An update from on Rick...and it's a GREAT ONE!

[Guest guest]

Dear ones,

I just left Rick, after visiting with him for over an hour and a half. Usually, I keep visits to the ICU to a minimum, but he was chatty and alert and ready for company. Two doctors were in this AM (one who did the actual transplant) and Rick is no longer showing signs of rejection. They have taken out numerous tubes...one in the neck and two in the groin. He has drains coming out from his new liver and the fluid is moving out well and is clear (slightly blood colored.) Note: When I had my mastectomy 16 years ago, I had the same type of drains and they tell a great deal about how you are doing.

Rick's nurse said, "he's the poster child for liver transplants." He will probably be moved out of ICU tomorrow and could possibly come home (to our home away from home) as soon as Friday. MIRACLES NEVER CEASE. We are so used to bad news that it's a bit of a shock to be getting such good news and in such large doses. It will take us both a bit of time to accept that this has REALLY come to pass. It has been our goal and dream for SO long.

Once again, so many thanks for all the love and prayers that you have sent. It has allowed us to get through all of the anxiety and fear and cross to another place that is far more peaceful. We aren't naive enough to think that we don't have huge mountains to climb still ahead, but we'll do so with renewed energy and hope.

My love to you all,

(with Rick's blessing)

[Guest guest]

Hi

That's great news and getting out of ICU that fast is fantastic. I was in ICU

for 8 days and home in 11 , had a lung that did not want to fully work. Tell

him to just follow the docs orders and DON " T OVER DO IT, it is easy to. Things

will only get better from here on, he might have a few glitches, know I have but

other then that the hard part is over.

Well off for my weekly blood draw.

rich

9 months and 1 day