Transplanted

I love reading real-life stories of people who deal with medical problems and how they make it through. So, Canadian cystic fibrosis patient Allison Watson’s double lung transplant and recovery was right up my street.
Based on Allison’s blog-posts, it’s a bit like reading her diary rather than reading literature.
She takes us along on every step of the journey - every invasive test, every slog on the hospital treadmill, every readmission and anxiety attack. 
I found it fascinating medically - nothing sugar-coated about this - and quite inspirational. 
I felt like Allison became a friend and I was her cheerleader on the journey.
I’d really recommend it to the other health autobiography addicts out there.

3.5/5 stars

My first exposure to CF was through Claire Wineland. She made such an impact on me that I’ve taken to reading more books about CF, and I’m so glad I have. Allison Watson’s experience with CF is the polar opposite of Claire’s, and I don’t mean that in a critical way. People aren’t supposed to have the same experiences; we’re allowed to look at the same things with different eyes, and Allison Watson’s story is one of a successful double lung transplant and life post-transplant. While Claire never woke up from her transplant, Allison did, and she’s living proof that a transplant doesn’t always end in a tragic death.

Watson is a candid writer, being totally upfront about everything from poop to severe anxiety to frustration and more. She gives a story that can only be incorrectly imagined by people who haven’t gone through it such a vivid image that it’s just impossible to understand how much the human body can withstand. She’s honest and has been through a hell of a ride. It’s incredible.

I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who’s interested in medical stories, CF specifically, or even just a damn good life story.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my  honest review.   Thank you NetGalley.


i love reading medical stories such as this one.     this read like a diary or journal, which is fine with me. 

i'm in awe of her strength.     definitely read this book.

Well written medical memoir.

I love memoirs written from blogs, diaries and journals.  Allison Watson kept a blog in the lead-up to and the aftermath of having a double lung transplant.  This was mainly to keep friends and family informed how things were going.  

Both the author, and her sister suffer from Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease for which there is no cure.  I didn't know much about the disease but I heard of someone dying from it many years ago just in his teens.  I recently read a memoir where a lady's little girl died when she was just 8 years old from Cystic Fibrosis. This was many years ago, written 40 years after her death.  So I picked Allison Watson's book to read to see if there is something they can do now for this disease all these years later-would Allison be healed?  

This was certainly no picnic, she tells it just as it was, the struggles, the little bits of very slow progress, the hurdles.  There's so much more to it than you think- it's not just get new lungs and a few days later you're as good as new. She couldn't eat or drink for ages after- muscles in her mouth to re-educate etc. after having nasogastric tube for so long, the risk of aspirating food and water into lungs etc.

This was very well written and translated well from the author's blog-it was never repetitive-today I was this, today I did that, etc.  Very well put together and kept me reading.

Alison Watson"s memoir Transplanted read like a thriller. Allison was born on the east coast of Canada. Both Allison and her younger sister have cystic fibrosis. They have one unaffected younger brother. She grew up in a family that travelled frequently, inspiring in her a love of travelling. They also enjoyed hiking and cycling. Life was, I would say, pretty routine for Allison Watson, up until her Cystic Fibrosis required her to make the tough decision of undergoing a double lung transplant. For Allison, this would mean moving to Toronto for a minimum of two years, and in that time,  she had to get sick enough to be a candidate for a transplant , and yet, well enough to survive the surgery and recover. She decided to accept the offer for  the transplant, and she moved to Toronto with her boyfriend Isaiah. Isaiah was truly an amazing support for Allison, as were her family and friends. She took up pottery while waiting for her "call", Getting her hands all dirty with the clay really provided a necessary distraction. Once Allison received the call to come into hospital immediately her lungs arrived, that is when the book began to read like a thriller and I could not put it down. Her recovery  could best be described like a rollercoaster ride: up and down, and up and down. I was totally vested in her recovery. I do not want to have spoilers in my review, so I will just say that Allison"s recovery was beyond contemplation. I was amazed. She is truly an inspiration. You have to read Transplanted to believe it.  I thank #netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read #Transplanted. 5 stars!

I found this novel very moving and inspiring! Not only did Allison Watson deal with cystic fibrosis but she also had a double lung transplant and endured chemo treatment for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder(PTLD) Her resilience and strength are phenomenal! I am incredibly happy that the author is doing well. I learned so much about cystic fibrosis, double lung transplants and PTLD. Thank you Allison for sharing your story!

The courage, persistence, and optimism of the author is astounding and inspiring.  Compared to her life, I have never had a bad day (and I will endeavor to remember this the next time I'm fighting the flu).  Anyone who likes inspiring stories or medical stories will enjoy this book!