Good news, bad news. Day 15

So do you want the good news or bad news??

Good news first.  He got another big fat ZERO, no rejection!  And the echo showed good / normal heart function.  That again is huge.  They were concerned that the fluid around his lungs / heart was caused by acute heart rejection, but that is NOT the case.  This means they still don't need to go up on the steroids. We will take all that.  Kidneys are doing well, and his other functions are doing good.

Now for the bad news.  He, by far, had the worse night since transplant!  The pigtail chest tube in his side is very painful and makes him nauseous. They have given him 3 doses of morphine, around the clock Tylenol, other pain meds, and 2 hot packs over the chest tube site.  He was up at least 5 times last night howling in pain.  Stacy stayed here and tried to comfort him the best she could. Just a very long miserable night, coupled with the fear of acute heart rejection.

This morning he is doing better.  He is sitting up, eating a little (like 2 bites) and taking his meds. The goals for today are; to get/keep the pain under control (please), get him up and walk, 12 hour IVIG infusion (antibody treatment), an x-ray to check for more fluid, and beat his Dad at Mario Cart Wii.

It goes back to the 'Highs and Lows' we used to talk about.  Don't let the highs get to high and definitely don't let the lows get to low.   Today will be better.  We all know that.  If nothing else but the ZERO, it will still be a good day.   Sure glad I made the decision to get here from Oregon as soon as I did.   I just felt like I needed to get here as soon as tax season was over.  As bad as last night was, it would have been so much worse if Stacy was trying to manage Gage in the hospital and the rest of the kids at the RMH.  Who knows, but I just might have been the right help at the right time.

In other news, they told us he can go back to Nixon Elementary once he is discharged.  This will make him the first transplant kid to go to a 'regular' school right after transplant.  Gage is really exited for that.  All other kids go to the hospital school.  Stacy will still be his nurse, and he will be wearing a mask, but there will be NO backpack.  His teacher, Mrs B, and the rest of his class will be so excited to see him.  Speaking of his class, so far his teacher, and eight of his classmates have come to see him.  He sure has a lot of good friends there.

This was also one of the reasons I haven't cut my hair yet.  I want Gage feeling good and staying good. We will cut it when he and myself are ready.  (The rest of the crew were ready weeks ago).

Here's to a good day, ZERO celebration, low/no pain, much needed rest, an IV treatment, and a few walks.

Till next time,
Jason

Evening prayers, with Megan on speaker phone. 

Hospital school here to play a few games, all good as long as Mom keeps the hot pack in place.