Outlook

The song Keep On the Sunny Side comes to mind as I sit here with brent his afternoon. (now watching duck hunting guys...somewhere in Iowa) Brent is now sitting up. He sat up about 1:30 because he was having pain/discomfort. Since the epidural is out they have to get him on a pain regimen for him. The pain is that his chest feels "tight" but the dr's say it's because the epidural is out and he is now having some kind of pain/discomfort where before he had non because the epidural numbs the nerves that go to his chest cavitiy so he doesn't feel the pain. At first it made us both a little nervous as to what was going on but then the transplant surgeon came in and said that this is totally normal to be feeling like this until they get the pain meds regulated and the incision heals(which takes 6 wks. approx) He said this is the biggest incision that is made out of any surgeries out there. So him coming in and talking to us gave us both peace of mind. His tubes won't be coming out today because he is still draining quite a bit-I might have told him that already...sorry if I am repeating myself.

I know many of you are going to want to help out once we get home. For the first 3 months I will be cooking everything because there is a special procedure that we have to do-cleaning it and cooking it. So if you want to help you can give us gift cards to Walmart or Kroger-that's usually where we go and it's close for us in Bloomington. Also if those of you that are family are wanting to come down and visit that's fine. We do ask if you come that if you feel sick AT ALL that you DON't come-this is because Brent's immune system is zero right now. We won't be going anywhere much the first 3 months because that's the time that is most crucial for him to get any infections. We do welcome visitors once we get home but ask that you call first before coming. Right now we may stay up here at least another week weather it be in the hosptial or at a hotel. There is a couple hotels up here that sterilize the rooms before we come so it would be convenient to use one of those. Again this coming home for good is still up in the air could be a week could be 3 we just really don't know a for sure window of time.

I want to tell everyone that has helped make this happen a HUGE thank you! From family,neighbors to Dr's, nurses and surgeons! Our social worker was just in and every Friday they have a transplant meeting and all the Dr's discuss there patients so they are all on the same page-today Brent was brought up and they all had to agree that this was nothing less then a miracle and again we marvel...because it truly is! God's Been Good and IS good!
We love you all & Hope to be home soon!
Trudy