Thursday, May 23, 2013

Surgery Info and Game Plan

Here are a few details about the surgery and some info about the game plan, with a few comparisons to her first transplant in 2008.

But first, here's something that I thought was cool.  On the days of both the 2008 and 2013 transplants, Tricia was in the same room, 7813, when we received the call and when she was wheeled into the OR, she had the same nurse, BJ, she had the same respiratory therapist, Boyd, we received the initial call at almost the exact same call in the morning and the confirmation call for surgery at almost the exact same time in the afternoon, Dr. Lin was on call for surgery and told us afterward that each surgeries was one of his most difficult.  Talk about deja vu!

Surgery was eleven hours,  First surgery was nine hours.  There was more bleeding because of scar tissue, so the removal of the old lungs took longer.

Tricia was off the vent within a few hours after surgery, and out of ICU within 36 hours.  It took her a few days to get off of the vent and over a week to get out of the ICU the first time.

She started with nine chest tubes, and has had three pulled so far.  Chest tubes allow all the fluid that accumulates after such a major surgery to drain.  There is more bleeding and drainage than the first surgery.  Chest tubes cause a lot of pain, so she looks forward to having them pulled, even though the pulling is painful.  She has an epidural for pain meds that will probably be removed today or tomorrow.

Tricia is experiencing a lot of nausea, which is slowing her down.  She hasn't walked yet today because of it.  We're hoping this might go away when they change her pain meds.

She is still on a feeding tube.  She passed her first swallow test, but will need to pass another before she can eat or drink anything.  She still has her trach, but has a Passy Muir Valve that allows her to speak when she wants.  You might remember that she had some nerve damage to her left vocal cord from her first surgery that left her voice very raspy and week...she ended up with an implant that fixed the problem.  No problem with her voice this time around.

Tricia is having a bronchoscopy procedure nearly every day in her room to check for infection/rejection and to clear any mucus that she is unable to cough up.  She also has an xray and other tests daily.  So far, the doctors have seen nothing to be alarmed about.

Gwyneth and I have spent several hours each day with her in her room.  Her mother is here as well to be with her.  Unlike the first time around, she is able to sleep well alone at night, so we are all getting good sleep back at the hotel every night.  She is much more relaxed and less anxious than the first time, most likely due to the fact that she feels so much better.

Tricia is still very week from being in bed and on the vent for the past few weeks.  Her progress so far has been very very good, but slow.  Compared to the first time, she came out of surgery feeling amazingly good.  Everyone is very happy with her progress so far.  If all goes well, she'll be out of the hospital within 2-3 weeks after surgery.  She was out at three weeks the first time.

Tricia needs to meet four criteria to be discharged:

1) Walking at least one mile daily which is about 21 laps around the stepdown unit.  So far she's up to about 6-10 a day.

2) No chest tubes.

3) Able to cough, especially cough up the secretions that she is currently needing the bronchoscopy/suctioning for.

4) No signs of infection or severe rejection. They won't let her go if she's just going to get sicker at home. So far, so good.

Once she is discharged she'll be back to the Center for Living to complete 24 days of physical therapy.  Once she completes that, and is deemed healthy enough, we can finally go home!

 Nate

39 comments:

Jonesy said...

Wonderful news! You are a lucky man.

Amy said...

Thank you so much for all the information on Tricia's progress! I am so amazed at her strength and recovery! Praying that all continues to go very smoothly and she will be released for home quicker than expected! Will continue to keep you all in my prayers!
God Bless,
Amy

8312FromMeToYou said...

Thank you so much for sharing all this amazing news and continued progress. Truly God's hand is in all the events and He is lovingly taking care of you. We continue to keep you in our prayers.
Abundant blessings,
Lilia and family

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

The day to FINALLY go home is coming! I am so incredibly happy for how well the second transplant has gone. Keep it up, Trisha :)

The Brandon Bunch said...

Praise the Lord for answered prayers. We are so happy for the "whole" family.

bobbie said...

OMGosh!! My CABG/open heart patients came back with 2-3 chest tubes... I can't EVEN imagine 9!!! Tricia is one brave lady!!
Sending thoughts for gentle healing ~~~

Olivia said...

Praise Jesus for His Faithfulness to your family and to all who believe! I am beyond elated for all of you and just know she is going to continue to get stronger every day. I had a chest tube once and it was incredibly painful, so I can't imagine having mulitple ones. I am so glad she has had peace!!!! A new season awaits you all and I know you are going to be Faithful to share what the Lord has done! He is Mighty to save!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a huge blessing, still praying for all of you.

Susan said...

That sounds GREAT! Best of luck!

Aspiemom said...

It was neat to read all of the comparisons and to understand her goals. Thanks for posting it and I will try to get over my shock and astonishment at your use of "week." :)

lg823 said...

Oh my! How awesome is this news??? The best yet!!! Continued blessings!

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so glad I hear she has an epidural ! No wonder she is smiling so big in those photos!!! But those epidurals do cause a lot of nausea even though they are awesome at relieving pain. Who takes care of your foster kid all these months away from home or was he allowed to move with you?

PK said...

Excellent news. Thank you so much for keeping us updated. I'm still praying for all of you, of course.

Unknown said...

Praising God for His goodness!! Thank you for this update. Praying for no big bumps in the road ahead.

tina said...

i have found your blog through a friend of mine and i wanted to tell you i am thinking of your family

Anonymous said...

thanks for the update Nathan! Continued prayers for strength and healing.

Kim in Canada

Annie from Oregon said...

Re-visiting tx #1 and understanding tx #2 is such a gift!....thank you for sharing with us. I am continuing to pray for her to get well thoroughly and quickly: and for you All to get on Living Life as He leads. Love and prayers.

tripleb said...

