Heart Transplant Complete!

 

Well, here it is - my array of monitors and meds!  Just about everything you could imagine minus the kitchen sink!  I got out of surgery about 1:30 am this morning and all went well!  I'm resting / recovering comfortably for the most part!  Occasionally I wake and want to sit up / remove my breathing tube by myself but they've restrained me, ugh!  They tell me it's best I remain sedated while my body adapts to my new heart!  The team did decide to extubate me a little early because my labs looked good and if they didn't I was going to take matters into my own hands come heck or high water!  The nitric oxide remains just to make the breathing a little easier while I gain some more strength!  The meds will hopefully start to disappear after that as well or transition to pill form.  Thus far, my docs say I'm right where I should be!  They're pleased with my progress and my echo looked good earlier today!  I'm running a slight fever but they say that could just be from the procedure, we'll see?! 

I am quite the comedian from time to time when I wake and boy do I miss my family!  My team of docs, the nurses, and my family have all been quite accommodating!  I really need to get a good night's rest so everyone can recharge their batteries - the last two nights have been a little taxing to say the least!  Totally worth it though - my lips are rosy and my skin is a little darker (circulation is flowing like never before)!  All for now, gotta get some zzz's!  Thank you to everyone for all your thoughts, prayers, messages!  You have no idea how much my family and I appreciate it - they work wonders!  Good Night and God Bless!

                                        Silly Siblings

                                 Benson, Gemma, & Layla

   

Leave the Liver

Greetings my peeps!  WOW, what a day!  I'm telepathically sending this message to you because I'm still on the operating table - all I can say is good drugs, really good drugs!  

I went back an hour later than expected and was delayed a little more with my donor but all is well, really well!  The heart is a perfect match and my liver is overall, nice and soft/spongy (good thing) with only a couple areas of cirrhosing.  No varices anywhere, so I'm keeping that baby!  My donor family will bless another family as well - God Bless you all.  We are forever indebted to you!  My docs feel that replacing my heart (root cause) will not only correct my liver issues but also help out my kidneys that have started to falter somewhat also!  Speaking of the new ticker, it's supposed to arrive around 8 bells tonight.  Once here; we do the ol switcharoo (anticipating ~ 2 hrs), sew it all together, and stitch me up.  I'll be monitored for a couple hours afterwards to make sure she's purring like a kitten and then I'm headed back to room #74 CICU with the fam!  Realistically, I don't plan to be back in my room until late tonight / early tomorrow morning - my family doesn't need to sleep!  As for myself, I'm gonna have to sleep this off for a day or two while I mend and the meds start to come off - all depends on my numbers?!  Speaking of sleep, check out these pics:

                                             # BRAH

                                                                

                                       PAPER BEATS ROCK

                                               BOOGA

                                                               

                                     LAUGHS WITH LITTA

                      SAWIN LOGS WITH THE HI-PAD BLARING

                                             WET WILLIE?!

                     HEY BUBBA, I MOUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION

                                             MONACLE?!

Long Time, No Post, Buckle Up.

 WOW!  Where do I begin?!  I'll give you the quick, dirty version - hopefully long story short!  The OEM ticker can't be tweaked anymore - time for a new pump (heart)!  We were told that this was probably inevitable but had hoped to kick the can down the road a little further!  The Good Lord has a better plan so we will trust in him!  In the last few months we have also learned that the ol' liver may need swappin as well - single ventricle hearts such as mine can cause some pretty extensive wear and tear on one's liver.  A recent biopsy showed that there is considerable cirrhosing of my liver and it may not be able to regenerate / recover?!  That will be a game time decision later today (5/14/26) when this show gets on the road!  They're thinking about 11am?!    

I was put on the heart and liver transplant list April 6th of this year!  We were told that it could be up to a 2 year wait, but less than 2 months later - here we are!  We got the call about 8pm last night (5/13/26) and were told to start making our way to Children's Mercy Hospital in KC, MO.  We started frantically packing and quickly saying our goodbyes as we made it here about 1:35am!

Thank you to everyone for all for your love, thoughts, and prayers - God is Good.  Please also remember the individual and their family that is making this possible - we love you and pray for you!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to this family - we don't even know you but hope to meet you some day!  Time to try and get a little shut eye! 

  

West bound and down.

Bot, Bear, Big Chair

Ready to make like a tree!

Happy Easter...better late than never!