Beautiful Day....Beautiful News.....

Just got off the phone with Laurier who tells me that the weather in Edmonton was even nicer than here in PA today! And that was just the beginning of his positive report....

Things are really picking up speed with Donovan's healing. Today was a very busy day of learning to keep scrupulous records of anti-rejection meds....they need to be taken at the exact same time each day, and recorded.

Next was pulmonary function tests...and guess what? The new "breathers" are working at 60% (that's the fev1 number, the amount of air exhaled in one second, an important reading for lung function) and this is great for a first test. It will take about six months for the lungs to kick in to high gear. Each day Donovan will record his blood pressure, pulse and PFT (pulmonary function) numbers, and brings the info into clinic, where they will look at the trend. This will help him to note if any rejection is going on.

Then, on to the gym where they are really cracking down and getting Donovan to practice stairs, in and out of the tub etc. and see just what kind of support equipment he may need for a while at home. It's going to take a while to build that muscle strength that we all take for granted. He is now able to get up off a chair or bed unassisted. Yay Donny!

The swelling of the feet and ankles is finally subsiding, they tell me....The slippers we bought Donovan a week or so ago are falling off his feet now. I know this will make him feel a lot better, not having to look down at puffy feet.

Believe it or not, they bought a third roommate into Donovan's shared room...and yes, there is only room for two beds! They jammed a third patient between the two for the day! I can't imagine how crowded it was! They did find a room for the poor soul by evening...

We are so pleased with how everything is going, but just a few items that are still concerning. One of the side effects of the meds is insomnia, and Donovan has it in spades. Sleeping pills are not working...so they are going to try to find the right combo....let's pray it works!

There's also an area of one of the lower lobes of one of the lungs that isn't quite inflating properly, so the techs are getting Donovan to lay on that side and do his "slurpee machine" breathing exercise. As I understand it, he just needs to force air into that area. Let's pray it responds to treatment.

I'm not sure how things are going with the low blood, and lack of hemoglobin, but no news is good news for now. I think I've been told the white cell count is still decreasing which is great!
Best of all, for the first time in a month, Donovan got to breathe outside air. They loaded him into a wheelchair for a walk in the lovely autumn weather! I'm so happy for him!!!

Here on the homefront, things are busy, but I've had the privilege of sharing our miracle with so many wonderful supporters....Stephen's soccer team parents at a game today, and at a parent's meeting tonite. These folks have been great in assisting with our part in the planning of his team's trip to Charlottetown on Sunday. I've also had long leisurely lunches with family and friends and plan to go out again with the girls from my work on Thursday...the days are passing quickly. It's so odd, feeling like I've been away from home an eternity, but at the same time almost like I've never left at all. But I must say I'm loving my own bed, and all my familiar stuff!

Well, that's another day on our journey. Discharge is looking like it will be sooner rather than later, by the way they are handing the reigns over to Donovan. This is all still so continually amazing, and we constantly thank God for all his wonderful works in our's and our son's life.

God bless each one of you as you walk this road with us.

love,

Beth