LIFE ADVENTURES AND JOURNEYS Archives

How to Destroy those Nasty Germs While You Are Traveling!

April 3, 2016 By Tam Warner 23 Comments

destroy those nasty germs, how to destroy germs while traveling, antibacterial wipes, destroy germs, traveling

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Destroy those Nasty Germs while you are traveling! I hate getting sick while I’m on a trip. Do you get sick when you travel? I used to. Almost every single time. I’d come to think of it as just an unhappy consequence of traveling, but after my husband, Randy, had to have a double lung transplant (a very unexpected journey) five years ago I started to look at it differently. Viruses and infections are extremely hazardous to anyone with a suppressed immune system, to everyone, so every precaution has to be taken. We must destroy those nasty germs while traveling!

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I Want Your Opinion!

February 9, 2016 By Tam Warner 16 Comments

In order to stay in touch with my readership, I would like to ask you the following questions. My blog is going well, but it can always be made better, right? I would appreciate it if you could either answer in comments, or email me at travelswithtam@gmail.com. Thank you so much!!!

What do you enjoy the most about Travels with Tam?
What topics are of the most interest to you?
Photo blogs?
- - Stories? What kind of stories?
  - Personal writing?
  - Travel writing?
  - Dive trips?
  - Reviews?
  - Solo Travel?
  - Midlife Journey?
How often do you think I should post? Right now I try for 3 times per week. Should I do more? Or less?
Does graphic design on blogs interest you? Are you attracted to blogs because of their “logo” or design?
For those who are members of the Travels with Tam Community, what made you sign up to hear about new posts? If you have not yet signed up to get notified when I post, why haven’t you?
How can I add value, or excitement, to your life? Is there something you struggle with that this blog can address?

I value every single person who reads my blog, or looks at my photos. Every comment is exciting to me because it means we are communicating! I love sharing my life and adventures with you, and would love to know more about your life and journeys through discussion (i.e. comments!).

Thank you for your assistance! I appreciate you so much!

Here are the Top Posts for Travels with Tam 2015

December 29, 2015 By Tam Warner 20 Comments

Here are the top posts on Travels with Tam for 2015! I hope you have enjoyed them throughout the year, and they continue to have relevance.

5 Reasons to Vacation in Cozumel, Mexico! travelswithtam.com/5-reasons-vacation-cozumel-mexico/
The evening began with a gorgeous sunset as we left Villa Coronado.
Close Encounter with a Great White Shark! travelswithtam.com/close-encounter-with-a-great-white-shark/
Amazing Women Wednesdays: Dr Andrea Marshall, Conservation Pioneer travelswithtam.com/amazing-women-dr-andrea-marshall-a-pioneer/
Andrea and I on the boat
A Hospital Bed in Place of a trip to Cozumel travelswithtam.com/hospital-bed-place-trip-cozumel/
UT Southwestern saves lives.
Transplant Challenges travelswithtam.com/transplant-challenges/

Lung Transplant: The Unexpected Continues

December 19, 2015 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

HA! I know how he feels!

My husband, Randy, is two years post a double lung transplant. A double lung transplant is a very serious surgery, and remains a very serious condition (for details, see Our Transplant Journey). The procedure, and a wonderful donor, saved my husband’s life, and I am grateful, but the unexpected can really catch you over your head in an instant! See what I mean?

Last week we discovered that Randy is having a rejection episode, and has e coli in his lung. Randy has had both conditions before, but this kind of news is always a shock. “Rejection” is never a good word…or condition.

More Christmas lights! — We love going out to see the Christmas lights every year.

On Wednesday Randy had a PICC line inserted so he can take IV steroids and antibiotics every 8 hours, along with breathing treatments through a nebulizer. The good news is he can be treated at home, which tells us that the rejection must be mild or they would have him in the hospital immediately.

There are so many things that can go wrong, and lung transplants have the lowest success rate of any transplanted organs. The lungs are exposed to the air, so the transplantee is always exposed to bacteria, germs, and viruses. It is, shall we say, a given. The unexpected is actually the norm when it comes to lung transplant…you can count on unexpected complications.

We should all strive to be children at Christmas! — We should all strive to be children, and to have gratitude, at Christmas!

I do my best to remain positive…relentlessly so. I know this rejection episode will resolve. It has been a long journey, and often a painful one, since Randy became critically ill in August 2013, but he is here, alive, and for the most part, doing well. These little episodes can be frightening…and sometimes they are not so little, but thank goodness he is permitted to stay at home for this one. It would be difficult through the holidays to have to go to the hospital to visit…but always better than the alternative! We are grateful this holiday season that Randy is alive and mostly well!

There are trials at every stage of life, and midlife has surprised us in many ways. We can plan, but we are always in the hands of fate. We count our blessings, and concentrate on the good things in our lives.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and remember, just breathing is a gift. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so for now, just breathe…and feel the joy it brings! It is the season of miracles.

Fab Photo Friday: White Water Rafting in Aspen!

September 24, 2015 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

Thank you to Blazing Adventures in Aspen, CO for a fabulous white water raft trip! We had a great time, as you can see! The guide, Mike, was super, and we not only had fun, but we learned quite a bit about the canyon and the Colorado River. Next time you are in Aspen, be sure to call on them! The Ritz Carlton recommended them, and they are the best. (They also take great photos and video, I’m sure you will agree! It is so wonderful to be able to buy photos of your group rafting!) We also had a terrific Jeep adventure with Blazing Adventures!

It was so wonderful to see Randy enjoy himself on the water…while we were in Aspen we celebrated his 2 year post double lung transplant anniversary! 2 years, and here’s to many more!

Two Years in the Rapids: a Photo Essay of Gratitude

September 10, 2015 By Tam Warner 13 Comments

Randy is the last guy on the left, I'm next to him. — Randy is the last guy on the left, I’m next to him.

Today marks the two year anniversary of my husband’s double lung transplant! We are celebrating by enjoying a trip to Aspen with another couple, who stood by us all the way. Yesterday, we whitewater rafted (and floated) the Colorado River, and I think that is a fair analogy of the last couple of years!

Our close friends are a gift, we are the back four!

I want to thank our friends and family who stood by us during a horribly uncertain time, and continue to give us their love and support. There really are no words to convey the depth of our gratitude…so here are some photos of the last two years.