Roller Coaster Doesn't Even Begin to Describe this WILD RIDE

A week ago today I gave a pretty exciting update about being moved to rehab, one step closer to home. I've found things change at the drop of a hat around here and hope you'll ride this roller coaster with me yet again. A week ago I should have moved to rehab. But then it got too late in the day so they decided to move me the following morning. Turns out this was a blessing in disguise. That night I took another turn in the wrong direction and began showing signs of more complications with my liver. They decided to try to move forward with the ERCP that hadn't been completed at last attempt. I was incredibly nervous about this because of the traumatizing experience with the last procedure. But I prayed and had faith and was wheeled out, thinking I'd get through a successful procedure and be back in my room in an hour or two. Imagine my confusion when I woke up back in the SICU (Surgical Intensive Care Unit) many hours later. I was restrained, intubated and confused. Waiting to have the tube removed was just as awful as it was last time and I waited for the grogginess to wear off so I could wrap my head around what the heck happened.

Remember that pesky bleed that they've suspected but couldn't pinpoint? Well it was back in full force. They began the procedure and ran into active bleeding again. And again the location was escaping them. Talk about de ja vu! So they kept me asleep and wheeled me to radiology where they used a CT scan to locate exactly where it was coming from. Success! They found a hole where I was actively bleeding and were able to repair it! Then they wheeled me to SICU to recover from another exciting and eventful procedure. And let me tell you, this is the thing that has definitely turned around where I'm at in recovery.

That was a week ago and I'm still in SICU, getting stronger every day! My strength and energy levels have more than doubled. My spirits are up and I'm feeling refreshed in this battle. My labs are all either stable or improving. No more evidence of bleeding, just leaps and bounds of improvements. I was medically cleared to leave this unit a few days ago but there are no beds available on the 7th floor right now (the Transplant Unit). So I'm just hanging out in SICU until something opens. OR there is a possibility I could move straight to rehab if that's what the Team decides.

One other hiccup from all of this, is that I did pick up an infection in my blood stream because of the site where I was bleeding. Blood was oozing out and bacteria had found a way in. But they found a treatment that has already cleared up the infection. It is given by IV twice per day and I'll be on a two week course to make sure its all cleared up. But they are confident this will be the last we see of this particular infection. Hopefully I don't pick up any more! Anyhow, this hiccup is worth mentioning because one of the requirements for moving to rehab is that I don't have any IV lines. But I have another 12 days remaining of the treatment and can't have my IV removed until that course is finished. So I may be held up until that is completed in either SICU or Transplant Unit for now.

So now you are caught up but I'm not done with my update yet! Because it is Missy Monday and we all know that's when the miracles really happen, right!? Today marks ten weeks since my transplant. After having your chest opened like I did, you are placed on heavy restrictions as your body tries to mend itself, fusing things back together. The amount of time for those restrictions is ten weeks, meaning today I had those restrictions lifted and have been much more capable in moving myself around. Warriors, I was able to stand on my own for the first time today! DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!? I DO!!!!
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Rehab and recovery has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to work through. But I put in the sweat, tears and frustration, met those milestones and came out the other side to be able to bask in the results of that hard work! The prayers, determination, faith and encouragement I have gotten from all of you has brought us here and I haven't felt this happy and hopeful in quite some time. Thank you for sticking this out with me. Still a long road ahead but we've come so far and I know I will be home soon! So much love to everyone, keep the faith for #TeamMissy!