Day 6 – Post Transplant

Good evening everyone! I can’t believe it has been a week already! Last Tueday, Jen had posted a picture online about this might be the last time she did her vest. One week later, she looks great! I think she is almost ready to take over the blog again. Hope she doesn’t completely though. This has been a good outlet for me through this process. I bet I sleep much better tonight than I did last Tuesday!

Today was another great day here in Seattle. I am really not sure about the weather, but room 5328 was awesome. The morning started off early. Really couldn’t sleep so I headed over early to the hospital. Jen was sleeping, so I quietly slipped in. It takes a good 15 minutes to get acclimated to the temperature in her room with the gown, gloves, and masks. Finally got comfortable and the nurse came in to get blood or give meds. After she finished I grabbed a pillow and slid my chair up the bed. We were both out in just a few minutes. Woke back up about 9:00.

Jennifer’s goals today were to stand up, take a few steps to a chair, and sit down. That happened about 12:00pm. Physical therapy came to do all of that. It seems like it takes longer to get all the cords, wires, tubes, and hoses ready to move then to move Jennifer. She hugs the pillow, since she can’t use her arms. She sat in the chair for an hour and a half this afternoon.

On the second Tuesday of every month they have a support group for people in the lung transplant program. Teresa and I went. There were probably 20 people there today. Jennifer and I attended in November and there were probably 50 people there. There really was no agenda for the group, but it started with introductions. I got to introduce us first and everyone clapped when I said Jen was upstairs recovering. This entire process just blows my mind. I find it completely amazing that just last week, the lungs that are in Jennifer were in someone else. I hope that family is finding peace with their loss and I hope they know that we are very grateful. As everyone in the group was introducing themselves, a common theme was their donor family. Jen and I had talked about what that process might look like, but today really firmed that up. Before being discharged from the hospital, we will register with the life center for the northwest region. Basically, we will send a note to this organization and they will get it to the donor family. If the donor family chooses to respond, we will get a note back. Some people in the group have heard back from their donor families while others have not. Angela, the social worker, mentioned that in last month’s group a gentleman had finally received a note from his donor family 12 years later. Kinda crazy to think about.

It’s crazy to hear everyone’s stories as each one is so very different. I really enjoy listening to the other stories of this journey! From how long they waited (or still are…33 months for one gentleman), to when they got the call, to life after transplant (the good and the bad). One experienced a condition and now is re-listed. The interesting part here is that he only received one lung the first time and the native lung began taking from the transplanted lung. Long story short, when he gets his second transplant he will have two different lungs from two different donors. Another lady, just celebrated her 2nd lungaversary and she is doing amazing. Crazy how the body works.

Another of Jennifer’s goals was to cough! She did a good job getting stuff up. There is still just a little bit of mucus build up that needs to clear. Hopefully that happened today, or it will mean bronchoscopy tomorrow. I don’t want that for her!

This evening she ate her first meal post transplant. Chocolate pudding and a milkshake! They are beginning to wean the tube feed and move to oral nutrition. Tomorrow she should be able to order when she’s hungry and they can supplement at night, if needed.

Finally found a place to call home! Moving in tomorrow. We had some issues with apartments. The biggest issue is…everything is full!!! I found a extended stay hotel that offered suites and a UWMC discount! It is a two bedroom, two bathroom suite. I will let you know how it is!!!!

I was talking with Jennifer tonight and asked if there was anything I could tell the readers. I bet you all know what is coming but…

Her response, “It feels good!!”

I read her the comments from last night from people again this morning. She also says, “Thank you to all of you for the continued support.”

Teresa washed Jen’s hair tonight before heading back to the hotel. She really enjoyed that! She felt good enough before I left so that I could get a hug! I also snuck a kiss too!

Until tomorrow…