Scott Tyra, Maura Murray, Russell Thedford

Out of all the great memories of our 35th reunion, and there were many, the most meaningful to me was talking to Scott Tyra.  Scott and his wife traveled from Arizona to make the reunion.  The journey in distance was not as big a deal as the journey of Scott's health.  Scott is awaiting a double lung transplant.  He told me that this was his last venture out until he could get the transplant.  That really hit me.  Scott was very courageous to come so far in his condition.  I was so thrilled to hear his story, how much he enjoyed the reunion and most of all how much he enjoyed seeing his classmates.  I have asked Scott to keep us informed and he graciously agreed to let us publicize his progress toward his transplant and beyond.  As you read below you can seen that he has two huge journeys before him.  One is to get the transplant and the second is the other side of the transplant. Keep checking back for more updates.  Scott asks for you prayer and support. 
Forrest

Scott's Story

"Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Unfortunately, this is a long, drawn-out process. Basically, here's what's going on. Feel free to put whatever you think is appropriate on the website.

Basically, after life-long bouts of asthma and other respiratory problems (I won't bother you with the long names, but feel free to call Scott Dycus- he can tell you), my respiratory system is slowly but surely failing. (Actually, some of my healthiest years were in high school- thanks, guys). Currently, my lungs function at about 25% of the level they would if they were healthy. The only possible "cure" at this point is a double lung transplant (both lungs have chronic severe infections). After several months of tests to determine there isn't anything else wrong with me (there isn't), I've been added to the "active" transplant list at UCLA in Los Angeles. I'm toward the bottom of the list- I'm among the healthier of the "sick people." But as time goes by and I get sicker, which I will, I'll move closer to the top of the list. At some point, a donor match (my blood type, my size, etc.) will come up, I'll be next on the list, and the phone will ring. I'll have six hours to get there for surgery. The surgery lasts 10-15 hours, I'm in the hospital for 2-3 weeks, and I stay there for follow-up treatment and therapy for another couple of months. It isn't risk free- there's about a 6% chance I won't survive the surgery, about a 15% chance I don't survive the first year after (due to organ rejection, infection, other bad stuff), and about a 35% chance I don't survive 5 years. But without the surgery, probably sometime in the next 3-8 years my lungs will shut down, and that will be that.

So as a family we've decided to go forward with the surgery, which means that for now we just sit and wait. We're setting up an E-mail distribution list, so we can hit a button and everyone will get the "if you receive this E-mail I'm on the operating table..." message. I think we can just add the class website to that list, plus anyone else who'd like to be on there. In the meantime, we appreciate everyone's prayers and concern, and we'll see everyone again soon.

Scott "