Our Christmas Miracle. :)

Well, after keeping a secret for 4 days, I was able to bring Brent home! On Thursday, Dr.Price said that he was going to try to figure out a way to get him home for Christmas. They experimented with taking him off of the suction on the two drains, and hooked them up to JP suction bulbs instead. They put a wound vac back on the midline incision with the fistula, which they don't like to do, but so far it is working fine. He was taken off of the IV pain pump as well, and switched to some yummy "lollipops." :) So, today, after waiting 6 hours, they finally discharged him tonight at about 5:00. We made sure he had pain meds on board for the adventurous drive home through all the construction and rush hour. I am happy to say that he is home, sitting next to me on the couch.

Dr. Price figured that he can recover 6-8 weeks at home, instead of at the hospital if at all possible. We thank him for trying and for his love and care. We are glad to have him home.

We are very scared though too. He has to guard the Malecott drain with his life (Dr.'s orders). If anything happened to it, we would be in BIG trouble real fast. This is the drain that goes directly into his intestine. It is very painful.

I have donned my nurse's cap again, and am ready to take over. My new duties include wound care, drain emptying, chauffeur back and forth to wound care for the wound vac, and whatever he needs. I am just glad to not have to drive to the hospital everyday. :) Luckily, we can go to wound care at UVRMC, and not have to drive up to Murray for it. Nurse Michelle is home for a few more weeks too, so she can get some practical experience in while she's home. :)

In 6-8 weeks, he will have to have another surgery. We do not know yet if that will be here in Utah, or at UCLA. We won't know until then, and honestly, I can't even think about the logistics of having to go to UCLA. It frightens me.

We have felt your love and support in the form of prayers, meals, kind words, hugs, blessings, visits, texts, phone calls, cards in the mail, and offers of help. We appreciate our family, friends, and coworkers more than you will ever know. Your love and faith is what sustains us.

Brent is not out of the woods, and up and around, but he is home. Happy Birthday to David, and Merry Christmas to us! :) May you be blessed with the desires of your heart, also, at this Christmas time. We are thankful for this season of love and giving. We are thankful for our Savior, and for his birth, life, and resurrection. We acknowledge and are thankful for our blessings, which includes you.

lisa