however, I was told I could be evaluated for lung transplant. I returned to San Antonio were I underwent various tests which were sent to Barnes-Jewish.

In April 1996, I returned to Barnes-Jewish for lung transplant evaluation. I successfully passed the testing and was placed on the lung transplant waiting list on April 19, 1996. At this time I was placed on oxygen 24 hours daily and was told I could expect a minimum wait of eighteen months.

Upon my return to San Antonio, I began taking many vitamin supplements and faithfully walking an hour a day on my treadmill. My plan was to have as healthy a body as possible for my transplant procedure whenever that would be.

My lung function was still decreasing rapidly while awaiting the transplant. I was notified to move along with my caregiver spouse Mary Margaret to St. Louis, the first week of September 1997. We moved into an apartment some twelve blocks from the hospital.

There were many folks in the area in my position - awaiting transplant at Barnes-Jewish. Mary Margaret and I joined and became active in a support group. This was a very important factor for us as we learned from those that had already received their transplant and we shared similar questions with those awaiting their transplant. At this point I want to let you know that I became a member of the Second Wind Lung Transplant Support Group on the internet in 1995, and I still learn and share my experiences with other transplant recipients and those awaiting transplant.

My lung volume got down to 11% and I was being wheeled around in a wheelchair before my call. Additionally, I was having many panic attacks. During the evening of January 22nd, 1998 I was called and told to report to the hospital as lungs were available for me! January 23rd proved to be THE SECOND DAY IN MY LIFE I'LL NEVER FORGET!

I was prepped and it was a go! My Doctor told Mary Margaret the procedure was a total success. He explained that everything went picture perfect and he accomplished my bilateral transplant in three and one-half hours. The average bilateral takes six hours. The epidural medication kept me totally pain free. Even with the chest tubes I was walking pushing a chair in the ICU.

I spent just two days in the ICU and was removed from the respirator in less than 24 hours before going into a room on the transplant ward. On the third day after my transplant I was walking the hospital floors. Also on the third day, I began walking on the treadmill. I was discharged just eight days after my surgery.

How wonderful it was to breath without oxygen once more! I could walk up and down steps and on the treadmill for an hour at a time without shortness of breath, while having my oxygen level in the 98% plus range!

Mary Margaret and I remained in St. Louis for the twelve week period following transplant which Barnes requires. During this period, I had numerous tests each week and I walked on the rehab treadmill an hour daily plus I had other exercises. I went to clinic every other week where I was followed closely

Results of my blood work and my pulmonary function testing were explained to me and potential adjustments were made for my meds. I was cleared to return home after the twelve week period. Prior to leaving Barnes I was counseled about my future and I was given the opportunity to ask any questions I may have. I was a very avid golfer before my transplant so I asked when I may play golf once more. I was astonished to be told that I could begin as early as the first of May, and I could swing as hard at the ball as I desired.

When we arrived back home in San Antonio, it seems that everybody and their brother were there for me to ask me about my procedure and to inquire about my capabilities and my future. It was so wonderful seeing family and friends once more. I am a very emotional person and I came to tears many times just talking to old friends and answering their questions about my new life ahead of me.

At this point I would like to explain that I would undergo another transplant at the drop of a hat. It is far too difficult to put into words what the transplant has enabled me to do once more. I can now pickup and run and play with my grandchildren. Before, I wasn't able to pick them up much less run! I can do some chores around the house, I play golf again, I can go places with my wife, I can shop, I can travel, I can walk by perfume departments in stores without getting ill, I can also walk by the section in a grocery that has laundry detergents and the like without becoming ill from an asthma attack. I could go on and on about what I can do now that I couldn't do before my transplant. I thank God everyday for this opportunity for a second chance at life on this earth!

I encourage anyone with the opportunity to get an organ transplant to do it! An organ transplant is in essence trading one large unmanageable problem for smaller problems which can be managed.