END OF THE WEEK UPDATE

Ron did well with his Rituxamab treatment. He was a bit nauseous this morning so he had asome ginger ale...he was fine quickly thereafter. We did not see any doctors until 5:30pm today. Dr. Copeland came by and advise that they will continue with the Rituxamab treatment once a week for a total of four weeks. He also stated that he would NOT have to stay in the hospital for all the treatments....we were happy to hear this. He also said they will start him on the photopheresis treatment possibly on Monday...and also stated that he will NOT have to stay in the hospital for this either. These are treatments that we can do from home with either home health or outpatient services. He also stated that the kidney surgeon will not be keeping the surgery date to close the wound. Right now ..it is best to focus on the antibody rejection first and foremost ...the Rituxamab will wipe out a great deal of his white cells ...so cutting into his wound would not be a good idea right now. I just realized as I am typing this that no one mentioned to us the biopsy results for the cellular rejection which should have been in at 2pm. I also forgot to ask. Well...Dr. Copeland said he will be on duty this weekend...I will try to ask him when we see him again. So...my guess is we will start on the photopheresis and then...hopefully, start making plans to get Ron home and getting treatments and physical therapy in order so that things are in place when we leave. I continue to tell myself the same thing..."maybe sometime next week"! The Lord willing...it will happen. Ron walked more today, too. He walked three times today ...once with Rob from the wellness center ...once with the physical therapist ...He walked over 90 feet with the therapist...his longest so far. He did a short walk later in the day with me and his nurse. He is definitely making progress with the physical therapy...they have signed off on him today and left instructions with his nurses that he is to be walked 2-3 times a day going forward until he is discharged. There needs to be two people at all time. One to help him from a sitting position to standing...and to lightly support him as he walks using his walker...and then someone to push the wheel chair very close behind him should his legs give out on him. Thomas is home sick with his grandparents. We fear it may be the flu. He has been running fever and vomiting ...he had a short bout of diarrhea...but that seems to have subsided. He is on clear liquids for now. It just kills me not to be there for him ....we usually cuddle up together on the couch when he is not feeling well. I just know he hates that I am not there, too. I almost cancelled his appointment today with the ENT to get his ears checked on Tuesday because we thought Ron was going to have surgery...but now that the surgery has been cancelled...I will go ahead and keep the appointment ...of course this is all depending if he gets to feeling better. If not...I may still need to reschedule it. Our lease is up on the apartment on Monday. I do hope they let Ron out of here real soon. I did not want to renew another lease...because the minimum time is 3 months...and I know we will not be here that much longer. So...I will make the best of it until he is discharged. We continue to keep positive thoughts ....there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon....soon...very soon .....we will be home at last! Should anything come up over the weekend....I will update the blog ....but my guess is nothing further is going to be done until Monday. Have a great and blessed weekend........ And the holy spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:26-28