Hey Friends,

Its been a pretty fantastic week over here. I had another Right Heart Cath & Biopsy (#6 post transplant) on Wednesday. My filling pressures were all in normal range! Such good news that we are trying to pull back on my diuretic dose as my heart doesn’t need as much help to pump. We will do a trial run for a few days at a lower dose to see how I do. If my heart isn’t quite ready, we will go back to my post-transplant dose.

We also got word this afternoon that I remain at a level 1 rejection, still just inflammatory! We will take it! We also seem to have found the sweet spot on the dosing of my anti-rejection med, Tacrolimus, as my level is right in the sweet spot where they want it. I even get to wait two weeks for labs (instead of weekly) and I get to schedule my next Cath for 4 weeks out.

We are waiting to hear about scheduling the next one as it would land right at the week of Christmas and when I talked to my doctor yesterday about spending the last 3 Christmas in the hospital, she said “nope, we arent doing that this year”, we will either push you out or up one week.” She prefers to do all the Caths for her patients so we are trying to find a time that works for everyone and she got access yesterday without issue, so yes please schedule me with Dr. S. The last 3 caths with one of her peers, it took us over 15 minutes to get access in my neck and lidocaine can only do so much. Dr. S is really good at ‘finding my sweet spot’.

Today I walked my longest walk yet post transplant and it felt good!

P.S. Dont be alarmed at the HR, transplant warriors run high.

I also was able to complete the online class that I was taking this semester this afternoon and turned in my last assignments. Student Insurance has provided such a blessing to us, covering Hopkins, but it also means I have to find time to do homework (all virtual) amongst everything else. But nailed it, because its all turned in.

I checked into if I didn’t take a class next semester how much my meds would be without this coverage and my yearly meds would cost $120K+. So safe to say, I will be taking another class next semester and for many semesters to come…Next semester I am taking American Sign Language (ASL) and I am really looking forward to it. I hope to learn some basic language so I can communicate with the hearing impaired, especially in this time of masks where lip reading is impossible.

In other exciting news, I was cleared this week to drive short distances (#starbucksdrivethru, anyone?) and also take a bath instead of a shower. Bless the Lord and a bubble bath!

We are looking forward to a quiet PJs, Christmas movies and a chicken (don’t judge) next week at home for thanksgiving. Oh and I might convince mom that it is time to bring out the Christmas decorations once the turkey has his day. Not to worry…I’ve got those Christmas tunes playing already. Its a small price she has to pay for the endless Hallmark movies that I have to watch this time of year…

We celebrate a great week. Rejoicing for a stable Cath/Biopsy. Thankful for the gift of my donor and their family. Please say a prayer for them as they experience this first holiday season without their loved one. I know they will be on my mind and close to my heart…

#hopewins #becauseofjesusandadonor

P.S. I did receive an email that our Hope Wins items are in production and should be coming to us in the next week or so! 🙂

P.P.S. If you are on twitter, follow me at KristinG0723 and check out the picture my doc posted yesterday after our Cath (with my permission, of course!).