Thursday, May 2, 2013

A Good Day

Quickly...

Tricia slept well last night and woke up feeling better and breathing more easily.  Her team met and decided to go through with the intubation, ventilation and tracheotomy procedures.  Everything went smoothly.  They assured us that she will remain on the transplant list for the time being.  Tricia woke up a few hours later feeling and looking so much better.  She is breathing easy on the vent, happy to be still on the list and feeling better, and was even back to exercising within a few hours.  They'll have her up and walking tomorrow.

Tricia is still very sick and in a very precarious situation, but today started well and ended better, and we feel that we've been given some extra time and hope.  Today was a huge relief.  We are beyond thankful for everybody at Duke who is taking such great care of Tricia, and for all of you who are praying for her.

Nate

55 comments:

blussier68 said...

Thank you for updating us Nate. Prayers never stop!!

Perpetually Sarah said...

Praise the Lord! Will continue to pray!

Beth said...

Thankful for this encouragement. Continuing to pray for all of you - all of the time! Thank you Nate for taking the time to update us, I know that your time is very valuable. Praying Tricia will get that perfect match very soon. God Bless!

Beth and Luke said...

Thank you for taking the time to update us. I know there are a million other things on your mind, but we've all grown to love your family and want to see God's power heal Tricia.

Anonymous said...

Your strength, courage and love for each other is such an inspiration. May God bless you and Tricia with His miracles.

Shawna ~ Round Rock / Austin, Texas

Unknown said...

Thank you for updating us...we are all standing with you and lifting her up to our Father.

Nana2Six said...

Rest well - and may tonight be the night the call comes! Such wonderful news!

Anonymous said...

Apart from Tricia getting new lungs, this is the best news we could wish for for today. Thank you for taking the time to update us, we are all thinking of you both. Much love and prayers xxx

Tracy P. said...

Thanks for keeping us posted. Praying for Tricia and you.

Judy K said...

Praise God! And thanks again for updating us~it so helps to hear how we can pray! And we continue....

Nana Judy

Unknown said...

Nathan,
I was just introduced to your blog by a friend. I read the story and I am now excited to go back and start at the begining. All my prayers and best wishes to you and your beuatiful family.
Jim

Amy said...

So thankful to hear this! Continuing to pray through out the day for Tricia's health and new lungs! And comfort and peace for you both!
Prayers from Charlotte,

Kellie said...

Praising God! We will continue to lift her up! You and Tricia have been such an encouragement to the CF community and honesty to so many others in my life who have followed your blog. Thank you for living out the gospel and being a light in this world. My son Levi has CF and I have been so encouraged by both of your walks and know we stand shield to shield with you guys in prayer and continue to press in for healing daily! Praying the call comes soon! Lots of love to you all! From strangers from Cali who have been so moved by your faith, realness and hope in Christ!! �� Praying for you all!

Just Call Me Grammy said...

I've been praying all day. So glad she's still on the list and feelings better.

Anonymous said...

So thankful that Tricia remains on the list. Praying for a call soon.

Crystal N. said...

So glad today went well! I am not back to work for a week and am glad to hear the news. Continued prayers and holding you guys close to my heart!

Anonymous said...

Thanking our very merciful and compassionate Heavenly Father for His grace.... and continuing to pray that Tricia will receive new lungs very, very soon. So happy she is feeling better and breathing easy.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Christy said...

Thank God for this!!!! And thank God for Duke. I don't doubt one bit they'll have her up walking tomorrow... they don't like you to sit, that's for sure. I'm praying the PERFECT lungs come within hours or days. Sending love as always! <3

Melody Strayer said...

so glad to hear of a little reprieve.

Rachel said...

Been praying all day. Thanks for the update. Will keep praying for all of you.

Anonymous said...

We will continue to pray for Tric. So happy to read she is doing so much better today! Sounds like she is in great hands at Duke!

Can she still talk with that vent?

Anonymous said...

You mentioned on the last post that if she got intubated that she wouldn't be able to get a transplant and likely wouldn't be able to ever get off the vent. But now you said she is now on vent yet remains on the tx list. Can you explain what changed?

cheryl said...

thanks for the update nate...prayers are truly answered..keeping you guys in my prayers always...tricia is such a trooper..may god bless...

Kyle Draganov said...

Cheryl, Most transplant programs don't like to transplant a patient who has been intubated longer than about a week. This seems to be a rule of thumb and not an actual rule... From what I understand, when you are intubated, you are pretty much bed bound and can become de-conditioned really quickly. Conditioning is really important for transplant survival. However, my wife was intubated for close to a month before receiving a transplant. So, it's not impossible to do. It just takes a lot to regain strength after being in bed for a long time. They say it takes a week to gain the strength you loose from being in bed for a day.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Tricia is so amazingly strong. On the vent and already exercising? She is my hero! Gooooo Tricia! You got this!

Granny said...

Praise God......what a strong will Tricia has. Please keep us updated and we keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers! Hugs!

Jackie said...

Praising God for todoay! Although I am a total stranger, I have been following your blog for years and you are constantly in my prayers. Your family is such an inspiration! Thank you for allowing us to get a glimpse of your journey! Sending prayers and good wishes from Michigan-

A simple being said...

