Five Days til Freedom

I wasn't sure how many people were still checking this, but every now and then someone says they have; so, here's what's new. In five days, John will have the green light to resume his life. He can return to driving, work, church and running. This will be two weeks earlier than the original two month recovery plan, so he should ease his way back. (we'll see how he does with "easing":) The doctors have been reducing his anti-rejection drugs; he had his staples (all 100) out two weeks ago and he now goes to the transplant clinic every other week. Flunctuations in his blood pressure and magnesium levels, and some tremors in his hands are still a challenge but everything else looks great. Last week John walked 50 miles! He's trying to walk as many miles as he would ordinarily run in a week. He's also on his eighth book. You now have a picture of what he's doing most days. Besides the walking and the reading, he is keeping up with things at work and church. His partner, Terry Collins, comes over and walks with him as well as his second counselor in the bishopric, Lynn Rector, who lives in our neighborhood. We've also had several visitors. As long as you're healthy and no one else in your house has been sick - you're welcome to visit. We can't thank all of you enough for your good thoughts and prayers. The success of the surgery and his speedy recovery have been amazing and we know why. There is power in faith and prayer.

Feeling Like a Chemistry Experiment

There's not enough happening (thankfully) to give updates daily, so here's the highlights of the past week. Last Monday was John's first visit to the transplant clinic for lab work. We left the house at 8:00 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. appoinment and just made it. Things went smoothly after that and we were home by noon. We had just finished lunch and John had gone upstairs to nap when he got a call to come back to Georgetown Hospital to the emergency room because his magnesium levels were dangeroulsy low. Levels this low created the potential for seizures. So we drove back into D.C. and spent seven hours in the emergency room while he received 4 grams of magnesium intervenously. We were a little surprised that they would send us to the germ infested emergency room but there weren't any other options. They did put us in a room with a closed door and they made him wear a mask. We got home at 11:30 p.m. that night.

The rest of the week went pretty well. John's been walking about five miles a day - three in the morning and two in the afternoon. (Brady's getting thin!) He's added a little socializing with his walking also. It's a good germ free way to talk to people. His Saturday morning running group even ran over Saturday to walk three miles with him.
Later in the week and yesterday he started to feel the side effects of his blood pressure medications and his anti rejection drugs both of which have been adjusted. He told our daughter yesterday, he feels like a chemistry experiment. I'm sure he'll have more days like that until it all settles out.

Thanks for all of your cards, emails, texts, books and movies. He's on his third book now.

At the clinic yesterday, the physician's assistant said he could go back to regular activity, (work,church etc.) beween six and eight weeks after the surgery. We're two weeks into that!

Life at Home

We've been home for 48 hours now and are starting to settle into our routine of medications at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. along with blood pressure, temperature and weight readings every morning and evening. It comforts me to know that we will be going to the clinic at the hospital once a week starting tomorrow for blood work and medication changes, so we can't get too far off track.

John is progressing well. He does get tired but not enough to stop him from walking two miles yesterday (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and one mile today in the rain! (the dog and I were not happy companions:) He scared me to death the first day he walked because he decided to go out while I was gone. I thought we were going to need marriage mediation over that! Besides walking, he's enjoying reading your comments on the blog and emails from many of you.

Because John is on large doses of immune suppressive drugs for the next few months, we have to be careful about food preparation and bacteria as well. So if you were thinking of bringing us food, we would appreciate a suggestion for a good movie or book instead. We do get Netflix.

We can't thank you enough for all of your prayers and good thoughts. We feel their sustaining power.

He's Coming Home

Dad just emailed me to say he's being evicted today. Great news. I know Dad's relieved to be out of the hospital, but I bet my mom is fretting her full time nursing duties now.

I just wanted to give a little Transplant Patient 101 for anyone who may want to visit after he returns from the hospital. My dad has been put on very heavy anti rejection drugs after receiving his new organ. The body's natural response is to reject the new "foreign object" as it would a disease. The anti rejection drugs lower the body's immune system significantly to prevent it from trying to "fight off" the new organ. Because the drugs lower his immune system so much he's very highly susceptible to picking up viruses. The doctors have warned my dad to be very careful with this and he's not to be in public places for about 3 months. Its much like you would treat a newborn during RSV season. I'm sure my mother will let us know when he is ready for some visitors. I would say especially this early on if you are going to visit my dad please don't go if you are at all sick or if anyone in your family is sick. Its probably better to err on the side of caution right now. I know in time my dad would love to see visitors. Right now my mom can tell us when and how many he'll be ready for. Thanks again for all your support. Congrats on leaving the hospital Dad!

Thursday Afternoon

Dad walked up and down a flight of stairs today and lapped the entire floor 10 times (plowing down anyone in his path, I'm sure). He emailed me a picture of him yesterday and he's looking good. My mom made me promise not to reveal his bed head and 5 o' clock shadow to the internets, so you'll have to trust my word or ask him for a photo yourself.

The great news is that he may get to go home tomorrow and if not, will probably be leaving the hospital on Saturday. Way to go, Dad!

Wednesday Afternoon

Dad continues to show improvement. He's walking around the entire floor now. Told the nurse he wants to go down to M Street. He's still in the ICU until a bed becomes available, so he cannot receive any visitors and we're not sure yet what the policy will be once he moves. He has been reunited with his iPad and is checking email and this blog from time to time. I'm sure he would be happy to read messages of encouragement. My parents really appreciate all of your love and support. My mom says she can feel all of good thoughts and prayers sustaining them as Dad starts his road to recovery.

Tuesday Morning - He's a Rock Star

The nurses are calling my dad a rock star. He's progressing really well and has already had a physical therapy team in to help him walk around the ICU. This is much earlier than is typical for a liver transplant patient. He made two walking laps around the ICU with a big smile on his face (already in training for the next race). He's been eating Jello and clear liquids. He even talked with some of the hospital staff about their training for the Marine Corp marathon. My mom said he's still not carrying on long conversations and is pretty tired. But he's progressing really well. Once he found out my mom's been spending $200 a night at a nice Georgetown hotel room surrounded by upscale shops and restaurants, I think his resolve to leave the hospital soon grew even stronger. They plan to have him leave the ICU as soon as a room becomes available. The transplant team will be overseeing his treatment after this next move.

Monday Evening

Sarah and I both wish we could be there in person right now to see my dad and his progress but for now we're just getting periodic updates from my mom as she has time to call us. We figured this would be an easier format to relay all the updates we get from my mom to those that would also like to know my dad's progress. Sarah has the option of posting on here too so you can notice at the bottom who wrote each entry.

I spoke with my mom last night. She said everything is progressing as it should so far. All the nurses keep commenting on how good he looks. My mom told one of the nurses on duty Sunday evening that my dad had run 12 miles the day before. Its been the talk of the nurses station ever since - "Who runs 12 miles the day before a liver transplant?" Apparently my dad. On Sunday evening my mom said he had about 8 different drips attached to him, administering all different drugs and fluids, also a breathing tube. As of yesterday she said a lot of the tubes were gone. He was still pretty out of it yesterday from the pain medication. He could answer simple questions like "Do you know where you are?" and "Do you know why you're here?" but would only answer the question and then drift back to sleep. She said she can tell he's uncomfortable too and winces a lot from pain. But the important thing is - there appears to be no complications so far and all has gone as it should. Thank you again for all of your prayers and words of support.