On Monday evening April 19, my mom got ‘the call’ that there may be a donor for her. When I called her, she said that it might be a false alarm because there was apparently something ‘wrong with the donor’. What that problem is, we’re not sure.
At 2am on Tuesday, April 20, I received a phone call from my mom that they were getting ready to take her to the OR. It was officially happening.
I didn’t hear anything again until about 10:30am when my dad called and said that the surgeon told him that everything had gone as it should and that everything went excellent. The lungs were working (double lung transplant), mom was doing great and they couldn’t foresee any problems (but couldn’t guarantee anything…obviously).
My dad, grandmother (mom’s mom), aunt (mom’s sister), my brother and his wife were at the hospital and each had their time to go and visit.
They all said she looked like she had been hit by a bus, but she didn’t look as bad as they had thought she would. I believe my brother said that she had 7 or 8 IVs in her. Later, after the surgery, she actually awoke, and was aware. Was able to open her eyes slightly and nod her head.
The nurses and doctors said she was doing so well, that they might be able to remove the breathing tube. Amazing.
By Wednesday, she was still in the same condition, but aware, and nodding. They didn’t remove the tube that day. She was still very ‘out of it’ from the pain medication. There was only one ‘slight’ problem. She developed a small infection, and there was fluid in one of the lungs. Antibiotics hopefully would work their magic.
By Thursday, she was opening her eyes, and writing notes to my dad to explain and ‘talk’. Amazingly she was able to take a slight walk! Still going in and out of sleep from the pain meds. They also did a ‘test’ to see if they could remove the breathing tube, as they were afraid that her airway would swell and close up. Unfortunately, she didn’t pass the test, so the nurses said they would try again the next day when more doctors were around in case they would need to put another tube in, or in a worst case, a trach…something mom definitely didn’t want. She was ticked, but she would wait…what other choice does she have!
Friday morning, they removed the breathing tube with no problems. She was now able to speak in small doses. She was walking more, they had her on a oxygen mask for a bit and then moved her to a nasal cannula. When walking, she was only on a ‘2’, whereas before the surgery, for her to walk the distance she did, she would have needed to be on a 3.5 or 4. In the evening, they moved her from ICU to the Step Down room.
By yesterday, she was in the same condition, but my dad noticed that she was like a zombie. The nurses didn’t like this, and noticed that mom was overmedicating herself with the pain meds! So they took her pain meds button away from her, and administered the pain meds themselves. They wanted to have mom be more awake, and would just have to bear some of the pain.
I had asked my dad about the infection, and surprisingly, there was nothing there. Awesome news.
By the evening, they gave her back the button, but adjusted her meds. Funny…mom never could take much pain.
So that is where we are today. By the time I get up there on Tuesday, she may be in a regular room, and since TGH has wireless internet, mom will have her laptop and will be able to send you all her updates, feelings, and messages.
Thank you all for the well wishes, support and kindness in this time.
I’m sure it has all gone to her, and is helping her in her recovery.
Krystin
