Moving Day

This morning Dede and I arrive at the hospital to find Dick in good spirits.  It is moving day for Dick....  out of ICU and up to a regular floor.  The doctors continue to be delighted with Dick's progress and are thinking of releasing him from the hospital next week to go to our apartment. John, Michael and Richard drove up to visit Dick and arrived around noon.  They too were shocked to see how well he was doing.  People expect to see one thing but see something completely different.  I'm getting my husband back and the kids are getting their dad back.

John and I left for Sioux Falls.  I need to pack some things to take back to the apartment; clothes and such. Thursday I will move into the apartment and begin my stay. It is good to be home again to get some rest before they release him into my full time care. My mother is not doing really well, so I'm sure I will be back and forth often.

It is important for Dick to stay in Minneapolis for a total of four weeks after transplant to ensure that neither rejection nor infection set in.  Once the new heart accepts the new body, exams can tapper off, but at first, doctors are very cautious of everything. So 7 - 8 days in the hospital and three weeks in the apartment.  With the way things are going, we may be able to return earlier.  Remarkable!  We are so blessed to have our large family; everyone is willing to help any way they can.