May 28, 2009

We want to thank you again for the many kindnesses, faith, and prayers offered to Bryce and to us. We have been greatly touched by the many email messages and cards as you have expressed your love and support.

It was four weeks ago today that Bryce was first admitted to the ICU with liver failure and sepsis. It seems like forever ago in many ways and yet we wonder what happened to the month of May. Today Bryce looked better and acted better than he has since he was first admitted. He was very alert and is speaking much better than he has since he was extubated. What a great blessing we have received from the Lord to preserve his life! He continues to be in a lot of pain, but he is being very brave. He still has a long ways to go, but he has come so very far.

What was really encouraging to me is that I had him talk to Jerica on the phone and he asked her to bring some movies they could watch together. This is the first time that Bryce has shown interest in watching a movie - something that he really enjoys doing.

It was very touching to me this evening as we visited with him as he sincerely expressed gratitude to each of us for our love and support. He was very coherent and showed his genuine sense of humor. It is nice to see his white teeth as he smiled in the midst of his very jaundiced face. (His bilirubin has now climbed to 25.4.)

Today Bryce took his first shower in four weeks. We told him it was about time he cleaned himself up. He walked to and from the shower room with a walker. Since there was a mirror in the bathroom I warned Bryce about his appearance so that he wasn't shocked when he looked in the mirror. I told him that at least he looks much better than he has previously. Afterwards he thanked me for forewarning him.

We got an email from one of our friends, Linda Watson, who along with her family greatly helped us when Bryce received his second and third kidney transplant. (It is hard to think about his first transplant being when he was only 2 1/2 years old - the same age as our little granddaughter, Hailey.)

Anyway she shared her feelings about Bryce's great courage as a little boy. He continues to demonstrate this great courage now! Today the doctor approached him about a living will and advanced directives - this kind-of took Bryce off guard. He told us that he knows that we all believe that he will make it and said to us that with us all believing that he will make it that he also believes that he will make it. He definitely wants to fight for his life so he can marry his sweetheart. We also talked about trusting in the Lord and accepting His will and he nodded his head.

Another blessing that we feel tremendous gratitude for is our medical insurance. Our insurance coverage for Bryce was supposed to terminate the end of this month as Bryce turned 26 on May 9th. In March I felt impressed to research what options we had to ensure that Bryce was covered with medical insurance after his 26th birthday. The options looked either very costly or a huge paperwork nightmare and waiting period. Fortunately I found that my company, Intermountain Healthcare, allows for an extension of medical insurance for disabled dependents. Bryce has not been able to work since November due to illness and we qualified. I can't imagine worrying about the financial cost of his medical care on top of worrying about him.