Well, I’m back. It was great to see two such great friends and to have a few days break from the hospital. The first thing on the list of what I wanted to do was to cook. As Brittany and Amanda settled in for a little girl time, Larry and I did a little shopping for dinner. I also went to a barber for a beard and neck trim. This humidity is killer, so I had my neck straight razored shaved. We fiddled around a little too long first, though. We were cutting it close since I’d told Brett to show up at 6. His newest song’s namesake was flying in from seeing family, and he had to pick her up at the airport. He told us all bout his plan for the evening with her and how he was going to sing her the song! Larry had brought his guitar with him, so we got to hear it.
I was really ready to cook; it was an excellent way for me to decompress before some R&R. I put on a show for dinner. We started with goat cheese and mushroom tarts as our first appetizer. Then I took a small rack of lamb and cut it into lollipops, individual small chops, and covered them in an Au Poivre sauce for our second appetizer. We ate them like cave men, no forks or knives, just off the bone while we chatted standing around sipping drinks. I had planned to do stuffed pork chops for the entree, but there were some awfully good-looking veal chops that made the cut instead. I created a small pocket and filled it with a stuffing mixture that included fresh herbs and some dried fruit. I grilled the veal chops, lightly glazed with quince jam, and paired them with sautéed asparagus and a stuffed baked potato. It was a fabulous meal, and according to Brett, probably the best of his life. Larry enjoyed the meal, but I think he enjoyed watching me in my element just as much. On his way home, he texted me and said, “Reflecting on our eats from Tuesday. Truly epic.”
I was still back and forth to the hospital a bit. On Wednesday, I was there twice and spent some time during the chest tube repositioning and unkinking process. Amanda felt bad saying, “This was supposed to be your day off.” It was good for me to be there since things took such a drastic turn so quickly. Joel, the interior designer I met at Hopdoddy, had offered to take us out last time I saw him. So Larry and I went out Wednesday night with him and his friend, whom I’d met and seen at Hop. They took us to a hole-in-the-wall dive bar that was on the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It was right up Larry’s and my alley. We hit another spot or two before the night was over.
Thursday, Larry and I made our way to Broadway, the busy, overly touristy downtown area of Nashville. We got some Nashville hot chicken and picked up some Predator hockey team gear for Larry. We chilled at the apartment, both of us taking afternoon naps. After our naps and chatting, I took Larry to a spot I knew he would love as a musician, The Live Oak on Music Row. I knew from when Brett played that Thursday nights were singer-songwriter nights. We saw eight different aspiring musicians play. Larry said if he lived in the area he’d be there every Thursday to see that show. Then, at Larry’s urging, I made sure to get him a little Texas, some Torchy’s Tacos. Larry had eaten at the original in Austin, and I learned of the place from him years ago.
Friday, while Amanda was back for her biopsy, Britt, Larry, and I went out to a highly recommended comfort spot for lunch. It was great for all three of us to go out together. The food was great, and I can’t wait to take Amanda there for some veggie fare. We drove Britt by Music City Center and down Broadway to see the chaos. We all three played a game of who could see the white boots the fastest!
I was the airport Uber, going back and forth, making dropoffs. While Britt spent a little more time, I dropped Larry off. The drive was a little busier and longer than expected. Amanda’s brother, JJ, and his wife, Lauren, came in yesterday. They stayed with Amanda as I took Britt to the airport. Poor thing, they pushed her flight and she was torn about what to do, but ended up catching her flight over 5 hours late!
Brett was playing at a cereal and ice cream bar called Wanna Spoon in the 12 South area. I’d gotten tickets, so JJ, Lauren, and I all went out to see him and got dinner afterwards. It was terrific to see them and spend a little time with family. I didn’t look at Wanna Spoon’s merch, but I’ll likely come back to Texas with some. Especially if they have a shirt with “Big Spoon Energy” on it, which Larry suggested they should have!
It was great to spend time with such a good friend and take a break from the hospital. Amanda was at her best when Britt and Larry arrived on Tuesday. I wish I could say she kept making strides, but this recovery has been one step forward and two back. Since the chest tube was found to be kinked and they stopped the CRRT, it has gone downhill. The sub-q air has come down a bit, but her face is still pretty puffy, and her arms feel super heavy. She is making urine and had a round of dialysis last night, but her kidneys need more time. Beverly had come to stay with Amanda when I went out with JJ and Lauren while Amanda was on dialysis. God sure has lined us up with a great support system! After she left before I got back, Amanda had some arrhythmias and needed a bolus of medication to correct them. When I arrived, she felt pretty crummy.
I was a little worried about the fluid. We are at a point where she is having difficulty breathing because of it. Her face is full, and it seems it may not be the sub-q air. We were still waiting on the biopsy results at rounds, but the surgeon was very outspoken and made sure to say everything looks good. Function-wise, the heart looks great, he mentioned. Amanda was very full and couldn’t breathe well at all. Her arms and chest felt full and heavy. She couldn’t lie flat at all without feeling she was suffocating.
I pushed pretty hard today in rounds about the fluid. They tried a round of dialysis last night, but it didn’t go so well. They decided to start CRRT, continuous dialysis, back today. I was happy to hear that and felt that was what she needed. We were doing so well after she was on CRRT for a full 3 days last time. I felt a little better, and I thought we were back on track, heading in the right direction after the rounds. She was a little anxious about the breathing this morning, but finally started feeling better when the CRRT was started.
JJ and Lauren stayed with Amanda today, and I ran to the apartment to tidy up a few things and complete some “homework” that Beverly left me with, to unload some totes. When I sent her a pic saying I was working on the homework, she replied, “I’m so proud of you!” I got a text from JJ, they had kicked them in and out of the room a few times with the CRRT starting and things. The nurse was great and is tied with the one I mentioned I’d liked the best.
JJ called, the cardiology fellow came by with news from the biopsy. The results came back 2R, indicating moderate acute rejection, but no signs of antibody rejection have been noted yet. They are treating it with high-dose IV steroids. This could have contributed to some of the symptoms she’s experiencing, such as retaining all the fluid. We dealt with this after the first transplant. She came back fine after all the steroids, then. We’re a little seasoned and not stressing out about it. So it’s not panic mode yet.
I’m turning in early tonight, coming from a few nights in my bed, it was hard to go back to the hospital bed! Plus, JJ will be coming by early in the morning. Amanda was already looking better when I returned from the apartment. They also pulled a chest tube while I was gone. It appears that the air issue is mostly resolved. We just need to get this fluid off now.