Today is day 14 in the pediatric ICU. Yesterday was Jeff’s birthday and Mother’s Day. I spent the day at the hospital with Hollis while he came home to sleep after being awake most of the night in our hospital room. You do not get much sleep in the ICU, which I can only pray none of you experience first hand. 

This was not how I imagined my first Mother’s Day with two children would look. It pains me to not be able to be with both of my girls, or have the ability to care for Hazel with my post op restrictions. It’s certainly not how Jeff expected his 38th birthday would look either. But at the end of the day, all that really matters is that our girl is getting better. Holidays and birthdays can be celebrated later and honestly just don’t mean that much when you are going through crisis. It’s remarkable how much you realize how little most things matter when you are going through it and how shocking it is that the outside world keeps moving right along.

Hollis’s liver numbers are looking great and her kidney numbers continue in the right direction! She’s had so many tubes and lines taken out and is feeling more free to move. She got into a special little chair today just her size and sat there and played and did a little painting with physical therapy. Shes no longer on TPN or insulin and successfully weaned from post extubation medications.  We are watching her white blood cells as they have been elevated but have been told this can happen post transplant and normally go back down with time. Hollis’s providers keep reminding us it’s never a flat road following transplant. It’s full of ups and downs and can feel like two steps forward one step back every day. Hollis has come SO far and gone through SO much that I have to remind myself to be patient and accept that some things will take time. She is still weak from being in the bed for weeks but we are reassured knowing daily physical therapy will get her back to where we were, running the halls soon. We hope to get out of the ICU and moved to a floor in the next few days (goal is tomorrow). Please pray for labs to trend in the right direction, less drain output, no belly pain, and restoration of appetite and strength! 

She still manages to smile and maintain a positive attitude through it all. She’s such a fighter and the bravest little thing I’ve ever seen. In true Hollis style, she has been asking for mommy to bring a present every morning I come in. Today she got a police officer costume inspired by her sweet friend Bexley that brought lots of smiles. Bexley is also five years old and got her new liver back in August and is thriving. She and her family have been such an inspiration and support system for us through this all so of course Hollis needed a police costume to be like her buddy.  :) 

Thank you all for your support, prayers, texts, gifts and love. We are so lucky to have you all! Keep the prayers coming!