Mom's Heart Transplant & catch up

It has been awhile since I have done a post. Things this past month have been a bit hectic.

On Tuesday September 13th my Mom was told she would verly likely be getting a heart transplant that evening. They found that it was a great match so they took her in for surgery at Midnight on September 14th. They told us that it would be a 8-10 hour surgery and that they would give us updates throughout the surgery. We were notified around 4AM that she was on bypass and that they were putting the heart in. We did not get a update after that. We finally called them at 9am (9hrs after surgery had started) to try and get an update. We had different nurses tell us different things and finally Dr. Kafoury came and told us that they were putting her on a CPS unit (life support for the heart) He would not give us very many details. Finally at 1pm the surgeons came out to tell us the surgery was done (13 hr surgery). They explained that there were complications. When they put the heart in it would not pump. They had to shock the heart several times and even that did not work. Dr. Caine (the main surgeon) said they finally just had to wait an uncomfortable amount of time to see if the heart would start to pump on it's own. It eventually began to pump but only a little. That is why they had to put in the CPS unit so that they could have that unit help assist the heart with pumping the blood.He said that they had left her chest open so that they can take out the CPS unit once the heart begins to pump a little better. We were able to see her finally 14 hours after they took her for surgery. She was very sedated and the nurses were very busy getting her stable and situated.

Over the next couple of days they showed that the heart improved very little. They told us that they would do another Echocardiogram on Sunday September 18th to determine what they needed to do. I went up to the hospital that morning at 8AM to sit with my Dad while we waited for news. The nurse came to get us about an hour later and took us to the radiology room to show us the results of the Echo. The doctors were all there and were very positive. They showed us the results of the Echo from Friday and then compared them to the results from Sunday. There was significant improvement. They told us that they had relisted her on the heart transplant list and they had found another heart that was a match but not as good as the one that she now has. However they felt that since the heart had improved so much that their best option now was to have Mom keep the heart she had and to take out the CPS unit and put in a balloon pump to help continue to assist the heart so that it is able to get stronger. They scheduled her for surgery for the following Morning. Dad was so happy! It was SO good to finally get some good news. Monday morning they did the surgery to close her chest and put in the balloon pump. I had to work so a couple of my siblings were there and they would be keeping the rest of us updated. I got a call around 1pm and they told me that something had gone wrong during the surgery and that things were not looking good. I of course left work and hurried to the hospital. When I got there Mom was now stable and things were much better. I never really got the full details but from what I understand they had some issues getting her blood pressure to stabilize but they expected that. I spent a couple of hours sitting up there with my Dad and then went home to get some rest. On Tuesday September 20th, all of my siblings and our spouses met at the hospital to give Dad a birthday cake and let him know we all care. My Dad informed us that Mom really needs our prayers right now, he said that they told him her kidneys had failed and that they would be trying a medication that night and if that did not work they would begin Dialysis the next morning. The medication did not work so Dialyisis began 9/21/11.
On Thursday September 22nd, I got a concerning text from my Dad while I was at work. I called him and he explained to me in a very shaky voice that they had just told him that Mom had a very serious infection. I left work and rushed to the hospital. I talked with my Dad and he explained that the infection was one that the Dr.'s felt was very serious. They started her on Antibiotics that day. Brandon and my Uncle Brent came up to the hospital and gave my Mom a priesthood blessing! How grateful I am to be a part of the gospel. It was a very emotional day. I stayed at the hospital for most of that day to be with my Dad.

Since that day, Mom has been slowly getting better. Her heart is working pretty good now, she is still on a few medications to help sustain her blood pressure but they are working on weaning off of those. She was able to come out of her sedation about a week and a half ago. It was SO good to finally see her eyes and know that she recognized us. Then last Tuesday October 4th after 3 weeks of having the breathing tube in they were able to take it out! My Dad text me a picture of him and my Mom smiling once she got it out! It was a great picture to see after a long 3 weeks and to hear her voice. She does dialysis every night for 12 hours, this one is still a little difficult since she is retaining water and they are trying to get her to water off slowly since if they do it to quick it affects her Blood pressure. As far as the infection goes she continues to get antibiotics for it and they have done x-rays to see if it has spread and they tell us that it has not which is great news.
Physical and Occupational therapy are now working with her to get her stronger. Each day she is able to walk a little farther and sit up a little longer. I am so grateful that things are looking better!

As for our little family, I have gone from working 12 hours a week to working 30-40 hours to help pay medical bills and pay for christmas. It has been rough since I started more hours the same week that Mom went into the hospital. I work 3-4 days a week and then am at the hospital all day for at least one day a week. So things are a bit crazy, however the past month has gone by VERY quickly so I suppose that it a good thing! As for pregnancy we are not pregnant yet which I was not expecting to this quickly. I am taking Clomid again and man that is making her a cranky woman! Lucky for Brandon he has been out of town for the past 3 days so he has not had to deal with my emotional breakdowns. I am hoping that things are going to get under control quickly or that I can get a handle on this! :) Poor Easton does not know what to think of me! Brandon went on the Elk/Deer hunt this weekend. He left Friday and will get home today! I sure have missed him, but I was able to spend 3 days with Easton and it was so fun! I have not been able to spend very much one on one time with him so I made sure to do things with him! I took him on a date to the mall, we got pretzels and walked around and then ate dinner! He loved it! Brandon and I have been so dang busy this year and particularly this past two months that we have not had really any time for each other. We are going to Park City for 2 nights this weekend and I can NOT wait!!! It will be really nice to get away for the weekend and just spend time together!

Wow, next month Easton turns 3 and then comes Thanksgiving and then Brandon's birthday and Christmas!! This is my favorite time of year so I hope that it goes better than the rest of the year has!