3 months and still healing

Hi All,

This Friday, June 12th, will be 3 months since Dale's transplant. 

Healing continues, albeit too slowly to suit Dale.  Which leads me to wonder "Does anyone ever think they heal fast enough?"

There have been no major setbacks, but the road to full health is a bit rocky and it just takes time for the liver to regrow (we are told by the docs that it should be almost full size by now).  Stamina is still a major issue.  Dale was planning to teach at the International Herb Symposium which starts this weekend but had to withdraw.  He's just not at 100% yet.

Meanwhile, Dale's donor, the generous and selfless Matt T., also continues to recover.  His recovery has had its share of ups and downs.  Since Matt's a "working man" he has lost 3 months from work and is also not quite 100% so hasn't returned to the work force yet.  Major abdominal surgery is a big hit to the system, even when you're healthy.

Dale has set up a "Donor's Fund" to help Matt through this period.  If you feel moved to contribute to this fund, you can make a donation through PayPal sending money to amulet@botanikos.com.  Or you can send a check made out to Dale Pendell and marked "Donor's Fund" in the bottom left corner.  If you prefer to use the traditional method and send a check -- it can be mailed to Dale at PO Box 1423, Penn Valley CA 95946.

I hope that this finds everyone of you in good health and enjoying the turn towards summer.

Blessings and love to all,
laura

Elevated Liver Enzymes and a visit with Scarlett

Hi All,

A week ago Dale's blood tests came back with elevated liver enzymes which indicate some inflammation.  So after an ultrasound to determine that all was well structurally they scheduled Dale for a liver biopsy.  They did the biopsy this past Monday (4/13) which required an overnight stay at the hospital.

We were just told this afternoon that the pathology report showed "non specific inflammation" which means that there is no clear cut explanation for the elevated enzymes.  The plan is continue to get blood tests twice a week and monitor the situation which the docs think will resolve itself on its own.

The upside of yet another trip to San Francisco is that we visited with Scarlett and her parents on Sunday.  Here's a picture of Dale and Scarlett:

She is quite the sweetie and very beautiful.  (But maybe all grandparents say that....)

Blessings to all............

So far, so good (again)

Hard to believe that it's been 3 weeks since Dale's transplant.  Well, technically 3 weeks plus one day.

He was still in the ICU 3 weeks ago.  Now he is here and there is daily improvement.  There is still a lot of healing ahead but all is going well.  The numbers from the twice weekly blood tests show that his new liver is functioning normally.

I am grateful to women in my Book Group as well as folks from our sangha who are helping with food and bringing us meals to eat.  It makes a huge difference.

We are on this new path and the journey continues.  So far, so good seems to be my mantra at the moment.

Thanks to all of you out there who continue to send healing energy this way.  It definitely is making a difference.

Not much to report

Dear Ones,

Nothing earth-shaking to report especially compared to all that's gone on over the past 2 weeks.  Today is the 2 week anniversary of Dale's liver transplant. 

I must admit I look forward to the 2 month anniversary and even more to the 2 year anniversary.

Don't be alarmed if I don't post daily after today.  It only means there isn't very much to write about and make the jump that healing continues.

Also, for those who have gotten used to texting us while we were in San Francisco, may I remind you that here at Mantis Hill the smart phones are pretty dumb.  Texts seem to come in better than they go out.  So please consider the old fashioned email way of communicating.  Or the even older telephone.

Sweet dreams!

laura

Special Day

Healing continues.
So does unpacking.
Collected the mail.
Paid bills.
Mundane life goes on.

But today is special
and so we remembered
how after getting a license
with the intention of having Nelson
perform a ceremony during
Mountains & Rivers in April
we sat at a little cafe
sharing a grilled cheese sandwich
and smiled at each other and said
"We could save our friends a lot of trouble"
paid the bill, walked back around the corner
into City Hall in Oakland and all the clerks
gathered around and they loved it and
we loved it too.  Informal and spur of the moment
I don't even remember what I was wearing.
Perfect.

