Starting the home recovery

Three days home from the hospital and doing great.  We are both learning how to handle all his meds.  Because of the surgery, he came home on insulin so this is a learning experience for the both of us. It will be temporary though. We are learning how to eat a low sugar diet along with a low sodium diet.  Basically, its a cardboard diet, (hahaha).

Today, while at Loma Linda giving up some blood, we returned all the LVAD equipment.  For me it was kinda weird but a good feeling.  I was just getting used to Russ being on all the equipment and now he is all on his own.  WOW, is all I can say.  This has been a very unique experience.

We both looking forward to sharing with you all our experience with this new heart.  There will be alot going on for the first 6-12 months.  Hope you join us.....

Thanks,
AuraLee

Feeling Good

Hello all it's Russ, just wanted to say hello. All is well with the recovery so far.

Friday the 13th (lucky day)

The day we got the call we were meeting up with a couple that has been through what we were experiencing. Rich and Carmen, Rich had been an LVAD recepient and Carmen was the caregiver. I had never met either, while Russ was meeting Carmen for the first time.  Just before walking in the restaurant Rich says " wouldn't it be great if you got the call while here at lunch with us".  We ordered, sat down, no sooner after I got in two bites of my salad my cell rang.  Our transplant coordinator was on the other end, cant remember what she said but I responded with "is it time?" and to my surprise she said yes.  Told us to get in asap.

We got there, and he was prepped.  Went down for surgery about 6ish.  Surgery started at 7:37pm and Russ was back in his room by 4:30am on Saturday.

After a few days and some speed bumps, he is doing great.  He has had the first heart biopsy on Jan 23 and all looked good.  He is not rejecting the heart, yahoo.

So now we are waiting to see when he comes home.......