YOU ROCK JOSEPH!!!!

This past year Nick and I got to know Joseph through his blog and his story. It was SO inspiring especially since Nick was kind of up in the air about the Transplant Talk... Anyways 6 months ago Joseph got A double lung transplant and documented EVERY BIT OF IT.... Nick and I have stayed up and watched his videos and laugh,and CRIED and definitely related to his fight. Recently Joseph just celebrated his 6 month anniversary with his new lungs..... Anyways here is his post on how he is doing now....Also below is his story....AMAZING

YOU ROCK JOSEPH!!!!

Here is his 6 month report

Check it out by clicking here

AGAINST ALL ODDS - THE JOSEPH MCCANNE STORY from Joseph McCanne on Vimeo.

Strawberry heaven

Here I am once again on this quest to put some weight on this good looking husband of mine....AND KEEP IT ON.I think Nick has done really well lately as most of you have noticed, And I am SO proud of him. Nicks BMI 6.9 OH WHAT I WOULD DO FOR THAT....But here we are trying to load him up with calories. One thing Nick does not do is eat breakfast,It actually makes him sick. He cant just wake up and eaT breakfast he has to be up for at least A hour.So It has been my goal to get him to eat breakfast and if I have to make him things like this everymorning

Then SO BE IT....He LOVEEED them...

Spoiled,I would say so but he SO deserves it.Anyone who can put up with my craziness is worthy HA!!

SO HERE IS MY QUESTION TO YOU, ALL MY GORGEOUS EXTREMLY FIT BLOGGERS....NOT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ANY IDEA BUT I NEED RECIPES....REALLY FATTNING RECIPES....PLEASE SEND EM TO ME EITHER IN A BLOG COMMENT OR IN A FACEBOOK MESSAGE OR A E-MAIL. PLEASE WE NEED YOUR HELP

Shoot for A Cure

Today my friend Brittney and I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Shoot for A cure . I absolutely love volunteering for the CF foundation because it is something that is near and dear to my heart. When we went today I really didn't think we would have such A good time. Brittney and I were "Trappers" and were set at certain stations.At those stations we pressed the button to release the clay skeet for the guys to shoot. Other than the fact that my ears have not stopped wringing this was definitely one of the funnest CF fundraiser so far.We even got to meet Sam Kouvaris,Our local sports news broadcaster.Here are some of the pics from today, And dont forget to do your part and donate to our team by clicking on the DONATE NOW button to the right.

All the guys getting signed in

This guy came in and set up shop in the middle of know where and made us some Carabas that was O SO YUMMY

Brittney making the long trek out to our stations

We went the wrong way which ended up being the LONG way

Brittney and I with Sam Kouvaris

The girls who volunteered

Tomorrow Nick and I are heading up to Gainesville for A Dr.appointment.This will be our first time meeting with the transplant team,Kinda bittersweet. Just keep us in your thoughts as I know both Nick and I are kind of nervous. Hope everyone is having A great week....

Working hard

Hey Yall, I hope you guys had A great Monday....I know after A nice weekend its hard to get back into the swing of things, At least for me it is. I just wanted to ask everyone to PLEASE say some extra prayers for Nick tomorrow. Two weeks ago he had A Dr. appointment and his lung function was pretty low. So they asked him to come back tomorrow and see if they have gone up any more. Nick has been working hard to make sure that they are better. I know he is going to be so bummed if they are still low. Not only does he have A Dr. appointment tomorrow but I will not be able to go :( This makes me so sad, I really HATE to miss his appointments,Especially ones like this.I also wanted to do some recruiting, Team "Walking for Nick" NEEDS walkers. The Great Strides walk for Cystic Fibrosis is going to be on May 1st at Hannah Park. The walk is A TON of fun and is A great cause to be apart of. This is our 3rd year doing it and every year our team gets bigger and better. It is so nice for Nick to know that the people in our community care about finding A cure for CF. The walk is VERY child friendly and is right on the beach,The provide lunch which is catered by outback steakhouse and is Oh so yummy. If you would like to walk with us just click on the button below and join our team. There is no cost to join but we do have A team shirt that we have and you can get for 15 dollars.

Unfortunately everyone cant make the walk, But you can still do your part to make A difference. For every dollar that is donated to the CF foundation .90 cents of that dollar goes towards finding A cure... That is AWESOME, So please help CF stand for CURE FOUND and donate. NO AMOUNT IS TO SMALL.Just click the DONATE NOW button on the right page of the blog. Nick and I are SO blessed to have the support that we do from everyone, I am forever grateful for you. Thanks.