Still perfect all these years later.

Right now, every day feels pretty special.
Today ... a little bit more.

Home Sweet Home

Things went really well at the Clinic this morning and Dale was cleared to leave San Francisco and go home.

Which we did as quickly as possible.

We are back in the land of green beings and birds and frogs and oh so many beautiful early flowers of Spring.

Hooray!!

There is still a lot of healing to be done but it's easier here away from the bustle and noise of the city.

 

laura

Day 11: Outside and Inside

Dear Friends,

We awoke this morning to a light rain and an early trip to the hospital for scheduled blood work.  And later a call from Dale's Nurse Practitioner that someone had used an old "Standing Order" and so not all of the labs they needed were done.  Could we come in extra early tomorrow morning and have the labs done again?

They need the labs because tomorrow is Dale's first appointment at the Post Transplant Liver Clinic.  And the labs are an important part of figuring out how he's doing inside beyond how he looks and how things are healing on the outside.

We took another walk this afternoon.  This one a bit longer by a few blocks than the previous walks.  And we took advantage of San Francisco's hilly streets to upgrade it a bit.

The news from Santa Cruz is that everyone is in love with little Scarlett.  Marici is recovering and I believe they are all on schedule to return home on Wednesday.

The morning rain was delightful.  The afternoon sun was energizing.  A good day for us although we are still pretty much bored and ready to go home ourselves. 

I hope that wherever you found yourself today (outside or in) you enjoyed your day.

laura

Day 10: A Quiet Day

Hi Everyone,

Dale and I spent a relatively quiet day.  No medical adventures.  The baby's been born so we were not anxiously awaiting news.

We did take a walk which included a visit to Amoeba to pick up a few movies to watch.

In truth I guess it's getting a little boring.  But under the circumstances boring is probably good.

Sorry I missed an update last night.  Hope no one was concerned.

Dale continues to mend.  I'm getting some sleep.  New little Scarlett and her parents are bonding.

Deep bows to all,

laura

DAY 9: Introducing Scarlett Alexandra Macdonald

Born today, around 3 PM, bit over nine pounds and

with "linebacker shoulders" and a head of hair and

some attitude with lungs to back it up.

Mother  and daughter in hospital until
Wednesday—so we hear. 

Blessings from the Universe, for all.

Hoot and hoo-rah.  Watch out world, a new bit of beauty

has entered.

Dale's own healings continue at their own pace. So, ease.

Dale adds:  thanks for all who respected my seclusion, and I'm going to continue

to "cocoon" for a few days more.

But, hey, hair, fingers, joy, all of it. 

Blessings.

Day 8: continued recovery and some exciting news

Dear Friends,

Dale continues to recover.  We took a walk today in the Haight and enjoyed some sunshine after all the days indoors.

But the big news of the day is that Dale's daughter, Marici, is in labor as we speak.  We anticipate news about the baby girl whose arrival is eagerly anticipated soon.

Stay tuned!

blessings from the universe to all,
laura

Day 7: Message from Dale

Hi all,

It's been so great getting good wishes and reports from you all.

My donor and I are both out of the hospital. Lots of healing ahead, but prognosis is good. Laura and I are staying in the City for at least a week to be near the hospital, see after that.

Lots of stories …  some soulful, some bizarre, but they'll have to wait. Blessings.

Dale

Day 6: Sprung!!

Good news to share!

Both Dale and his donor were discharged from the hospital late this afternoon!

We are now in a hotel just a few blocks from the hospital.  Which also means that if anything unanticipated was to happen we are minutes away from help.

Both guys look pretty terrific considering what they've been through.

Everyone is planning to catch up on all that missed sleep!

Thanks to everyone for the healing energies, songs, incense and whatever else you've done this past week to make this go so well.  Obviously, it worked!

We are all filled with gratitude and lots of love,
laura

Day 5: Tuesday night

Hi Folks,

Another long day.

You must be tired of reading that.  I'm certainly tired of writing it.

