Special Prayer Request

Good Morning, Today we have a very special prayer request. It is not for us, but for our Granddaughter, Anna Kate, who is 6 years old. Most of you know that she has mild to moderate Cerebral Palsy. On October 30th she will have surgery on her legs, they will lengthen the achilles tendon in her right leg to get her heel to go down flat when she walks, right now she walks on tiptoe, and they will lengthen her hamstring in both legs so her legs will turn out and not in when she walks. She will have a full cast on the right leg AND the left leg. She has requested 2 different colors for the casts. The cast on the left leg will stretch the muscles. Anna Kate is VERY excited about the surgery because her doctor told her if it does what it is supposed to do she won't have to wear braces anymore. She does not like wearing the hard plastic braces. They make blisters and are very hot and confining, she gets very tired quickly. You have been so generous with your prayers for us, we know you will join us in praying that Anna Kate's surgery will be a success. She brings us such joy and laughter. We know that God hears our prayers and answers. We have felt the power of your prayers. We are living proof that prayer works. We will keep you posted on Anna Kate too. Thank You!!!!

Getting into a Routine

I feel like today we have started settling into a routine. Alan went back to the fitness center, and he was tired when I picked him up, but a good tired. We gave the IV of the antibiotic together this afternoon, and it went smoothly. We have much to be grateful for.

He just fell asleep on the couch. He says it is more comfortable than the bed.

Thinking of all of you, Judy & Alan

We are HOME!!!!! (Apartment in Durham)

I am so happy to say we are out of the hospital and back at the apartment. We thought we would get to come home on Tuesday, but the infectious disease folks wanted to keep us an extra day because of the ecoli. They needed time to study the cultures of the ecoli and determine what type of ecoli it was and which antibiotic would be the best to treat it. Yesterday he got his first IV of the antibiotic, Ertapenem. The transplant coordinator had to come before we could be discharged and go home, she was there from 4:30p - 5:30p, and we left the hospital around 6:45pm. We had to drop prescriptions off at the drugstore. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, because I was afraid I would miss the coordinator, so I grabbed a sandwich at Wendy's. Alan had all 3 meals at the hospital. We went by the apartment to unload and for me to eat. Alan went back to the drugstore with me and went in. When we got back to the apartment, he walked across to the mailboxes to check the mail for the first time since we have been here. Before transplant he did not have the energy to walk over to the office and check our mailbox. I am going to like having my husband back. Since we have been here I have pretty much done everything by myself, now I have my best friend back. JOY! JOY! JOY! JOY! Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

His insulin is up since surgery as are all (most?) transplant patients. So he came home on insulin. Very small doses. Last night we were too tired to even try to figure out the machine to check blood sugar levels. So this morning we hit the floor running, he had to have meds at 8a, we worked on the machine and figured out how to do the test, only to realize we had no syringes to administer the insulin. Meanwhile the home health care nurse showed up to train me on giving the IV of anitbiotic for the ecoli and how to flush his picc line. She left at 12p and we ate breakfast, and then I went back to the pharmacy to get the syringes to give the insulin. Got home and we tested his glucose levels and he gave himself the shot.

Now he is napping, and I am blogging. But I have to get busy on organizing everything. This is very much like bringing a newborn baby home from the hospital. Everything is new. I am grateful he did not have to go back to the Center for Living (fitness center) today, that will happen tomorrow, and we can have today to get a handle on everything.

WE APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERONE OF YOU WHO ARE TRAVELING WITH US ON THIS AMAZING JOURNEY. OUR SECOND CHANCE IS BECOMING REALITY.

Sunday and Monday

On Sunday Alan got the remaining 2 chest tubes out. Traci, Mark and the kids were at the hospital with us when his surgeon, Dr. Shu Lin came by and said we would all need to leave the room while he removed the tubes. So, we went to the ICU waiting room to visit with some of the families we had come to know. After about 15 or 20 minutes, Traci looked up and said "Daddy is coming down the hall." We looked up and he was walking with no walker, no chest tubes,no IV tree, and of course he has not had oxygen since the surgery. It was so miraculous to see him. When we all ran toward him, he started to sob and just kept saying that God had given him a second chance. God gave all of us a second chance. Then Alan did 3 jumping jacks. He said it hurt, but felt good at the same time.

Today the infectious disease doctors came in a couple of times talking with us about the ecoli in his lungs. The first bronch they did showed ecoli but the culture itself was not growing, the second bronch did not show ecoli but ecoli is growing on the culture from the 2nd bronch. They are going to let him come home tomorrow, but will have a home health care nurse come by every day for 2 weeks to give him an IV of an antibiotic that is good at killing the ecoli. They don't seem overly worried because Alan is doing so well otherwise, but they still feel like this is necessary. We are now in isolation. When I or anyone else go into his room, we have to put on one of the paper gowns and plastic gloves. Those gloves make my hands sweat. If I leave the room for anything, I have to throw the one I have on away and get a clean one when I come back.

Alan is in very good spirits, but a little bored. He is inspiring a lot of the other patients.

While we were in ICU waiting for Alan to get his last 2 chest tubes out, I saw a young man that I had come to know just a little in the hallway. I guess he is about 16 or 17 and his name is Xavier. He looked upset and I asked if he was okay. He told me that his brother (19 years old) had just died. I didn't know what to say. I just put my arms around him and prayed. I was so rattled. I hope God let me say something of comfort to him. The last name of the family is Ramirez, please remember them in the loss of their loved one. And remember Martina who is 17 and had a lung transplant and is still in ICU, and Elois Carlton who is 56 and had a lung transplant and is still in ICU, and the many other people in ICU and their families.

I hope all of you have a great week! Hugs, Judy

Plugging Along

Saturday was an eventful day for Dad.  We found out that unfortunately the bacteria he has is ecoli.  They are treating it with an inhaled antibiotic and feel confident about the ability to treat it.  He had another bronchioscope and then the doctor clamped his two chest tubes as a test to see if he could do without them.  Dad is really hopeful as he has been told that his pain will reduce drastically once the chest tubes are out.  He walked 72 laps around the unit which means he walked 4 miles.  I know, we cannot believe him either.  The doctors, nurses, and other patients are amazed at him.  The local pharmacy prepared all of his home meds and Mom picked them up yesterday, so they are prepared when he is discharged.

We will get the results of the bronch and xrays Sunday to see how the lungs are expanding.

The best part of his day though was getting to see his grandchildren.  By age, only Lane is allowed to see him, but his nurse let all three kids come up.  Dude was thrilled!  The kids were also very glad to get the see him and know he is really okay.

Continued prayers are still appreciated.  Love, Traci