Postop Day 4 – Smile

As Zayne becomes unattached from tubes/wires, she is becoming more attached to me.  Between that and visitors coming when Zayne is sleeping, I haven’t had time to write an update.

Today, Zayne drank three times more Pediasure than the previous day.  However, she is still not interested in solid food.  She took two long excursions around the CICU.  The pressure bandage was removed from her arterial port site.  The groin central line was removed, but this was a painful procedure since the adhesive was stuck pretty good to her skin and the stitches were extremely tight.  While flushing the IV in her hand, Zayne was in a lot of pain.  That means the IV line is no longer good, and the IV was removed.  For the first time, Zayne’s arms are unencumbered (except for the blood pressure cuff).  She is tolerating all the tubes and lines extremely well.

The final immunosuppressant infusion was delivered, today.  These powerful antirejection drugs make her pretty sick.  She received multiple doses (4-6 hrs long for each dose) of Intravenous immunoglobulin products (IVIG) and Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG).  The initial 2 doses were really hard on Zayne, but I insisted that she be premedicated for the final 3, and she either slept or stared off into space).

Zayne got cleaned up including washing her hair with a waterless shower cap that contains shampoo and conditioner.  You just put on the shower cap, massage, and towel dry.  She was in a drugged catatonic state and only communicated to display hostility when her view to the TV was blocked.  

I’m amazed at how well she is doing. I keep looking at her monitor and see a normal (yet strange to me) EKG and a good blood pressure.  Her new little heart is going strong.  The central neck line is the only one left.  Zayne should be unhooked from all IV meds on Saturday (July 4), but the port will be left in place until the docs are comfortable.

We got moved to the “annex” – there are 2 CICU beds in the CCU.  There is one dedicated CICU nurse for the 2 rooms.  Shortly after the move, Zayne was smiling and laughing.  It is the first time I have seen her play since before transplant, and it makes me very happy.  Zayne was counting and interacting with me while reading books.  The old Zayne is still there and is beginning to emerge.