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Alicia has been “asleep” now for six days. This is a “bump in the road” that is very frustrating. I want to see those baby blues today! The surgeon wants to do a trach (hole in her throat) as a temporary measure. He does not want her to wake up and start to struggle to breathe. I know that I would go crazy if I woke up and had to breathe through a half inch hose coming out of my mouth. This would put stress on the new lungs, which we do not need.
She had a bronch done, where they put a camera down her throat to look at the lungs from the inside. The surgeon said the lungs look great, the incision for the new lungs is intact, and there is not puss (or infection) around the area. They kicked us out of her room for this procedure, even though we got to watch it in Cincinnati. That shows just one difference between a children’s hospital and an adult hospital. They kick you out more often here. I got off the helicopter, “ran” with them to the ICU (fat man running was not pretty) only to sit in the hallway for over an hour while they “got her situated”.
We had a phone interview with someone from The Enquirer yesterday. Let’s see if they can report a good story among the “hurt me for ratings” stories. We were talking during her bronch, since we could not be in the room with her. Let us know if anyone sees the story.
When Mary Kay and Nicholas were going back to the hotel on Tuesday night, they hit one of Cleveland’s notorious pot holes. They needed to be here by 7am for the bronch, were rushing to get ready, came down to the car only to see the front left tire flat. We are parking on the street at the downtown hotel to save $25 per day parking at the hotel garage, so the car needs moved by 8am or the city will have it towed. She called me (or texted me to call her immediately-can’t use cell phones in ICU) – I thought she had an accident or something. She told me the situation. Don’t understand why Nicholas did not change the tire, but that is a whole other story. I told her to just drive it with the tire flat into the garage and pay the $25 and take a taxi to get here. After hearing the situation and the fact her daughter just had a double-lung transplant, the hotel let her park in the 15 minute load/unload zone and gave her a ride to the hospital. The maintenance man at the hotel then called his friend at the tire shop to fix the tire. There are some great people here in Cleveland, I don’t care what Sam Wyche says. Mike from the tire shop said the pot hole/tire collision actually cracked the rim and it needed replaced. We told him to go ahead (we had to deal with other things) When I got back to the hotel in the afternoon, I found out they could not find a new rim in Cleveland (it would take five days to get one here) so they welded this rim. If someone wants to help by finding a rim for a 2004 Acura, that would be great. Click here for a pix of the current five spoke 17-inch rim. Things could be worse – we could have a daughter at the hospital fighting for her life . . . wait a second, we do have a daughter at the hospital fighting for her life!
FIX ME!
I am so glad to hear everything is stable, but I know you are eager for Alicia to awaken! We experienced a few “bumps in the road” during the transplant adventure ourselves, but those doctors at Cleveland Clinic are fantastic! They definitely have the talent & experience to get Alicia through this and any other challenges. Soon you will be on the other side of this! Also,we were able to share the news of Alicia’s transplant with Dr. J and Karen M. at Adult CF Clinic yesterday and they were THRILLED as they hadn’t heard about her transplant yet!
I have been watching the progress through a friend of mine and I am up here in Canton, Ohio. Do you still need the rim for your car? If so, can you give me the model of the 2004 Acura? Also, if the shop in Cleveland can get the rim in 5 days, can I bring the silly thing up from down here for you? Would be very happy to help in any way.
Melissa Reahm
So happy to hear Alicia finally got the call. I remember the fear and the excitement of it. Just remember to enjoy every moment for it really is a blessing. Not that you need to be told that. Please tell her we’re thinking of her and sending positive vibes, for all of you. Thanks for putting updates out, and can’t wait until its her doing it! Love and caring to all. Sherry
Hope Alicia will wake up soon so you can see those baby blues! Maybe she was so exhausted by working so hard to breath that her body is trying to rest and recover now that she has new lungs.
Any chance you could use a slightly darker font color when you post updates? My middle aged eyes really have trouble with the light font against the white background.
Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Looking forward to when Alicia is up to posting updates! Glad you are there to keep her fans updated until then.
Kathy, If you highlight the text it looks a very bold white on the highlight color. At least for me it helps when reading the light font while still allowing the blog to maintain its “pretty look”.
Just a thought. THanks Jim and Mary Kay for the updates. I cannot imagine this journey your family is on right now – I just know it has to be better than that waiting game (at least praying it is better). Sending much love to your family and prayers. Keep posting “needs” that you all may have and we’ll see what we can do from here to meet them. Love to you all!!!
Michelle, Thanks for the tip.
praying for Alicia , and all of you!!!
Dear Lang Family,
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you all and especially Alicia! We are in HHI and can’t wait for you to visit here soon! Wake up girl to the best dream ever with your new lungs intact and functioning! We love you, so fight through this girl and Never Give Up! Love, The Hayden Family
I hope Alicia wakes up soon and am praying for her and your family. Please email me at moorehome@cinci.rr.com if you still need a rim for the Acura…I might be able to help. Thoughts and prayers go out to you all!
Nicole