After a 9 day trip to Abilene, I've arrived back to Houston. So much good news has greeted me:)
Hunter looks ten times better than when I left. His marker of destruction (LDH) is down from 3500 to almost 1000. Normal is 500-600. His coloring is way more normal as his bilirubin decreases as well. His liver is definitely having to process less destroyed red blood cells. He didn't need any blood transfusions Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. He held his own!!! Yesterday, they decided to give him a little boost and ordered a unit of blood. Jana did a happy dance as they brought the unit she donated. We have so much to celebrate! On top of all of that good news, the CMV virus that has been attacking his platelets is no longer detectable in his system. We expect his platelet count to come up over the next week. We are praising God for getting us through this storm!
Hunter and Chase had the best time over the weekend. He and I passed each other just on the other side of Temple yesterday. It was a huge lift to Hunter to have him here. Hunter has been confined to bed as of last Friday with his new port, and there were many times that Chase had to literally carry Hunter when he needed moved. As difficult this was to swallow for Hunter, Chase was the perfect person for this job. His tender heart and sense of humor made the really cruddy situation of a groin line's loss of privacy an easier pill to swallow for Hunter. I have often prayed that our own boys could love each other as much as Hunter and Chase.
As we have rejoiced at the news of Hunter's blood stabilizing, a new complication has reared it's ugly head. For the past three days, he has been have blood with his stools. His team thinks he has a leftover granuloma or blood vessel or inflammation that is oozing. Colon troubles are not new to Hunter, but he really hasn't had major complications with it since transplant. His platelets are low from the virus, and he is on blood thinner for his swollen arm, so his blood is not clotting like normal. We would love prayers that his colon would heal and he would stop having blood in his bowel movements. If we could get this issue cleared up, we would be much closer to headed to the RV. He got another unit of blood today (from a designated donor for Hunter) and it was more to replace what he's lost in his stool than what he's destroyed. Hunter is so ready to be out of the hospital, so we would love for this to just go away! We believe that God is able.
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| 3 outstanding fathers right here! |
I came back to Houston feeling renewed. The boys and I just basically stayed at the house and played. My friend Erinn moved in and took care of me and the boys this week. It did my heart a lot of good have a baby on each hip and one in my lap. My parents and our families are doing such a good job making them feel loved while we're gone. I was very happy to see that they are well adjusted to what's going on in their lives right now. They are incredible little boys. We jumped in the bounce house, took bike rides, played outside, read lots of books, and spent time cuddling. I would have loved to spend more time with lots of our friends, family, and support system at church, but I just didn't want to give up a single second with our little guys or bring any extra germs back to Hunter.
Mom and Dad cooked Fathers Day lunch at our house, and I got to see my grandpa and brother as well. These men have loved and taught me so much about life, and are Godly examples of living out my faith. They set standards for husbands and fathers pretty high, and thankfully Hunter has always been an answer to both of their prayers.
Before I left we made some cards for Hunter. Benton wanted to paint his hands. Two of my children were pretty neat. One of them is really a messpot and required a good washing. Hunter got a big kick out of his cards and the kids were proud of them.
It was hard to say goodbye to the boys, but I left them in perfectly capable hands. Team Hanner has lots of members. This time, the twins knew what "Mommy is going to Houston" means. Caleb went to his shoe drawer and told me "I get my shoes on for Houston." Clayton saw my suitcase and didn't want to be put down. Benton was upset, but Erinn got him calmed down quickly. I made it to the hospital in time for bedtime stories, and he had a big smile on his face.
Benton's smile didn't have anything on mine when I saw Hunter again. I missed some really hard days on his journey toward healing. It was a gift of sacrifice that he sent me home to the boys, because he really wants to be all home together. Every day that passes is one day closer to coming home healed.
As we enter day 65 of Hunter's battle, he is tired of having complications. He was prepared for the first month's stay and was a model patient. This extra two week stay in the hospital after three weeks of freedom and being told to "start taking his life back" has been really tough. The walls are closing in on him and he's definitely got the hospital blues. We ask for you to join us in praying for his colon issues to resolve, for his hemoglobin number to continue to climb, for his platelets to recover, and for protection from infection. Also, Hunter would ask for specific prayers for his strength to greet the challenges of each day. Hunter has been given the gift of new life without his blood disorder, and he's ready to start living it!
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