Transplant Day +31

Luke is hanging in there.  The results from the liver biopsy they did Monday at MDA did not show any issues other than VOD (does everyone know what VOD is?) His liver and kidney lab results are stable or improved again today. Luke had a run up in his CMV indicator.  CMV is a virus everyone has but their immune system keeps it a bay.  Luke received an antibiotic for the CMV virus and results today showed reduced CMV levels.  Weight has gone down (given Luke’s athletic build it is hard adjust one’s  mind set that weight loss is good for Luke).  Weight loss is hopefully due to his body reabsorbing the fluid in is abdomen and processing it though the kidneys but some of the weight loss is probably attributed to their pulling fluids off using the catheter.  Temperature is bouncing around but he has not gone above 101 F.  Luke’s bilirubin was lower today but he received a transfusion of red cells yesterday which likely contributed to the decline – but hey it’s good news.   

PT was able to get Luke out of bed yesterday.  He walked about 100 ft.  This was the first time he had walked any distance in over a week.  Today after he came out of the john mom suggested they walk.   Luke was obviously delirious as he actually agreed to take a stroll.  Luke and his mom proceeded to walk 200 feet.  Exhausted he climbed back in bed and celebrated by eating some peanut butter and pudding.  This was the first solid food he has had in over a week.  Needless to say mom was overjoyed with these accomplishments and has been awarded this week’s gold medal for patient care (had there been wine available she would have toasted her own accomplishment).

Luke’s conscience state is all over the place.  He is still dealing with a lot of pain.  He will sleep for extended periods due to the pain meds but it is not restful sleep.  He slept most of yesterday and last night he was up and down a lot. 

Patrick came by Thursday and and Cale came by Friday.  Both received a somewhat rousing “hey bro” from Luke (Cale even received a fist bump) but that was the extent of Luke’s social interaction as after greeting both Luke closed his eyes and went back to never never land.

As the doc said today, he thinks Luke has turned a small corner.  We are hoping over the next few days it becomes a big corner!