Many of Jazmyne’s IV medications have gradually been transitioned to oral medications.

We are now in what they call the “room-in” phase, where her care has been handed back to us as parents while still in the hospital. This phase typically lasts several weeks, during which the nurses, physicians, dietitians, and pharmacists evaluate and ensure we are fully prepared and cleared as capable caregivers.

Well, guess what… not these parents—we were cleared in just 5 days as “adequate caregivers.”

Kind of funny to be given that title now. We didn’t need the hospital to tell us…but we’ll take it.

Next stop: discharge. That happened on day 56 post-transplant…66 days in the hospital. We woke up to the best news: we were going home.

We’ll still need to stay locally near the hospital to complete the remainder of the 100 days. Jazmyne will have clinic appointments twice a week, and we’ll draw labs ahead of each visit so they’re ready. We’ll also be responsible for her weekly CVL (central line) dressing changes and administering all of her 13 daily medications 2x a day.

We were incredibly excited knowing we were all being discharged and finally leaving the hospital together. But it wasn’t until we stepped outside those hospital walls that it all truly hit us… and the real emotions came pouring out.

Inside the hospital, Greg and I high-fived, hugged, and shared some long overdue emotional tears. Jazmyne, with little emotion, simply said she was looking forward to being out of the hospital and not stuck in a bed all day.

But once we stepped outside, everything shifted. The crowds, the noise..it all seemed to overwhelm her. It startled her… and honestly, it upset her. We weren’t expecting that reaction, and it caught us off guard.

It felt like post-hospital syndrome hit her all at once, and she didn’t quite know how to process it. We noticed right away, so we paused and gently removed her from the environment to give her space. We talked it through…what felt okay, what didn’t, and how she could let us know if she started to feel uncomfortable. Moving forward, we feel like we have a game plan to support her and help her navigate this next phase. Let’s not forget she is still weaning off steroids, which can also bring intense and unpredictable emotions

This week, we’ll be settling into our new living space and soaking in the simple things uninterrupted sleep, fresh air, and as many cuddles as we can handle.

I’m still trying to gather my emotions…honestly, I don’t even have the words yet to fully explain what this feels like.

But one thing I know deep in my heart… we give all the thanks to our Heavenly Father for being the fourth man in the fire with us, never leaving our side for a single moment.

This journey isn’t over, and there’s still more ahead but this part of the battle… this part has been won.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer Request:

-Spend some time giving God thanks for what He has already done

~In the Mighty Name of Jesus