Day 2, "Is it tired in here, or is it just me?"

Good Evening....I will try and get this post in between yawns and stretches...and give God all the glory for a fine day 2 with borrowed lungs....

Laurier and I are still finding ourselves on red alert for danger whenever we call into the ICU to see if we can visit Donovan and get put off for procedures etc. "what procedure, what are they doing, is he ok?" These paranoid thoughts tumble through....we are still so jangled inwardly, when of course, they are just changing a line, bathing him, doing checks, etc. etc. It will take awhile, having walked through a minefield of illness and real danger. I can sure relate to those returning soldiers.....

Now for the day's health report: 2 eyes open, count 'em, both looking and blinking with interest, just not at us. There's something on the ceiling that is really holding our boy's interest! I am a little jealous, but hear from those who've been through it, that delusions, halucinations and the like take precedent over the living for a while after such major trauma. It's a little freaky, but we're getting used to it. But one precious gift from today is a crooked semi-smile, just on the corner of his lips, beside the ventilator tube taped to his mouth, a smile I asked for, a smile I got!!!

Speaking of the vent, the oxygen concentration is now a mere 25% (you and I breathe 21%) so we're close...we went from controlled to assisted, then back to controlled support, but "it's all good". They inserted the aforementioned spinal anasthetic to assist with pain control, so thought they'd give him the vent support a little longer. We're told it'll be out tomorrow or the next day. We can surely wait, but to be honest, I'm really impatient for this. Do you know how long it's been since I've seen that boy's scruffy moustache? It's been all covered with tape and tubes...nearly 2 weeks, or is it more???

What else? We've got toe wiggling, shoulder scrunching, hand clenching, one-eyebrow raising (a Donny special), many facial expressions, my least favorite of which is eyeball-rolling....I'm told to hang in there, and when all the narcotics are finally flushed out, we'll get our Donovan back....

So good to see Dave & Linda today, who know so much of what transplant is all about, also Ali, Connie R., my food-pushing (just kidding), sisters, & of course Verla...thank you all for your support....

What a beautiful day this has been! Many more days ahead on this road, and although we do anticipate a few bumps and hurdles on our journey to breathing easy, we know that as you all walk alongside, those hurdles will be navigated, and the bumps smoothed away!

Finding joy in the journey,

Beth

ps. A few prayers needed for the unjangling of those upset nerves...I'd like to NOT have cardiac failure at every alarm, bell, beep & buzzer in the ICU, and of course for Donovan's detox process. Standard prayers for acceptance of the lungs and no infection still apply. Just pray as you feel led.

Praise God with me for every comment I've heard today that says, "He's doing so well!" from those "in the know," the medical folks. We are so very, very thankful for our miracle, every minute, in the midst of our fog & fatigue. And we include all of you as part of that miracle!