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6 Days on the List

 2 weeks after being admitted and 1 week after surgery, Mike is finally getting into the groove of living in the hospital. 

His pain comes and goes and he is learning how to manage it before his physical therapy sessions and walk about the unit floor. The pump is put in through a bunch of nerves and muscles on the right side of his chest and then dropped down into his heart. The doctors are saying his heart is doing minimal work now and the pump has pretty much taken over. Because he is getting better blood flow he has been getting headaches more often and experienceing some different pains. He still doesn't have an appitite and eating has become more of a chore. The doctors said I could try bringing in some of his favorite foods...so ramen is on the list to make this weekend. 

Mike also got a room upgrade, since he will be staying for quite a while they gave him a nice corner room with a great view, we love the sunsets at night. They moved in a couch as well so that has been nice for the boys to use during visits and I use the table to work on during my morning visits. We get to eat dinner together, talk and share stories, play games, and just sit together. Mike has enjoyed reading the cards that friends and family have sent and is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. He is taking texts but doesn't have a lot of energy to take phone calls at this moment. We are also keeping visitors to close friends and family. Right now and moving forward we have to be careful about germs. Mike has to be healthy to accept a new heart, and after he gets his heart he will have no immune system. Blake compared this to the secret service. The secret service keeps everything bad out, when dad gets a new heart the secret service won't be there so his heart can get used to his body, slowly the secret service will come back. Until the secret service comes back, Mike will need to be careful with who he comes into contact with and will need to wear a mask for the first year anytime he leaves the house or someone outside of his immediate family comes over. 


I keep getting the same question, how are the boys doing? 

It is amazing how resilient children are. They adapt, accept, question, and move on. I had to tell them that we will need to cancel our upcoming Disney cruise trip (January 2025). They were extremely bummed by this news and we were able to have an amazing conversation about why and how it is important that dad gets his new heart...there will always be cruises to book. It is hard to know how much they truly understand and 'get'. The concept of time is so fleeting at this age and understanding how long dad will be in the hospital and how long it will take him to recover is an ongoing conversation. But I have to brag and say, my boys are amazing! They have taken this news and new adventure on like champs. They can navigate the parking garage and hospital pretty much by theirselves. They make everything fun; guessing which elevator opens first, using the force to open automatic doors, dance parties in the elevators, exploring and rating all the hospital food (chicken strips are a 10/10), and constantly requiring snacks/drinks/and desserts...we pass by a Frosty Boy and I have promised them we will stop before schools starts...1 week countdown begins! 

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 has been our family verse for quite some time. It is in our kitchen on our wall and even in a picture frame in our bathroom as we get ready in the morning. 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' 
We have been trying to prepare for this for the past few years, although nothing can truly prepare you for this journey, we do know one thing to be true. God will lead us through this no matter what. We find peace in knowing that he has a plan, even though it is terrifying not knowing the plan. Emotions, feelings, fear are all a real thing...but we have no doubt that God will guide us through. 



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