Closing this chapter.....

I hate that I have been remiss with the blog but I am elated to report that Patrick is remarkably better!  He had an appointment at Duke on Thursday and his numbers and chest X-ray continue to improve with each visit. 

It was a very long 3 months as the infection in Patrick’s lung ended up being a very rare fungal infection which was treated with a 10 week course of IV antibiotics.  The good news about the IV was it could be administered at home by family, but the bad news was the medication was very taxing on his body, which turned into numerous visits to the clinic for electrolyte infusions.     

Patrick has decided that he wants to move forward with college, therefore he is not going to pursue the second transplant until later down the road.  The first transplant created more surprises than we ever imagined and Patrick more than deserves to get back to normalcy.  His disease allows him the option to wait unless he starts to develop infections.   The medical team at Duke is supportive of his decision and know that he will pursue the second transplant immediately if the need arises.   We pray that his daily antibiotics will keep any new infections at bay.

Patrick will attend UNC on a part time basis this fall and plans to return to Ole Miss as a full time student in January.   In the meantime, he is having fun catching up with friends and is enjoying some adult beverages which he had to forgo on his 21^st birthday!   

This is going to be the last post on “Patrick’s Oil Change” as we are closing this chapter in our lives.  I will close by repeating how very proud I am of Patrick.  My only regret is that he does not have a new set of cells to brag about but know that this is only temporary.  Thanks be to God.   xoxo

We rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 

 -Romans 5:3-4

 

 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

 -Romans 12:12