The Past Two Days..............

Today is Hanukkah

Day 9 post transplant..........

The past two days have been difficult as I said. We are hopefully on a new track now with Anna back in the ICU until we iron out the problems. Anna's confusion was intense due to the mixture of drugs, and surgery. She is very sensitive and was really concerned before transplant that this would happen to her. It is not uncommon and will pass but it caused her to pull out her central lines in the night. This was caught by a smart nurse who had set a bed alarm and so it appeared worse than it was. I had spent the night with her so this was quite dramatic for me. We are now putting this event in the past and moving forward as it is one of those "bumps in the road" that we are told happens.

After recalibrating yesterday with new lines and drug adjustments it was decided more minute to minute care was important for Anna so she went back in the ICU last night. The doctors continue to be positive about Anna's final outcome. We are constantly told there are rough patches that happen but they deal with them and she will get better. Our Anna Banana is a dramatic one and this event is no exception. Her first time in the hospital 28 years ago was an intense marathon that she managed to conquer and be named a miracle child. She will do it again this time.

We have to do the best we can to care for ourselves, take turns and power through. Today will be about being back in the ICU waiting room with scheduled 1/2 hour visits. We will fill the rest of the time with walks on campus. And once again, we are offered such wonderful words of encouragement and love. We can not respond to everyone and all messages. We just do not have much to give out. So, here I can say, thank you so much.

Yesterday on my way out to finally get sleep after 36 hours of hospital duty I saw our friend Bruce who told me that Hanukkah starts today and there will be candle lighting in the atrium everyday at 4PM. Sounds like a very nice break in the hospital routine for us. We will try to be there and hopefully in a few days Anna will be able to attend with us as well. The hospital is now decorated for the holidays. We hope to have some fun this holiday season with our family mix of Hanukkah and Christmas. Can not wait to be baking cookies............ We need some of the sublime with the absurd and fun with the difficult and light with the dark.