2025 is going by so fast! I can hardly believe that six months have past since Mike got his heart transplant. March 7th marks half a year through this journey, and oh what a journey it has been!
Over the last couple months we have celebrated Blake's 11th birthday, my 38th birthday, and a few more birthday parties on top of those. Blake crossed over into Boy Scouts and went on his first campout with his new troop. Easton and Blake wrestled in a few tournaments where they earned some new medals, they have Regionals coming up this weekend. The boys are doing great in school and growing so fast, Blake is catching up to us all and already 5'4". While I am writing this blog tonight I had to put them back to bed three times...they are getting creative with their procrastination techniques. In the not so far future I can only imagine that they won't be coming back out to ask silly questions and want to be tucked back into bed. These times are so precious and fly by so fast. If I have learned one thing this last six months, is that every moment should be held close to your heart and not taken for granted. So answer that silly question and take that extra hug, you never know when it could be your last.
Update on Mike:
Mike has graduated to every other month getting a heart biopsy. On the off months he gets a fancy blood test. This February Mike took a blood test and the samples were sent off to California. This test is called the donor-derived cell-free DNA test. The test can detect heart transplant rejection by measuring DNA fragments from the donor organ in the recipient's blood. This blood test can detect organ rejection earlier than tissue biopsies, it can reveal the severity of organ rejection, the underlying causes for rejection, and can eliminate about 80% of the biopsies currently performed after heart transplants. This is a newer test that is being used at The Meijer Heart Center. They combine the results with previous biopsies to decide which rejection level he is at and if he should get a full biopsy done that month. As more time goes on this test will be used more and more instead of biopsies, which will help to cut down on invasive procedures and taking little chunks of newly transplanted hearts. February's test revealed that Mike had a level 1 rejection. He will go in March 10th for a full biopsy and then complete the blood test for April and so on.
In February we had our first brush with an infection. The flu and crazy illnesses have been going around here is Grand Rapids, and well, everywhere else really. Mike went to the boys first wrestling tournament and shortly after Blake came down with a fever and snotty nose. Mike's weekly blood test also showed that he had some type of infection. We quickly separated the house and Mike went downstairs to live for a while. He had a fever of 99.5 which led us to call his heart doctors, per the instructions of the heart transplant binder. The doctor told us that the hospital and the ICU were full of transplant patients with Influenza A, he should rest, hydrate, and adjust his medications to fight off the infection. Thankfully the Lord blessed Mike and kept him symptom free, even though his blood work for two weeks showed an infection. Blake had a fever for three days and we all stayed seperated for five to ensure we didn't pass anything around. Since then, we have had to make some hard decisions to keep Mike home and safe. He has missed the remaining wrestling tournaments, the derby car race at Cub Scouts (where Blake won slowest car and got a trophy), some birthday parties, parent teacher conferences, and some get togethers. We really want to see friends and family and can't wait for some warmer weather to spend time with others and outdoors, keep those invites coming...we will say yes at some point. This is just a moment in the journey that will only last for a little time, hosting and using my kitchen gadgets will have to wait. We are so blessed for Mike to have received his new heart and can't believe that it has been six months. Time flies...so make every moment count
Update on Rachel:
I like to say I am in my Stay at Home Mom/Wife Era right now. This is something that I have always wanted to experience, just in a little different way. I have been applying for jobs weekly and am experiencing the frustrating slog of hundreds of people applying to each position. Although I am saddened that LCG let me go through their reduction in force, I am also thankful for the time away to reflect and spend time with family. Because of this I was able to be home for the holidays with the boys and family, take care of my mom after her foot surgery, plan my grandma's 85th birthday bash, spend time with Mike, be there for friends, catch up on all the appointments that we missed, make dinners and try new receipes, and relax. I know God has a plan for me and my career and I am excited to find out that plan. His way and timing is the best and sometimes we have to wait patiently and listen carefully for those plans to be revealed. Until then, I will wear by yoga pants, wear less makeup, and grocery shop during the day sipping on my starbucks enjoying the less crowded store.
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