歪歪漫画

Walter and Amy Lindahl didn鈥檛 expect any fanfare on their drive home from Rochester on the evening of Dec. 18, but the Bemidji Police and Fire Departments provided exactly that in the form of an escort to welcome the pair back to their stomping grounds, just in time for Christmas.

Commencing from Horace May Elementary to their home in Bemidji, the procession was meant to recognize Walter for his resilience throughout the past two-and-a-half years that have altered his life鈥檚 trajectory.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Regardless of the struggles he has faced, Walter knew that the only way out of the fire was to keep moving forward.

Until March 2021, Walter served on the front lines with the Bemidji Fire Department.

While battling a blaze at the BNSF railroad bridge, Walter experienced a medical emergency that would lead to an April 2021 diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a condition resulting from damaged lung tissue that can make it difficult for the lungs to work properly.

Following this diagnosis, Lindahl was unable to work alongside his department and started the process of seeking funds for a double lung transplant.

鈥淭here are two lines in the transplant world. There鈥檚 one line that you cross where you鈥檙e sick enough to be placed on an eligibility list,鈥� Walter detailed. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a second line that you cross where you鈥檙e too sick, not eligible anymore and can鈥檛 be saved.鈥�

Walter was listed on June 16 of this year, after which he played a mere waiting game for a set of lungs to become available. On Aug. 17, he was able to receive his double lung transplant at Mayo Clinic鈥檚 St. Mary鈥檚 campus in Rochester.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

From that point forward, the recovery process would begin.

鈥淚 was basically paralyzed from the waist down. I couldn鈥檛 pick up a remote. I couldn鈥檛 move my hands. I couldn鈥檛 speak because I had a trach tube installed throughout the process,鈥� Walter said.

Walter was essentially housebound for the first two months post-operation. Four months following his surgery, he has slowly gained more independence as his wife Amy serves as his primary caregiver.

His recovery process includes physical therapy five days a week and taking immunosuppressive medications to prevent organ rejection.

鈥淚 did enough physical therapy to come home and be able to walk up stairs,鈥� Walter added. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping within the next couple of months to get rid of my walker and be able to walk on my own. I can鈥檛 walk great distances yet. I鈥檓 still relying on a wheelchair, but I鈥檓 hoping after the first year, I鈥檒l be totally mobile and as close as I can be to my old self.鈥�

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Amy mentioned that Mayo Clinic requires two caregivers for a transplant patient for the first three months into recovery. Walter and Amy鈥檚 daughter, Abigail, serves as a backup caregiver.

鈥淏ecause everybody has a different experience with transplants, there鈥檚 no real way to know how much support a person is going to need,鈥� Amy said. 鈥淭he more independent he becomes, the less caregiving I have to do.鈥�

Mayo Clinic also informed the couple that 50% of transplant patients will die within the first year after the procedure.

鈥淲alt doesn鈥檛 have any other underlying health conditions, zero. We were told that the likelihood of that happening is low,鈥� Amy added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big surgery. He had 64 staples across his chest, had his heart put on bypass and he was on life support. He will get through this, it鈥檚 just going to take time.鈥�

Along with Monday鈥檚 escort, the couple expounded on other ways the community has supported them throughout the transplant and recovery process.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just crazy how supportive everybody鈥檚 been along the way,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淧eople reaching out, sending cards on an almost daily basis, gift cards, money 鈥� I can鈥檛 say enough about the amount of support we鈥檝e received.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 very overwhelming, in a good way,鈥� Amy mentioned. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe how many people are following our story.鈥�

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Along similar lines, Amy spoke to the importance of organ donation having been a donor herself since she was 21.

鈥淲ithout organ donation, Walt would not be here today,鈥� Amy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible gift and I know we鈥檙e very fortunate to have experienced it. I never really thought about it until we were on the receiving end of it.鈥�

With hopes for a future of continued health, Walter will remain focused on making a full recovery. Further in the future, the couple may make travel plans to spend the winter months in the southern United States and migrate back to the north once summer arrives.

Another priority for Walter is returning to the gym and maintaining an active lifestyle. Having earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing from Bemidji State University in May 2022, reentering the field may be on the docket, as well.

鈥淚 hope to utilize that degree and get back into nursing somehow, some way,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淗opefully, I鈥檇 be able to get on the floor and do anything that any other nurse can do.鈥�

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Above all else, being around for his family is of utmost importance for Walter as they head into the holiday season and beyond.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what we take for granted and I never thought about time ending or me being gone,鈥� Walter left off. 鈥淭his really changed my outlook. I just want to be there for my family, travel and make memories.鈥