"We Love Andrea" was created to update Andrea's friends as she went through a difficult journey. After her second heart transplant when her pulse began to speed up she was given a pacemaker, then a Heart Mate II or LVAD. She was in the Stollery Children's Hospital, then the Mazankowski heart unit in Edmonton, Alberta for 7 months. However, she peacefully died on May 11, 2011 when the rest of her heart and other organs could handle the strain no longer. If you come to this blog, pray for her family and friends, remember to tell your friends you love them, then sign your organ donor card.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Going Home for the Day


Good Evening to All
 
Today was another good day for Andrea.  Slowly she is regaining strength and mobility.  Today she began with leaving the ward to go to dialysis clinic on 5th floor, nurses quite nervous about having a VAD patient there, as they are responsible for her.  I think it is another first for them, so far they were coming down to do dialysis in her room, but since she moved to a sunnier room yesterday, and it did not have the necessary plumbing for the dialysis machines like her previous room, she needed to go upstairs for it.  This is another indication that she was becoming more stable and safe to go to that clinic.  A nurse from cardiology who is also VAD trained and has looked after Andrea a lot came up there too, plus they wanted one of the parents there at all times.  Meanwhile they will undergo more training there so they are qualified to look after her, blood pressure is always something that is watched closely during dialysis, as fluid shifts can change it dramatically.  That has never been a serious issue since we left CVICU.  She was up to the teen room again today awhile playing games there.  I went home today to make sure everything was okay and to get ready for tomorrow.  If all goes as planned, tomorrow the pump doctor and nurse will follow us home to our house 1.5 hours away, spend a few hours there and try to get back to the hospital by 4 oclock or so.  If no emergencies come up where they are needed in the operating room, and all other patients are okay, it should work out.  It will be the most Andrea has done yet since surgery and it will tire her out, but going home even only for a few hours is what she wants...so we'll see.  It has been a very full and busy day for us all so now it is time for sleep.  Remember us in your prayers tomorrow, not that we are afraid, but it is a big undertaking none the less.
 
Goodnight, Maynard

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