Recovery continues, though very slowly. Dan walked around the floor once today, I think he enjoyed being out of bed for once. He also sat in a chair several times today. His legs look almost back to normal in size now. However he has considerable swelling in his abdominal area so they continue giving him Lasix to flush it out.
Results of the swallow test were not good, probably because his muscle control is not yet back to normal and he is not 100% mentally coherent, so the feeding tube stays in a few more days and meds are given either by IV or pills dissolved in a little water and injected into the feeding tube. The only thing he gets orally is what I like to call a "water lollipop" - it's a small sponge on the end of a lollipop stick dipped in ice water and squeezed out a bit. It keeps his mouth moist and he gets a drop or two of water to swallow. They will repeat the swallow test in a few days.
They will also be repeating the echocardiogram in a few days, to be completely sure there are no clots or cardiovascular problems, the cardiologist will keep us updated. And they continue giving him Metoprolol to keep his heart rate and blood pressure controlled.
The other development today is a slight bacterial and fungal infection in his kidneys and they are treating these with 2 different antibiotics. These infections are very common after transplant since his immunity is suppressed.
Recovery seems to mean more than just "getting well again". For Dan, it involves every organ sort of relearning how to function again. The sick liver caused the other organs to have to work harder and they got weaker themselves. Now he has a young healthy liver "raring to go", but the other organs, tired and sick, have to catch up now. I keep thinking of the body of Christ. When one member of the Body doesn't use their gifts, the other members take up the slack and often get burned out. Then the joy of a new believer in the Body...their excitement and passion for Christ shocks the whole Body, injecting the long-time members with pure joy, a call to purity and passion, and the whole Body recovers and becomes healthy.
Guess I'm rambling, but God speaks to me through such everyday things, lessons I greatly desire to share with everyone. Until the next update, look around...God is always at work around you in your everyday things.
Debbie and Dan
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3 comments:
Rambling....no...teaching us the depths of God at work in and around you...yes...thanks for the lessons...glad to journey with you...Joy and Roger
Hi Debbie and Dan! Keep that recovery going! Processes take time! And Debbie...thanks for the reminder that God is always at work even in everyday things! Your analagy of the body of Christ and the parts was excellent! I will use that....but will give you credit!! Love and prayers! Jane :-)
Loving the body of believers analogy you've been blogging about the last few days! You've really touched on something in many of us reading those words.
Thank you for the updates, which allow us to tailor our daily prayers to the needs of the day.
When we pray for you, the Holy Spirit brings 2 Corinthians 1 to mind. Verse 3 in the NIV states, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." So many times you've reminded us God has placed you on this journey to point others to the One who comforts and heals.
Verse 11 in the same passage reminds us of the power of prayer as Paul writes, "...as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." Indeed God answers the prayer of many.
Amen. Amen.
We're still praising and praying!
Much love,
Kristy
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