Journal

I have neglected my friends here, and I am truly sorry. This whole process is such a yo-yo. As a matter of fact, the transplant team has nick-named Richie "Duncan". They keep releasing him and he keeps coming back. He is in a nasty bout of rejection right now and has been in the hospital for a week. We have tried to go home for good 3 times and none of them have worked out. It could be worse, we still have the apartment, I could be staying in a hotel room and Richie could not be alive. The doctors at Ochsner's are amazing, they really care and Richie is alive. Brett made the straight A honor roll, which we are very proud of considering the last year. Thanks to all my DS friends for sticking with me. I tend to retreat into myself when I am really frustrated. I apologize to all of you.   

Got out of the hospital into an apartment September 9 (our 20th wedding anniversary). My sister from Dallas flew over to help the first few days, and was I glad she was there. Richie very weak and not very mobile. Fell in the bathroom. Were able to get him up and PT, OT and nurse came Thursday. Sister stayed until Sunday and he was stronger by then. Appetite good, and getting stronger. Brett played hooky from school the next Friday and Richie's mom brought her down to New Orleans. Took her to the zoo on Friday and the aquarium on Saturday. Had been told that we could probably go home on the 22nd depending on bloodwork. Great timing since that was the one year anniversary of my sister's death. My sis from Dallas had already planned to be in Jackson to help my mom and brother in law, so they all came down to help move us out of the apartment. Could think of a better thing to do then get Richie home on that particular day. Didn't happen. They arrived and we started loading things up and the clinic called and said that Richie's billirubin was elevated and we weren't going anywhere. Did sonogram and bile duct blocked. Re-admitted to hospital and are installing stent today. Hopefully this will be the only bump. Brett is hanging in there, but we are all anxious to get home and get back to what may resemble a normal life. I am grateful to Granny for all the help with Brtt, but it is going to be hard for her toget back into a routine at home. Will cross that bridge when we get there.

Actually had a good trip to NO, though I though there was going to be a lot more tests run than there were. Did meet the transplant team and everyone was very encouraging. Some of the pre-listing tests can be run at home and some in NO. Richie had been doing well with is new Dr., but last night had to calll the ambulance again. Just had paracentisis on Thursday and fluid back again interfering with his luungs. Back in ICU on a vent. On top of that, get paperwork from Richie's wowrk for what I thought was FMLA, but according to his former boss, they are too small for FMLA. So, no job protection for 12 weeks, thank you very much. We will figure it out, just like we will figure everything else out.