This past week has been incredibly eventful for Eric, and I wanted to share everything while it’s still fresh.

On Monday, Eric was taken down to Interventional Radiology to have a tunneled catheter placed. This is a thin tube that’s usually inserted in the neck, giving long-term access to a vein. However, due to complications, his had to be placed in his groin. The team first attempted his left side, but a clot made it impossible to complete, so they moved to the right. This was already a site for two previous vas cath placements, so as you can imagine, the bruising is severe. It’s hard to look at, honestly.

That same day, they also performed a kidney biopsy, which is when a small tissue sample is taken to analyze what might be going wrong. It’s typically done with a thin needle under ultrasound or CT guidance. Unfortunately, Eric had to be intubated again for the procedure and wasn’t able to come off the ventilator until around 10:30am Tuesday. Despite everything, he remained calm, even understanding that he couldn’t pull the tube out himself. This was such a stark contrast to when he was on ECMO and tried to remove it in a delirious state. We were so proud of how he handled it this time, even though he felt absolutely crummy afterward.

He’s also had a few setbacks with his CVVH machine, which is a special type of dialysis used for patients too unstable for regular dialysis. The machine kept clotting up, especially since they had to stop his blood thinners to allow his body to recover from the biopsy. It’s been frustrating, but the care team is doing their best.

We don’t have the final biopsy results yet, but the early findings suggest that his kidney might be suffering from tacrolimus toxicity. Tacrolimus is a medication used to prevent rejection after a transplant, but unfortunately, it can also damage the kidneys. The current plan is to lower the dose in hopes of preserving his kidney function without risking his heart transplant. It’s a very delicate balance.

On the emotional side, I’ve noticed a big shift in Eric. His mood has definitely dipped. He’s talking less, showing little interest in food, games, even money – which used to be a go-to motivator. He’s just… over it. They offered to start him on another depression medication, but we’ve chosen to hold off and instead continue working closely with his psychologist. We’re hoping that support, consistency, and time will help lift him up.

But despite all of that, today felt a little lighter. He saw a friend yesterday, and even if he didn’t say much, just having someone from his world there seemed to make a difference.

Please keep praying – not just for his body to heal, but for his spirit to stay strong. We’re so proud of how much he’s endured, and we’re hopeful brighter days are ahead.