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| "Weeeeee...." Zak and Ali enjoying the Balloon Ride at the Mall of America. |
On Monday April 12th we finally made it home after a week and a half in the hospital. It would be an understatement to say that our life has forever been changed by the events we have experienced since the event that brought us to the hospital. We call this our “new normal”.
Last week my best man from our wedding ran a 5K Race for Donor Awareness. Which he was scheduled to run before Zak was in the hospital. He had sent me a message to say he thought of us of the entire time ran. His message reminded me how we are forever a part of the Donor/ Transplant Community.
Currently, we are waiting for “the call”. In the meantime we wait, but we are not waiting alone. The transplant community is a close community. In the short time we have been through this we have been introduced to some amazing local families. We had the privilege to met a family whose six-year old daughter had a heart transplant one year ago from the U of M Amplatz Children’s Hospital. There is another family we will be meeting whose young daughter had a heart transplant two years ago from the same hospital. It is very relieving to hear from families say “we have been where you are now and we know what you are going through.” God’s grace has been evident through the people he is putting in our path.
Our daily routine has changed quite a bit due to the constant care Zak needs. Zak has a backpack he carries around with a medicine pack inside. We have a home nurse who a few days a week help care for Zak. Plus, Kathy or I need to stay within earshot and on the same floor of Zak at all times. All of this care is during the current “waiting time”. His care will increase once we return home after the heart transplant.
**It is critical for anyone who is exposed to sickness or not 100% healthy (i.e. has a runny nose) to not enter our home.
The simple routine of taking the kids to store or going church has been put on hold. (Thank God for family devotions.) Everyday brings new challenges and new celebrations. We are taking every day one hour at time as we learn our “new normal”.
There one person who has been amazing the entire time. Her normal has been changed as well. Our daughter Alexandria is an amazing helper and loves to play with her brother. I love seeing how she has adjusted.
We have certainly felt your prayers as we are all adjusting to this new way of life. God has been with us all along the way!
Currently, we are waiting for “the call”. In the meantime we wait, but we are not waiting alone. The transplant community is a close community. In the short time we have been through this we have been introduced to some amazing local families. We had the privilege to met a family whose six-year old daughter had a heart transplant one year ago from the U of M Amplatz Children’s Hospital. There is another family we will be meeting whose young daughter had a heart transplant two years ago from the same hospital. It is very relieving to hear from families say “we have been where you are now and we know what you are going through.” God’s grace has been evident through the people he is putting in our path.
Our daily routine has changed quite a bit due to the constant care Zak needs. Zak has a backpack he carries around with a medicine pack inside. We have a home nurse who a few days a week help care for Zak. Plus, Kathy or I need to stay within earshot and on the same floor of Zak at all times. All of this care is during the current “waiting time”. His care will increase once we return home after the heart transplant.
**It is critical for anyone who is exposed to sickness or not 100% healthy (i.e. has a runny nose) to not enter our home.
The simple routine of taking the kids to store or going church has been put on hold. (Thank God for family devotions.) Everyday brings new challenges and new celebrations. We are taking every day one hour at time as we learn our “new normal”.
There one person who has been amazing the entire time. Her normal has been changed as well. Our daughter Alexandria is an amazing helper and loves to play with her brother. I love seeing how she has adjusted.
We have certainly felt your prayers as we are all adjusting to this new way of life. God has been with us all along the way!