All I can say is amen. And u are so ever present in my thoughts through the day

PK said...

Such a great update! Thank you for taking the time to keep us in the loop. You two are such a neat couple and a great example of true love. I'm still praying...

Anonymous said...

Prayers for Tricia and her medical team.

Megan @ SimplyThrifty said...

Praise God for good news. Been thinking and praying for Tricia throughout the day. May God's will be done in her life!

fuzzandfuzzlet said...

I am glad things are looking a bit more optimistic and that Tricia is feeling better. I am glad you are updating the site :)

Caravan Sonnet said...

Thank you so much for the update! Continuing to pray for y'all!
:) Rebecca

lg823 said...

I hold my breath every time I check this blog, which is several time a day. I was so pleased to see this post. Prayers for continued strength, healing, lungs.

Unknown said...

Nathan, a friend of mine told me about you and Tricia. I transplanted in 2008 about 3 months after she did. I've recently started following your blog and have been really praying for her!

Glad to read that today was a better day!

May God work His perfect will in her life and yours!
David, Asheville, NC

Anonymous said...

Awesome news. My husband and I are praying for you and Tricia.

Anonymous said...

What a miracle! Praise the Lord. So happy to read this update! I just knew Tricia would pull through. She is so strong and did it last time!

Anonymous said...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRICIA!!!
YOU GOT THIS!!

Sara said...

So happy that Tricia is feeling a bit better today! Praise God! Will keep praying that she continues to improve and that a good set of lungs come quickly!

Elizabeth Cisneros said...

Thanking God for his mercy and faithfulness. Praying both Tricia and you can get some healing rest tonight.

Anonymous said...

Oh this is AMAZING news! Thank you for updating us! Prayers continue for Tricia. SO happy to hear she got on the vent to help her breathe easier. She must feel so much better!

Lisa said...

Nate Thanks for the update! I have been praying all day and was grateful to hear positive news this eve.Praise the Lord! keeping the prayers coming,let's flood the gates of heaven with prayers for Tricia!

Liz said...

Confused.
If she was intubated, did they later take that out? I mean, if they plan to have her up & walking, that's unusual for a person who's intubated & connected to a ventilator machine. Did they end up seeing progress & extubate her?

Sorry, not trying to be a pain, just confused.

Karen said...

So happy that she is feeling better! Your family is on my prayer list and I am praying for God's healing hand for ya'll. Thank you so much for taking the time to update all of us!

Prayers from MS!

Anonymous said...

Liz, Nate said they'd done a trach, so it's not unusual for people with a trach to be up and walking about with a vent. This was quite common on the unit I worked on.

Kathryn said...

Oh, what a lovely thing to read this morning! Our prayers continue. God's Peace be with you, your wonderful wife, and all who love her.

Mindy Rumuly said...

One of my son's best friends has CF. They are both 12. They've been best friends since first grade...now they're in 6th.

I've been reading your blog for a few years now, as does his mother, and we have been encouraged so much by Tricia and her amazingly 'normal' life filled with so many 'normal' blessings that many usually take for granted in life.

Nathan you have shown such love and sacrifice while shouldering such overwhelming circumstances. I know Your Lord is sustaining you as He does Tricia!

Hugs for you both...if TX were closer.

Anonymous said...

Does the trache hurt her at all? Can she still talk with it? Sorry if these are stupid questions. I have no clue and was curious!

Anonymous said...

So glad things are going the right way! Prayers continue!!!!

Liz said...

Thanks for your help anonymous! I was picturing something very different, but that makes sense!

lvsgma said...

God is so good!

CFHusband said...

"Confused.
If she was intubated, did they later take that out? I mean, if they plan to have her up & walking, that's unusual for a person who's intubated & connected to a ventilator machine. Did they end up seeing progress & extubate her?

Sorry, not trying to be a pain, just confused."

She was intubated and placed on the vent, observed for a few hours, then trached. It's basically impossible to do anything while intubated, but she can do a lot with the trach and no tube down her throat.

CFHusband said...

"You mentioned on the last post that if she got intubated that she wouldn't be able to get a transplant and likely wouldn't be able to ever get off the vent. But now you said she is now on vent yet remains on the tx list. Can you explain what changed?"

I mentioned that my guess was she would be taken off the list, but my guess was wrong. I'll explain more in my next blog update.

Anonymous said...

"GOD CAN DO ANYTHING,ANYTHING ,ANYTHING,GOD CAN DO ANYTHING BUT FAIL. HE IS THE ALPHA, AND THE OMEGA.THE BEGINNING, AND THE END. GOD CAN DO ANYTHING BUT FAIL..

TRICIA IS NEEDED HERE ON EARTH "GOD"

HER WORK HERE HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
BLOW YOUR BREATH IN HER NEW LUNGS, AND GOD,

HAVE THEM GENTLY PLACED, AND DELIVERED AT YOUR WILL.

WE ARE WAITING FOR YOR WILL TO BE DONE.

"GOD" you stated we only need the faith of a "MUSTARD SEED. TRICIA HAS THIS!

THANK YOU GOD!


Janet Owen said...

You continue to inspire! Sending prayers, good karma, healing energy and warm fuzzies to you.