Encouraged

Our meeting with the surgeon today was so encouraging. He sat here in Ash's room across from Dave and I and spent a little over an hour visiting with us. I can't express to you how very much we appreciated the time he gave to us. In over two years of stays here in Omaha we have never been given that much time with any of her doctors. It was long over due and very much needed. We discussed many, many things and when he walked out of our room Dave and I were very encouraged. As far as he is concerned everything should be a "go" on Monday and he doesn't see why we would need to be hospitalized much longer once we arrive in Shreveport. More than anything this transfer is about logistics. If we lived here in Omaha he told us he would have discharged her into our care yesterday. That was amazing to here.

As I have shared previously, Ashley has a little ways to go before being back to where she was pre-rejection episode. The thing that I appreciated today from our meeting was this statement,"There is nothing "magic" being done in this room that couldn't be done in your own home and managed by close phone contact." I can't tell you how many times Dave and I have used those exact same words. "nothing magic" that couldn't be done at home. For the most part it seems as though Ashley is out of danger and we are merely waiting on her bowel to heal and repair. It will take a little time. Her feeds are being advanced daily and we are monitoring her output as close as ever. She will require IV replacement for a while before her body can be switched over to enteral so that means we will need to hang on to this PIC line for as long as we can. She will also need multiple labs drawn each week. There are many, many details to the long range plan that I'm sure you wouldn't really be interested in, but sitting down with Dr. M was so beneficial. It helped Dave and I get a "map" of her recovery lined up in our minds and we now understand what steps it will take to get her there.

We won't know until Monday if the transfer works out or not. He did share that he doesn't expect any one to throw us a curve ball on Monday morning, but he will no longer be on service once he signs off in the early morning hours and the on coming surgeon could put a halt to everything. He doesn't think they will, but they could. In addition to that we have the flight approval to be given and the receiving doctor to accept. I don't really expect to be on that plane Monday evening(although I hope we are) knowing all that has to happen, but I sure hope that by Tuesday morning we will be making our way closer to Blake and Allison.

We spent a lot of time discussing Ash's med list and the expected length of time she would be requiring all of them. It sounds as though it may be a few months before our little girl returns to her normal self, but he does expect that she will be able to have most of them stopped in the upcoming months. We briefly talked about take-down and it was decided it would probably be another year to year and half out for us. That means our Ashley Kate will more than likely be 4 and 1/2 or almost 5 before this operation can be done for her.

We did see a few smiles from the gherkin tonight and it warmed our hearts to see glimpses of happiness coming from inside her. She has been through a lot this past month and it may take us a while to get her back, but the important thing is that she will come back. I can't wait to have her home again. I really believe it will make all the difference in her recovery. Just knowing that we could actually be home in a week or so has so encouraged our hearts. God does amazing things each and every day. I've always known that, but these last 3 years have had me living some of those amazing things through the life our pickle. I am forever grateful. Thank you for your continued prayers. As soon as we know for sure that we will be leaving and on our way to more familiar territory we will let you know. Good night my friends and God bless. Trish