Two less tubes

Good evening all,

A pretty good end to a full week post transplant.  It is amazing to think that at this time last week Laura was knocked out after an almost 7 hour surgery.  Today we took a couple of walks and chatted throughout.  Thanks again to the amazing team at UCSF.

As far as milestones go today was not only the 1 week mark but the removal of two more tubes. The first was the epidural, if you ask Laura that may be the only tube that will be missed.  The second was a beast of a tube and the 3rd of 4 chest tubes.  

Watching them remove this was shocking.  The tube is 3/8s of an inch or so and 14 inches long.  When they removed it they just kept pulling.  She had 4 of these in her! They had said the pain was not from the 30"+ incision that cuts through 4 layers of skin and requires your chest plate to be sawed open but it's the 4'+ of chest tubes stuffed into your chest. AHHH

We are now down to 1 chest tube and her port is access for antibiotics and pain meds. They did say today that they would remove her port in the future.  

The removal of the chest tube does minimize some pain but the removal of the epidural counter acts that.  The new pain meds are doing a good job keeping Laura at a 3/10 or so most of the time.  It can spike but they are working to minimize that.

Lots of walking at a faster clip this weekend.  Soon it will be in the real world up a SF hill.

We did have another training session today and learn more about what life will be like going  forward.   Given Laura's diligence prior most of this is not a shock or even out of our everyday practice. There are however some BIG loses which we knew were coming.  Sushi and Oyster are gone :( and rare steak - :( :(   

Next steps.  The doctors are very happy with her progress and are ready to boot her once the last tube is removed.  Drainage has improved, down to 300ml a day vs 500ml. We want to be at or below 150 for a 24 hr period.  Given the path, we expected to discharged later this week.  Very exciting!

A few of you have asked if you could send flowers and if so where.  We had a conversation today with the doctors and fresh cut flowers did not make the cut because of the pollen and other airborne agitants.  In doing research there a few charities that take either new or gently used flowers to others. Flower Angels, linked here, is one of those charities. 

Thank you all for the well wishes, support, references to house, (we are close).  We have met others in the hospital that are also in for serious procedure, lungs, hearts, mechanical hearts (CRAZY) and none have the support that we do.  Completely amazing.   

We love you all. 

Cheers