But here we are.  Both Dale and his donor are still in the hospital despite hopes that they might be released today.  There was a change of pain meds that set back recovery.  But once again we are hopeful that DBD will be sprung tomorrow.  Dale perhaps on Thursday or Friday.

That said they are both busy walking laps around the floor at 9Long.  The transplant team gives you a very attractive t-shirt once you've walked 12 laps which is the equivalent to a mile.  They both have earned said t-shirt.

I'm kind of punch drunk from lack of sleep so I'll sign off now.

And write more tomorrow.

May all beings be happy,

Day 4: Monday night

Hello Everyone,

Another long day. 

The doctors continue to be very pleased with Dale's recovery.  They are thinking he'll be discharged on either Wednesday or more likely Thursday.

And the DBD (Dear Bodhisattva Donor) turned the corner over night and today he was feeling much much better than he's been.  We expect he'll be discharged tomorrow.

I am kind of running on fumes.  But now that Dale is mostly out of the woods, as the saying goes, I hope to be able to go to sleep and stay asleep for my usual 6+ hours.

love to all,
laura

Sunday Night Day Three Encouraging News

Dear Folks,

Dale is doing so well that the docs say he may be out of the hospital by Wednesday!

His donor has also turned the corner and his pain is subsiding.  You cannot imagine how happy that makes both Dale and me.  Well, maybe you can.  That this man has given Dale the gift of life is still too amazing to contemplate.  Even the hospital staff think he is special.  A true Bodhisattva.

It's been another long day at the hospital.  Tiring and exhilarating both.  It's great to see Dale recovering from all this so quickly.

More tomorrow.

With love and gratitude and blessings to all,

laura

Day Two Post Surgery "So Far, So Good"

Good news everyone!  Dale is out of the ICU and into a regular hospital room.  He's continues to do very well and the doctors continue to be very pleased. 

The donor is also well but still a hurtin' cowboy.  This was expected.  We all hope that tomorrow he begins to feel a whole lot better.

Some of you have asked how I'm doing.  I'm tired but really happy that all has gone so well.  I am hoping that as Dale continues to improve I'll get some more rest. 

I'll post again tomorrow.

Day One Post Surgery

Dear Ones,

All is going well.

Most probably Dale will be out of the ICU and back to the regular hospital floor tomorrow.  Everyone (the doctors) is very pleased with not just how the surgery went but how Dale is recovering. He got out of bed today and even walked around the ICU unit.

The wonderful donor has been back in his hospital room since yesterday afternoon and he too is doing exactly as expected.

More news tomorrow.

Until then, gratitude and deep bows to all of you for your companionship on this journey.

laura

Surgery

Dale is out of surgery and in Intensive Care.  The docs say it went well and the new liver is working.  It's been a long day and everyone is exhausted.

Thank you for all your prayers and healing energies.  I'll post more tomorrow.

Day 0 (minus a few hours)

Hello Everyone,

It's been a long day but both Dale and his DBD (Dear Bodhisattva Donor) are safely tucked in bed in the hospital.

No one will give us a definitive answer about the time of the surgeries in the morning, except that they begin with the donor and then start Dale's surgery about 1 1/2 hours later.

I'll do my best to check in again later tomorrow.  In the meantime, do whatever feels right to bring them all the healing energies they might need to call on.

love and blessings to all,
laura

Ah, blogging.........

Today is about packing.  Tomorrow we drive to UCSF.  Thursday's the transplant.

I'll put a post up and let everyone know how Dale's doing (and how I'm doing also) maybe Wednesday night.  Or Thursday night. 

Dale's doctors are the best.  And the support from all of you is strong.  Thanks, hugs, and deep bows to all.

a test of sorts

Maybe I will try to use this blog as a way to communicate with those that want to know what it's like to be the wife of a man undergoing a liver transplant.  We'll see.  Dale and I are pretty private but I realize this might be the best way to keep those who are interested up to date.  I'll talk to Dale and see how he feels about this.  I've still got 10 days to figure it out.