Lung transplant went well

Dear friends, family, neighbors and well-wishers:

We would like to thank you all for your well wishes, prayers, thoughts and cards we have received during our stay in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a great place to visit; however, there is definitely no place like home!

We want to thank our children, grandchildren, friends and relatives for all their love and support during our almost five-month stay in Wisconsin.

As most of you know, Larry received a double lung transplant Nov.14, 2009, and we have had to stay close to the VA hospital in Wisconsin. We have lived in a wonderful Homewood Suites Hotel and we were taken care of by very gracious people. God definitely blessed us in so many ways during our stay in Wisconsin. We will be returning to Mountain Home soon and cannot wait to start our second lease on life.

We will be taking many precautions during the first year due to rejection and the medication. Larry's immune system will be weak and he will be wearing a mask. This will be a way for Larry to protect himself from germs and infections. Preventing bacterial and fungus infections is a key factor in maintaining his health; therefore, we will be avoiding exposure to these things by avoiding sick people, large places with lots of people, construction sites, parties and crowded community settings.

These precautions may affect the way we interact with you but please know that it is not because we do not want to be friendly, it is simply because we have to protect his gift of new lungs, which is the top priority, especially the first year.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask us.

We want to thank you all again for all your great support. It has meant so much and has been greatly appreciated. Please donate life, as it is such a blessing to those who receive a second lease on life. We have been really blessed and are so thankful to the person/family that gave their lungs to Larry, a gift worth so much.

Larry and Nancy Lewis