A Bump in the Road

Author:  Sarah

Friday night into Saturday morning Porter developed a low fever.  In response, the team ordered some diagnostic tests (chest x-ray, blood cultures, and a urine culture) and started him on IV antibiotics and a dose of IV immunoglobulin to help support his immune system.  The x-ray and urine cultures both turned out negative.  We have to wait a full 48 hours on the blood cultures but so far those petri dishes are still clean!

With the fever Porter also developed a juicy cough.  Which, along with the negative chest x-ray, suggests that he's fighting a virus.  Because of his symptoms he has to be cultured for three big viruses:  RSV, Flu, and Adenovirus.  Until he is cleared of those three bugs and his symptoms improve he is confined to his room.  THAT bit of news took me pretty close to the edge yesterday.
I've been trying to get him moving and on Friday I took him for a walk around the transplant floor (a big loop).  He was crying and whining and reaching for me the whole way but he did it.  I know that getting him up and moving is vital to his recovery.  Plus, I'm sort of trapped in here with him and I was looking forward to another jaunt around the floor all day Saturday.  Now he is stuck in here until Wednesday at the earliest and he's tied to the IV pole again.  Grrrrrrrr.

It's pretty easy to get caught up in a negative attitude but I have a lot to be thankful for and I know that things could always be worse.  For example, we may be stuck in this room but we got lucky and have the biggest room on the floor.  The staff calls it the penthouse suite.  We have the biggest bathroom.  Not that we spend much time there but a big bathroom is a sign of luxury, right?  We also have the most floor space and a whole wall of windows!  In spite of the fever and cough Porter is doing really well and his new liver is functioning properly.  Dr. Kim told me this morning that they are going to take out one of the drains today and that is a VERY good thing.

This afternoon my parents and brother will arrive in Boston for a quick but much appreciated visit.  Mom is bringing food and fingernail clippers.  Porter's fingernails are in need of trimming. Big time!

 We have wonderful family and friends supporting us and sending so much positive energy.  Your comments on this blog are encouraging and hopeful--I look forward to reading them every day.  Thank you for the cards, balloons, care packages, and so much generosity.  You all make our normal every day challenges, and our extraordinary ones, so much easier to overcome.