Transplant Clinic Visit

We just finished up our Transplant Clinic visit and everything is still looking good! Her echo showed great heart function and Dr. Mahle and Kelsey (one of her transplant coordinators) thought she looked great. The only thing mentioned as something we need to address soon is her swollen gums. This is one of the big cosmetic side effects of her main anti-rejection medication. We have been keeping an eye on Grace's for a little bit and it has finally come time to do something about them before her teeth shift anymore.

Grace is now 3 1/2 years post transplant, time sure does fly! When I walk around the hospital, it is sometimes hard for me to believe that if you total all her "visits" we have spent about 9 months out of those 3 1/2 years "living" there. What a relief this year has been with NO hospitalizations due to illness. Grace is doing so well, not just medically, but developmentally as well. She has been loving her "summer fun" program and loves her teachers and friends. Her vocabulary is skyrocketing as is her defiance, but it is all part of the three year old package, I guess! She is super inquisitive and has really enjoys "make believe" play time. She also enjoys playing dress up (although she is more into pirates than princesses!) and doll house time.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Please also remember her donor family who gave us such a wonderful gift.

Helen

Oh to be three again! Grace is full of so much energy we can hardly keep up with her. She is talking more and more, and her teacher told me today was her "best day yet" at school. We have been working hard teaching her to swim this summer and have had success at about 5 feet. After that point she is so proud of her new found talent that she stops to tell us about it and forgets that if she stops kicking her feet and moving her arms that she will sink to the bottom. She is getting really close though!

We have been staying out of doctors offices this summer and will hopefully continue to avoid them until Grace's transplant check up at the end of July. It has been six months since we were up there last and it feels SOOOO good to be able to have made it the full six months without any hospitalizations. What a difference a year (and a new medicine) makes!

I will continue to fiddle with this site and hope to get some new pics up soon. Please continue keep Grace in your prayers for a healthy 3 1/2 year check up and safe travels. Also, please continue to think of our donor family who gave us so much!

Helen