So much wonderful news! Thank you God. I'll keep on praying of course, and sending best wishes, healing energy and strength to all of you.

Anonymous said...

This is such GREAT NEWS! I am so glad you brought us up to date on Tricia's progress. Prayers will continue here too! And please continue to keep us informed whenever possible.

Anonymous said...

wow I sure feel sorry for Gwyneth is she ever falls in love with another woman cause im sure you will make her life miserable or just disown her.

Anonymous said...

like you are so perfect with your gerbil looking eyes and obese body. yeah hows it feel to judge others now? and some husband you are to leave your critically ill wife all alone in the hospital at night while you soundly sleep in a luxurious hotel paid for by begging others to support you not working for a year. yeah what a man. not! and really you should let that foster boy have a real chance at a stable family instead of taking him in for the extra money you get for him. disgusting!

Anonymous said...

What are you gonna return your wife's lungs if you ever find out a gay person donated them? Or what about all that blood donated to save your wife and daughter???! What a hateful ignorant person you are. Good thing God Loves ALL his children. Even a hateful one like you. Praying for you.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Just amazing to hear of her progress and what you and your family have gone though. I hope this next month goes fast and you are back to your own house soon. Tricia is such a fighter and you are an amazing husband, friend and partner to her.

I am so sorry to read such rude comments from certain horrible people. Delete them and ignore them. Your family is amazing, your daughter and son are lucky to have two wonderful parent.

Best of luck to Tricia, you and your children as you get through this time of healing. I know many amazing things are still in store for your wonderful family.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I am still amazed that the Lord slowed Tricia to get new lungs, how amazing! Though I am a total stranger, I pray for Tricia and your family often. My heart is with you.

Hannah D. In MD

Anonymous said...

You are so racist on your Facebook account it make one wonder who you really are! First you poke fun at a doctor who only has one hand, then you one fun at a child who has a disability and removes them from your friends list as they are not up to your standards, and yet you have a child with cp? How very odd is that? Do you look down on your own child?
Now today you post about gays? What if those lungs came from a gay person, would you have refused them this time around? What about the second? They saved your wife live!
Better yet, what about all the blood transfusions, did you ask if they came from a gay person before you had them given to your wife or child?
You sure paint a different picture on your blog then FB.
I find you a vey sad judgmental Christian.
Maybe you should think before you speak. Beffer yet think if a "gay person safes your child's life or wife just once.

Anonymous said...

You really should be ashamed to talk like this.

Jen Moore said...

Nathan, I have been reading your blog since well before Gwyneth was born, and I am your Facebook friend, and I want to tell you how much you have encouraged me and inspired me throughout the years. Thank you to you and Tricia for opening your lives and allowing God to be glorified through you even though it has been a rough road! I am so grateful for your latest miracle and continue to pray for you all!

Rick Lawrenson said...

I learned long ago from those wiser and smarter than me to take anonymous notes and toss them into the trash.

If someone doesn't have the courage to attach their real name it isn't worth reading. That person is simply a coward, judging you for being open about your beliefs and opinions while hiding in anonymity.

Anonymous said...

Wow I sure hope trish's surgeon wasn't gay cause god forbid a gay person saved your wife's life.

Anonymous said...

Yeah yeh just keep begging from your church to pay your sons hotel and food expenses. He sure likes to eat! And nice of you to cover him and still pay him a salary for doing nothing. Good thing he works for his daddy huh. Lotta perks there. Makes you wonder where that collection plate goes Hmmmmm. Lawrenson fund plate. Real suspect. Ish.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I barely even remember making those nasty comments above, but I'm back on my meds now and I do apologize. You know how hateful and intolerant we loving tolerant gays can be when somebody disagrees with our way of living!
My bad! Please forgive me. Any nasty anonymous posts you see from here on out, just assume I'm off my medication again! :D

Anonymous said...

Love how they are still collecting money from the foster system, yet clearly haven't been taking care of that foster boy for over 7 months! Scammers!

Notice how Nate gets all giddy whenever exploiting his poor wife and pimping out her "story" to news media.
Clearly he needs to get his own thing instead of milking his wife's CF disease for as much as he can. He already has his daddy's church paying him a salary to do nothing. What scammers.

Anonymous said...

My Name is Janice, I will continue to pray for you Ttricia and your adorable daughter. The power of PRAYER. So glad to hear she is doing well. It will just take time.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes but don't forget he us THE "CF Husband" = must be the only one ;)

Thank you for going back on your meds Mr. Gay guy :) and owning up to "your" mistakes ;). Or shall I say "sins"?

Anonymous said...

Woops! My schitzophrenia is acting up.

Anonymous said...

Praying for Trisha. And yes I'm gay. Sorry to read that you have so much hate for me. I am also a father to an adopted son with CF. I will pray for God to soften your bitter heart.
Jim

CFHusband said...

Jim, thank you for your prayers. If you've read anywhere that I hate homosexuals, you've read a lie. But, if that's what you want to think of me, I doubt anything I say will change that. If you're assuming that anything written above by an anonymous person(s) who obviously doesn't like me very much is true, you are more than welcome to check the facts. But I do challenge you and everyone else to come to your own conclusions based on the facts and not on the anonymous online postings of people who dislike me. Anybody who believes accusations made from a heart of bitterness and hatred is a fool.

Nate

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear Tricia is doing so well and pray for her continued recovery.



Cathy Monroe said...

Just got home from the hospital with my mom 80 years old and my sister put on her goal board;
"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
Just make it your prayer!
Love ya and see ya real soon!