Drum Roll Please!!

And the biopsy results are........ a big fat ZERO!!!!!!!  That means minimal prednisone, and NO moon face.  Sierra and Lindsey will be are very jealous!   The heart pressures in his heart were high, 16, they want these numbers in the 5-9 range.  However, they were not surprised, it relates to all the fluid he is still hiding in his body.  All the rest of his IV's come out today leaving him with nothing but the NG  feeding tube.  IF he can eat well, then that will come out as well.  he is starting to get a little bit of an appetite, but we shall see.  Today he received the okay to head upstairs to the 3rd floor and OUT of the CVICU, where he will be able to go to the hospital school and the playroom.  He is excited for that.

The answers to the quiz are: B-A-D-C.  The B is before ANYTHING was done, showing only the enlarged heart. A or course is he HeartWare with all the other lovely stuff he had for 512 days. The D is right after transplant.  You can see the 3 chest tubes wrapped up inside his body. The C is deceiving, it looks enlarged but is actually perfect, just the angle is different. On the C you will notice the pacer wires that were used after transplant to assist the kidneys, but those wires have been taken out now.

Jason returned home yesterday, so we are here without him.  He will probably return in a week and a half or so.  We all hate being apart, but are happy these times are coming to an end soon.

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On a much more serious note, as we celebrate these great strides Gage is taking in the right direction, our minds are heavily with the donor family.  You feel all sorts of emotions, guilt, that our child survived, and guilt for feeling joy at how well our child is doing because of their gift.  Sorrow for that child not with their family anymore. Devastation at the emptiness they will have in their home. So many other emotions.  These emotions have been felt with each of our children's transplants.

A few days ago, a local family in our church we know well, suffered a tragedy with their youngest two year old child.  Such an irony as the timing was close to Gage's transplant.  We see the devastation and sorrow they and the rest of the community are experiencing.  It is a blunt reminder of what Gage's donor family must be experiencing.  We feel guilty we prayed that Gage's transplant would happen 'soon'.  My heart aches for all parties involved.  Please keep these families in your prayers as the mourning is not a short process. Please know, I say this with the most reverence for our friends who lost there precious 2 year old, and the donor family.  May they be comforted and feel Gods love for them.

Gage ready to go to 3West 

 Gage with no lines in his hands." AAHhhhhhh, feels so good."

 Heading in for yesterday's biopsy

Yah, we will cut it!  I'm not sure he wants to cut it?