I'm Baaack!!

I’m home, I’m home! Thanks to the generosity of my donor and her family, the commitment of my wonderful doctors and nurses, the unrelenting support of my parents and family and the unfathomable love I’ve received from all of you, I have a new heart, am home, and am doing quite well.

A huge thank you to Marguerite for keeping everyone informed of my progress – even as she logged long hours at the office during one of our busiest times of the year.

The last eight days have not been pretty, but I’m told I’m making good progress. I even walked out of the hospital today because the wheelchair was taking too long! My first heart biopsy result was negative for rejection today, so that’s a GREAT first step.

I have so much to say and share, but I haven’t built up much strength just yet. I did want to post a quick note to confirm that I have made it home and to thank you for the outpouring of support. I am so touched and humbled by all of your kind words. The piles of e-cards I received were a true inspiration and gave me the fuel I needed to power through each day.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I have a long road ahead and truly appreciate your continued support! More to come soon…

Day 6 - Cheeseburger in Paradise

UPDATE FROM MARG - Very short update tonight as things are progressing smoothly at the hospital. Our girl enjoyed a delicious cheeseburger from Rafferty's for dinner tonight. And I'm guessing that it tasted better than any cheeseburger any of us have ever had.

She was a little uncomfortable with pain today, but otherwise recovery is going smoothly. Nurse Dreamy did her job last night and Andrea finally got a good night's sleep. The doctors are hoping to spring her from the hospital on Thursday - fingers & toes crossed that all continues to go well. Many thanks on Andrea's behalf for all the great comments & well wishes - please keep them coming!

Day 5 - Out of the ICU!

UPDATE FROM MARG - Happy to report that Andrea has officially moved out of the surgical ICU and onto the regular cardiac step-down unit. She continues to feel good today and even ate a full dinner tonight - her first real meal since Tuesday night, and a critical milestone because it was her first meal without sodium restrictions since October! Next stop: that slice of pepperoni pizza she'd been dreaming about.

Andrea's iron levels have been low, so they gave her another unit of blood tonight. The doctors don't seem to be too concerned, and are keeping a close eye on her. Her nurse for the evening is named Dreamy, so she's hopeful that this means she'll finally get some sleep...

Many of you have been asking what you can do for Andrea & her folks. Right now, e-cards, comments on this blog, and prayers are the best offerings you can make. When she is released from the hospital, I am sure Andrea will appreciate any care packages you'd like to send her way, but in the meantime, please just keep cheering her on! Thanks for your continued well-wishes for our dear girl & her family.

Day 4 - First Visit from Non-Family Members!

UPDATE FROM MARG - All the exercise must have done her good - Andrea has turned a corner and is doing AMAZINGLY well today! I just got back from visiting her in the hospital, and she looks so good that if it weren't for the significant incision on her chest, you would be convinced that she was in getting her appendix out. Her blood pressure is back at normal levels and she has more color in her face than she's had since October (when she first got sick). She was moving around pretty comfortably in bed, and even walked out to the hospital atrium earlier today to get a change in scenery from the ICU.

Her nausea has largely faded (finally!) and so she woke-up this morning feeling like a new person, texting friends at how grateful she is to be alive. The plan is for them to move her out of the surgical ICU and onto the cardiac floor tomorrow, and then to hopefully discharge her within a week if all continues to go well. Andrea's parents are encouraged by her continued progress and how much better she was feeling today. Please keep sending positive thoughts & prayers her way - we're all hoping for a continued smooth recovery.

A get-well card drawn by a friend's 4-year-old daughter, Cailyn. Commentary was, "A picture of Andrea with a new heart and a pretty necklace. Her ears don't look that big in person."

Day 3 - First Exercise with Her New Heart!

UPDATE FROM MARG - Another good day. Andrea continues to be the valedictorian of heart transplants, and today completed not 1 but 2 laps walking around the floor in the ICU. They have weaned her down to only 1 medicine in her IV, and her pain management seems to be better today. The most stubborn symptom that she is complaining about is the never-ceasing nausea, which the doctors think is being caused by the steroids she is on. They may move her to the cardiac step-down unit tomorrow, where she is hoping that she will get better sleep.

Our girl seems to be turning a corner - today she read through all the e-cards she has received so far, and asked for both her cell phone and her iPad. Please continue to send her messages on the blog and e-cards through the hospital - as she is coming out of the fog of the last few days, I think they will give her the boost she needs to keep fighting. Thank you for all your kind words and well wishes - I know she appreciates them dearly.

Day 2

UPDATE FROM MARG - (Posting yesterday's update). Andrea's body continues to get stronger. Yesterday they removed her chest tubes and weaned her down to only 2 of the 12 IV medications she had been taking. She sat upright in a chair for several hours, which is terrific progress. Andrea's chest is hurting her quite a bit, so her doctors are adjusting her pain medications to see if they can make her more comfortable. She will remain in the ICU through the weekend, which is good news since the nurse/ patient ratio is lower in the ICU than the step-down unit.

Yesterday she was flooded with e-cards, which I'm sure will help keep her spirits up. She hasn't had the strength to read them yet, but asked her mom to bring her glasses to the hospital, so hopefully this weekend she'll get a chance to flip through them all. Please keep all the well-wishes coming!

Day 1 as Andrea 2.0

UPDATE FROM MARG - Our dear girl continues to gain strength as she rounds out her first 24 hours post-transplant. When I spoke with her mom an hour ago, Andrea was actually sitting up in a chair! She is still very sleepy and her chest is hurting her a bit, but all things considered, great news only 24 hours after surgery. They removed her breathing tube and PICC line today (the PICC line is the one that has been delivering life-saving drugs to her since November, also the source of the twedgie), and may move her out of the ICU and into a step-down unit tomorrow.

Her family is doing great and is encouraged by the progress she has made today. Please continue to post your well-wishes as comments on this blog - I think it will give them a huge boost to see just how many people are rooting for Andrea all over the country. If you would like to send Andrea some well-wishes personally, you can send her an e-card via the hospital website - they will print it out and deliver it to her. Please keep cheering her on!