Saturday, March 2, 2013

Home at last! Settling back into new life

Saying goodbye to 7

February 20, 2013.


    
 After nearly 3 months as an inpatient, either at WestPark Healthcare Centre or at Toronto General Hospital, and 12 days on a ventilator prior to receiving his gift of life, Keith was finally allowed to go home!  It was so nice to be able to walk out of hospital, and into his home with NO walker!  Our first night home, Keith really wanted to have Il Fornello pizza, so we went out and had a lovely meal with my daughters, Emma and Kathleen.  



In home pharmacy!

CBC interview on Saturday morning.


Relaxed breakfast
 On Saturday morning, the CBC came to do an interview and finally get a chance to chat with Keith outside of the hospital.  Keith did an excellent job.  See the interview here (15 minutes in).  

Our new reality, for a few months, is 3-4 regular trips in to Toronto a week for physical rehab, doctors visits, testing and follow up appointments.  Keith is monitored very closely by his doctors, and does self monitoring every day through spirometry readings, temperature readings, and everything is charted.  If there are any noticeable (10%) up or downticks in anything, he is to go to the hospital immediately.  The medications that he takes to suppress his immune system, need to be taken at the same time each day, twice a day, for the rest of his life.  

First workout day after transplant
Treadmill.  1.8 as opposed to .6.  He rocked it.

Keith and Dr. Waddell?  Need to organize
a proper meeting :)
Running into Derek from Spiritual Care

Catching up with the team at Credit Valley
Physio Rehab
 It has been so wonderful to meet up with many of our friends, and people who have helped over the months and years.
Yep, another front page from our local paper.  
Vince - the Physio master in MSICU.
This man is awesome!!!
No post would ever be complete, without thanking the one incredible person who made this all possible.  You made a choice, your family supported that choice, and not one moment, not one breath goes by that is not filled with gratitude for your most precious gift.  Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.  I can only hope that your family can find solace in knowing that Keith will take amazing care of this gift.  

















If you would like more information on how to ensure that you are registered in Ontario as an organ donor, please go to beadonor.ca.  Or visit Keith's Facebook Page  and check out the about section for more links in other provinces and countries.