We enjoyed the hotel pool this morning and Jack drank his clear liquids while his dad and I scarfed down a quick breakfast. From there we headed to the Ronald McDonald House to drop off donations. It took 4 trips with large bins to bring it all inside. The volunteers were thrilled and very impressed with Jack’s efforts, so thank you to everyone who helped him bring in such a large donation. It was the bright spot he needed before checking into the hospital.

We checked into the hospital at 10 this morning. Jack had to get a blood panel done and an iv port put in, but that’s about it for now. Tonight he will scrub with some intense antibacterial soap and get a subcutaneous shot for a blood thinner. He’s relaxing in the room, enjoying unlimited screen time, and trying not to think too much about what is to come.

We have been visited by many different teams today to discuss tomorrow’s game plan and sign consent forms. This is a major surgery. Obviously that means there are a lot of risks to go over. It is really hard to discuss and today has been incredibly taxing on us as his parents. We just have to trust that this is going to go as planned and know that by end of summer his life will be exponentially better. But man is it hard.

Surgery check-in is scheduled for 6:30 tomorrow morning, so hopefully that means he will be out and able to see us by 6:30 tomorrow evening. I don’t plan to text or take calls tomorrow as I will be once again racing the surgeons to see who can get done first: me making a blanket or them removing multiple organs, rerouting his digestive system and transplanting islet cells into his liver…I think I have a good shot at this one! I appreciate all the thoughts, prayers and check-ins. I don’t have the capacity to respond but I do appreciate you all. Here’s to an uneventful night and a smooth surgery tomorrow.