Hello from Idaho! We were officially given the green flag to relocate back home to Idaho on March 12th, and we were on a plane the very next day! Thank you to Colby’s parents for driving our car home for us so we could get Cohen back home quickly. He was so ready, after almost five months of being away. We had the best welcoming crew for him at the airport which was really special! 

Our final week in California Cohen had his 8th birthday! He also had one more ultrasound so his team could rule out any narrowing of his hepatic artery which they saw signs of while he was last hospitalized (for his third biopsy). Thankfully the ultrasound was normal this time and his labs also remained stable which meant they were comfortable with him going home and being monitored from a distance. 

It has been a whirlwind to be at home this past week a half but so so good! Cohen has been able to see a few of his friends, he visited his teacher, he’s started to ride his bike again, and he’s gaining so much stamina with all of his playing. 

If I stop and think about where he was in November and who he is now I just can’t help but get teary. He’s gained so much life back. We are continuously thinking about the gift we received from his donor/donor family. We will be forever grateful.

This week he had a few appointments with Idaho specialists – a new GI since his recently retired and a nephrology specialist to help monitor blood pressure and kidneys. He also got labs again today, and we are so excited and relieved that they are still improving and his ALT actually moved into the normal range! I think this is only the 2nd time we’ve seen it normal since transplant. 

A few prayers we continue to appreciate are that: 

Cohen’s liver labs continue to remain stable and move into completely normal range. He now gets them checked every 2 weeks.

That a stent he had placed during transplant passes on its own so we do not have to return to Stanford this summer for a procedure to remove it

That his return to school goes smooth and he stays clear of any major sicknesses

Thank you for the support over these many months! We are humbled and know we could not have gotten through some very hard days without it. Giving God so much praise as we enter into this new phase of Cohen’s liver journey.