Hi All! It’s me, Brittany, taking over the journal to give an update. I can’t begin to describe how incredibly tough AND kind Amanda is. Not long after I arrived yesterday, they began her PLEX treatment which works to filter all of Amanda’s blood to get out the anti-bodies (it’s way more complicated than that,…

This has been a terrible day, to say the least. Which started with the alarming call about Zoey. Amanda has had issues with her IVs, and we talked with them about a PICC line. This is the same line she had when we were administering  IV antibiotics at home for the sternal infection earlier this…

Our cardiologist came by last night, apologizing that he hadn’t made it by yet. Amanda said this was the first time he’d fest up to her freaking him out. We got the full scope now, which kind of freaked us out. These treatments won’t be the only ones. At the end of the PLEX, she…

There is a cardiothoracic fellow who is younger and Asian; Amanda calls her Yang. If you are a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you get the reference. She came in while I was out and said there would be six total rounds of steroids. So that was a little shocking. We don’t think there will be a…

I do not like making these kinds of posts, but we have too many people to count who are asking how to help, which is fantastic! So I’ll lay out all the ways you can help here. God has been providing for us even before we knew we’d need help. He is so good. Bless…

My bed proved to be much more comfortable than the crap recliner I had in the tiny transplant floor room. Amanda was amped up from the double steroid doses. I guess I was amped in solidarity with her because when I finished and posted yesterday’s update, it was almost 2 am, and I wasn’t even…

Once the transplant team came by, we were able to fill in the pieces on how things were going to go for treatment. First was the central line; they would typically go through the neck or chest for more mobility. With Amanda’s venous structure above her heart being reconstructed, they wanted to use her groin.…

I think we both slept better last night; I know I did with my melatonin/benadryl cocktail. I slept well til the railroad called me to go to work around 1 am. I didn’t take that call to work, but luckily, I still had a couple of paid sick days left. Hopefully, I won’t need more…

Let’s just say I missed the bed at the Westin. It was nothing spectacular, but it wasn’t one of the lousy hospital recliners to sleep in! I had a horrible night’s sleep since the recliner didn’t tilt or lay very flat. Plus, my feet hang off about a foot or two, so I pulled up…

After a good night’s sleep, I called Amanda to check on her. She was already up and had a decent night’s sleep as well. I got ready and headed over to the hospital. I didn’t even bother asking Amanda if she wanted Starbucks; I knew the answer! On the way over, I was thinking of…