Check out our GREAT STRIDES page!!!!

http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/AmandaBrown6088

Forever Thankful

Hello everyone, I hope yall are having A great week. I have some GREAT news. Nick had A Dr. Appointment Monday,His FEV 1 went up 10 points. When he was in the hospital last month it was the lowest it has EVER been, A very scary 21. That is when they came in and talked to Nick and I about him going on the list for A double lung transplant. Thankfully Nick is A VERY determined person and has worked hard this past month. Nick went into his Dr. appointment Monday and blew 10 points higher...31!!!! I am so proud of him and his determination. 31 is still too low for comfort but something we are defiantly working on together.I am so thankful to have A husband who is so strong and optimistic, I know I say it all the time but it is such A blessing in my life. As most of you know I have recently got A new job in retail,Which is working out good so far. I was hired on as temporary for the holiday season. With lots of prayer and my wonderful customer service skills... haha I got moved from temporary to full time...I feel so blessed that things have worked out there and is one less thing I am worrying about all the time.Working there I have met a lot of new people,Which is great because I love meeting new people. On the other hand I am so disappointed in the way people think and act sometimes. I know times are tough right now and we are all going through things,But it just seems like everyone is ALWAYS complaining. I know I have been totally guilty of doing this myself. Its very easy to do. Since getting this news of Nicks possible transplant I just keep thinking "Things could ALWAYS be worse". I had A lady come through my line today and she was complaining how her husband doesn't make enough money for her spending habits....When I asked the lady where her husband worked at and she said he was A pilot for A airline. In the back of my mind all I could think about was " You ungrateful woman,Be thankful your husband is able to work". Nick is such A hard worker and would do ANYTHING to be able to work again, and here this lady was complaining because her husband didn't make enough money for her taste. I know I am kinda ranting and raving here but it just really bothers me. I have seen SO much of this lately and wish people would just remember what life is about. I wish that everyone could live with someone like Nick for A little while and then maybe they will be thankful for their healthy body and family....Anyways I just had to get that out... Am I the only one who feels this way??? Have A great week everyone and please take some time to thank the people who make A difference in your life, Let them know you care and most of all BE THANKFUL and remember it could always be worse.....XOXO ALWAYS

Up and Up

Today has been A GREAT DAY!!!! Nick slept in pretty late this morning but woke up in such A great mood. Gosh was it A reminder of how much I love this man. He NEVER stops amazing me and reassuring me that we are together for A reason.He just has the most positive attitude and determination.Nick is starting to feel like him self again,Acting goofy trying to make me laugh and much more active than this past week.The IVS he is on are such A pain in the butt,The one antibiotic meripenum(Not sure if I spelled that right) he has to change every 8 hours so sleep is often interrupted.His appetite is getting better,His mom and I actually went to town today and picked up some of his favorite food from A restaurant in town.I made him his favorite black bottom cupcakes. So things are definitely looking on the up and up. On another note,I came Across this blog I would love for you to check out.I came across this blog through another CF wife and boy am I glad I did.Its about another young man with CF. Just like Nick,His numbers slowly started going down. Him along with his wife decided to get listed on the transplant list and AMAZINGLY,He got "The Call" two weeks later. In October 9th it made A month that Joseph got his lungs and things are looking great. His story truly is amazing and has really encouraged Nick and I considering the news we just got. So head on over there and check out his story.www.lungs4joseph.com/ Once again I cant tell you all how thankful we are to have you behind us. Thanks so much
XOXO Always Amanda

Home Sweet Home

Yesterday Nick and I got the new we would be coming home. It was kind of A shower being we thought he would be in there for 2 weeks,We were ready though.So Nick is sound asleep and finishing out his IVS at home.While we were in the hospital we got some news that I don't think we were quite ready for.As A someone with Cf, Nick knew this conversation was coming we just didn't know when. Nicks Dr. decided that Nick should go ahead and be put on the list for A double lung transplant.Nick is not sick enough now that he needs it.Unfortunately CF is A progressive disease and his Dr. would just like him to be ready for when he is.It was such A bitter sweet conversation because I know how life changing this transplant will be for my husband,However I also know the road there will not be easy. I am so excited to see Nick run and dance and climb stairs and not get out of breath.Nick is still soaking it all in.I know from this conversation he is more determined than ever to get better and get his numbers up. I know he has A amazing support team who is cheering him on. There are a lot of people praying for Nick and it is so appreciated.Please keep your words of encouragement coming as Nick will need it in these months to come.We love all of you more than you will ever know and are forever grateful for the support you have shown to us.I will defiantly be keeping you updated. Our address is below for anyone who would like to send any encouraging words to Nick.Thanks Again XOXO Always Amanda


Nicholas and Amanda Brown
8989 Old Wire Place
Bryceville Fl 32009

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Ok so I dont beg for things verry often but I am guilty... I am BEGGING that everyone clicks on the new widget I added to the top right of the blog.May 2nd is coming up quick and I would like nothing more than to reach our goal of 1500.00 dollars.Just remember that NO AMOUNT IS TO SMALL. Anyways PLEASE DONATE. HELP CF STAND FOR CURE FOUND...XOXO ALWAYS