11/6 - did you vote today? The honey badger did!

With Brother Bob.

It's been a while so let me fill you in on John's progress.  He was discharged, Friday, November 2, 2012.  This was a bit of an earlier discharge than usual because he engrafted quickly and was so motivated to do everything he could to be strong enough to come home.  John's brother, Bob, flew in from Idaho for the weekend.  He was hoping to visit John in the hospital but was delighted to be able to spend the weekend with us at home.  He was a tremendous help doing yard work, minor repairs, story telling, old home movie viewing, reminiscenses and more as we settled John in for his continuing recovery at home.  Our son, Michael, was also down for the weekend and was an all around helper and supporter as well.  Our friend, Susan Gelinas, came along for the trip home; so glad she was there for company on the way down and as partial pack horse on the way home.  The amount of stuff you accumulate during a nearly month long stay in the hospital is amazing.  The transition could not have gone as smoothly without all three of them.

With Son Mike.  You wouldn't want to see this guy in a dark alley.

The first weekend at home was touch and go.  John experienced fevers nearly high enough to necessitate a return trip and potential rehospitalization on Saturday night.  Fortunately, the temp started going down in time to avoid that.  John is on a boatload of meds and we have made a couple of errors along the way forgetting to refrigerate the tacrolimus and giving one magnesium plus protein pill 3x a day instead of 3 pills 3x a day.  In spite of all that, he got a great report at his first out-patient visit yesterday including a white count of 3.5 and ANC over 2 so he is still not neutropenic.  He was, however, way too low in magnesium (probably due to getting insufficient meds as noted above) and needed a magnesium infusion - which took 2 hours; ugh.  We didn't get home until after 8 pm and he was remarkably calm as I figured out lane switches in the dark.  His next dr appt is this Thursday where we hope to get more good news and to be able to get home in daylight hours.

The hiccups are gone (yay!) but the cough is still nagging and most persistent at night lying down.  He will get a repeat cat scan to make sure the pneumonia isn't staging a come back.

He had a lot of trouble sleeping but is beginning to be able to nap longer periods throughout the day and night.  Still hasn't made it through an evening in bed; he's usually up and out on the recliners in front of the wood burning stove several times a night but that is getting less frequent at least.  Hoping he will be able to make it through a night of sleep in bed soon.  Speaking of wood burning stoves, he has taken to loving very warm temperatures; we will make good use of our huge stash of split wood.

Initially, he had lots of interest in many foods that haven't been available to him for a while but could only handle a bite or two at a time.  He is beginning to recover his appetite and we must thank all of our friends who contributed delicious baked goodies (Jim and Nancy), soups (Sue and Martine) and homemade lasagna (Martine) to help make as relaxed as possible homecoming.  We've been living off the fat of the land but finished everything tonight.  Thanks to Harry and Terry for keeping the homecoming hilarious with their care package of honey badger and Heinz cards and goodies.  Thanks to all of you for your care, concern, prayers, good wishes, cards, phone calls, visits and more.  You have really kept John's spirits up and helped him move through this difficult and miraculous time.

The immune system is still fragile and developing.  He can have company but no one who is at all ill and no children who have received vaccines within the last 30 days.  Frequent and vigorous hand washing seems the best way to avoid overtaxing his immune status.  If you have had a flu vaccine, that is ok because it is not a live virus.  Energy reserves and strength are limited but he is very good at seeing what needs to be done and setting one of the rest of us on the job...  He did go for his first local drive today but was pretty tired by the time we got home.  No visiting public spaces with lots of people yet; and, when it is necessary, like a dr's appt,  he has to wear a mask.  Visitors ar home are ok; just let us know if you would like to get together in Neffs; he hasn't lost any of his gregariousness although his staying power isn't quite up to snuff yet.  Ankles are still a bit puffy but greatly improved.  White petroleum jelly has worked miracles on his dry lips and fingertips.

I think we have turned a corner and look forward to his continuing speedy and amazing recovery.  Still don't think we will be up to joining Seth and his family in Hawaii in March but are looking forward to visiting with all of our boys and their families around Thanksgiving; we have, as usual, a lot to be thankful for.

John voted by absentee ballot before he went into the hospital because we didn't know what his status would be today.  Hope you all made it to the polls too!