Graduation & New England Fall Trip

It was such a treasure to be home for the month of December.  I was able to celebrate Leah's 12 birthday and spend time with my family.  And Leah & Nolan were able to experience all of our “normal” traditions with BOTH mom & dad!  

My siblings were all here to celebrate Christmas one last time in my Mom's house in Somerset.  They bought the house in 1990 just before my first transplant, and sold the house in 2016, just after my second transplant.  Seems serendipitous.

We are so grateful for the Lord’s blessing and my donor family’s gift that made it all possible.  Here a just a few pictures from December.

Birthday Girls

Leah's special day with Dad

Birthday gift from Nolan

Leah's 12th birthday gift

Getting ready for Santa

Christmas morning

My mom and my newest niece-Amelia

Cousin Slumber Party

We're all still here to celebrate another Christmas!

My January appointment at Stanford went better than expected.  Each test and appointed moved smoothly and were on time.  And the waiting was minimal. I ended the day with a very uneventful & quick biopsy/recovery and chest x-ray.  We left the Stanford area by 2:00!

And here is the great news to report from that visit:

1) One supplement and one medication were removed from my daily list of medications.  No more iron or diuretic needed. My potassium was reduced also-meaning one less pill to swallow each day.

2) Next, a BIG ONE, No more insulin shots!!!!  For a time, I’m still required to test my blood, but I do not need insulin.  If my numbers get above a certain range, I may need medication, but so far everything is looking good.  

3) Yesterday was potentially my last biopsy!  I start a blood test next month called Allomap, which determines your risk level for rejection.  If the number is below 34 I will only need to visit Stanford monthly for labs, echo, chest x-ray and clinic, but no biopsy.  If the number is 34 or greater, a biopsy would be added to the visit, but the doctors were very adamant that even a score above 34 doesn’t necessarily mean rejection.  The biopsy would be ordered just to rule it out.  

Just to make it clear-if my Allomap score never goes above 33, and I have no other symptoms, questionable echo results etc., I would never need another biopsy!  I can’t even tell you how excited I was to learn that.  Even though these biopsies here at Stanford have been “easier” than past ones, it’s still a relief to know my neck won’t get poked as often.

4)  And-no rejection on this last biopsy!

The transplant coordinators, doctors, and even the social workers are all very impressed with how well I’ve done for a re-transplant.  I know none of this would be possible without the strength provided by my Heavenly Father, and the love and support from my friends and family during this transitional time.  


There's Never Been a Moment-Micah Tyler

https://youtu.be/Eo-3-q5dQHU