Home Sweet Home

I apologize I didn't post sooner!  First off- we are home!! Brent was discharged late on Tuesday. We stayed in Chicago Wednesday, had a doctors appointment on Thursday and we received the all clear to come home! We made it home late Thursday evening & we were never so glad to sleep in our own bed :) We were blessed to be able to spend 4th of July relaxing with our families and we even got to see a few friends at the parade. The rest of the weekend consisted of laying low and for me catching up around here. Thankfully there wasn't much 'catching up' to do thanks to my mom (who picked and canned 37quarts of beans for me-Wonder Woman, I know!) and to our neighbors who kept up our place so it wouldn't look run down! We are ( and continue to be) blessed by the people who surround us! 

Since being home Brent has done really well. We went to Chicago today for a check up with his surgeon.  After 3 different visits to the lab, 2 blood draws, 5-10 min visit with the doctor, 4 hours of waiting and 5 hours of drive time on the road-things are looking good :). All in all it was long and kind of frustrating clinic appointment. We are learning very quickly that the kidney transplant system is operated completely different than lung transplant-to say the least it's an adjustment for us. Because the transplant is a major surgery & the fact we live 2.5 hrs away the doctor has requested that we return up there twice a week- once for a clinic appt & labs and once for a just lab testing. These usually take place Monday & Thursday mornings. In addition to going up to Loyola Monday & Thursday this week we are also going up Tuesday because Brent gets to get his dialysis lines taken OUT! To say the least he is quite excited about this :). We are both slightly nerves about it because it has been in his body for a year (they don't like it in longer than 3-6 months) but we know we are in good hands if something were to go wrong (which we don't foresee happening) and above all in God's hands. From what we understand this should be a fairly quick procedure-as they told Brent- snip snip, pull the tube out, apply pressure and then he can go!....we will see ;) 

As major of a surgery as a kidney transplant is we were under the impression prior to surgery that the stipulations after transplant weren't near like a lung transplant. When truthfully the stipulations after are very similar as the lung transplant because his immune system is again suppressed-not near as suppressed as the lung transplant but still suppressed.  Because of this his foods have to be cooked to temperature, avoid large crowds, no contact with children who receive live vaccines and wear a mask when necessary.  As we are going through this process of an organ transplant/ the care/ the doctors/ etc we realize how much great care we have received and have taken it for granted! 

We are So blessed by the meticulous care we continue to receive by our nurse & doctors. So to Jane, Dr Lawry, Dr, Dilling, Dr Gagemier,  Sarah Fitz, Josh and anyone else I am missing- THANK YOU for the AMAZING TOP OF THE LINE care that you give to your patients- it's appreciated beyond words and we can't thank you each enough! 

We truly appreciate all the love and especially the prayers that everyone has sent on our behalf. 

We are truly blessed to be surrounded by God fearing and loving friends and family! 

We appreciate each of you!

Much love- Brent & Trudy