Day 36 Post Transplant

WHAT A WELCOME!






WELCOME HOME DAD!



We came home Tuesday night. The driveway was lined with flags and there was a Welcome Home sign on the garage and the front door was decorated. When I left the house Tuesday morning to go to the hospital the flags were out, but no signs. I knew someone not following the blog would think that Jim had passed away. Sure enough, later several neighbors told me that they had received calls from other neighbors inquiring about Jim. He is a loved man, that is for sure.

Wednesday was pretty hectic. We had to have home health come out and deliver supplies and give us info. It was a "figure out day" for both Jim and me. Jim had to figure out how to get to the toilet, how to get up from the toilet, how to adjust to a house full of loud teenagers and how to walk without falling down. I however had to figure out how to get Jim to the toilet, how to get Jim up from the toilet, (sorry for the toilet humor) how to keep Jim from falling down (pushing him face first on the bed works) and how to manage 26 prescription medications. Both of us pretty much have not been home for 6 weeks so it will take some adjusting.

Thursday, Jim had to go to the bonemarrow clinic at LDS Hospital. He will have to go 2-3 times a week for a while. Our appointment was at 9:40 which means we needed to leave around 8:40. Jim is still very weak so things take a long time. By the time he ate, walked to the bathroom, showered and dressed he was done for the day. However, we still had to get him down our inside and outside stairs, drive to the clinic and get inside. I was a little nervous about that considering his weakness, lightheadedness and the fact he had already almost passed out that morning and almost fell the night before (thus getting pushed face first into the bed). Our good friend Todd came and helped me get Jim to the car. A very sloooooooow process. When we got to LDS Hospital, Jim tried to walk from the front entrance and almost passed out again. We got a wheelchair to get him inside. Once inside, he was insisting he should walk and then almost passed out again getting to the elevator. So, bottom line, Jim's blood pressure was 64/49, thus the almost passing out. They did not have me checking blood pressures at home, so I was not aware of his low pressures. They gave him 2 Liters of fluid and adjusted his blood pressure medicine. We got home yesterday about 5:00. Another very long day.

Today went a little smoother. Needless to say, now I am checking Jim's blood pressure quite frequently. I am also giving him IV fluids and IV magnesium at home. We have our own little medical clinic going here. The fluids are starting to help the dizziness. Physical Therapy came today and Jim walked around a little bit inside the house. He toured the hall and Nathan's bedroom and our bedroom. We probably won't tackle the stairs again until our next clinic appointment on Tuesday. Hopefully by then he will be a little stronger and not so dizzy. It seams like slow progress for Jim, but I am just happy he is moving forward considering he was just "circling the drain" as one nurse put it just 2 weeks ago.

So as I am sitting here blogging, I am talking out loud. Believe it or not, Jim has not been a sproulsprout's blog follower. But, as he hears me blogging out loud he seams to think it very important that I tell you that now he has figured the toilet thing out by himself. He actually had no choice, because the other night I was apparently pretty tired, dropped him off at the toilet and told him to call me when finished. Apparently I was pretty sound asleep. He called and no answer several times. He decided that now was the time as good as any to go SOLO. It's a good thing too or he would still be there.

So, anyway sorry about all of the toilet talk but by now I would think you would be used to it.

Today I AM THANKFUL that Jim can get up from the toilet. Hallelujah.


SCARY JIM IN THE ICU. HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. PS. THE FOLLOWING PICTURE IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH. SCROLL DOWN AT YOUR OWN RISK. HARD TO BELIEVE HE LOOKED THIS BAD. HE CAN'T EVEN STAND TO LOOK AT IT.