It has been a year today! We made it and today we celebrate! It has been a difficult summer for Eva, having many of her favorite foods and activities restricted.  But now, once the weather warms, she can play barefoot, swim in lakes, go to the beach and wade in streams; all things an 11 year-old wants to do (and the only thing left to do during COVID). She can eat sushi, pepperoni and summer sausage again; all items on the menu today for sure.

We went to Seattle on Thursday for her one year appointment and at that time we disposed of the antibiotic she has been taking prophylactically for the last year.  She is now taking only two medications which she will take for life; her anti-rejection drug Tacrolimus and Magnesium (because Tacrolimus drains Magnesium from the body). It is hard to believe she started out in ICU with over 24 medications. Typically at the year mark Tacrolimus would be reduced one final time to a maintenance dose, but for Eva, because of her rejection episode in August, this will have to wait just a few months longer. This final reduction will allow her to build a stronger immune system and retain more Magnesium. She currently struggles a great deal with low Magnesium, leaving her feeling weak and achy, so we look forward to that dose changing with great anticipation.  We return for labs next week and continue to watch her liver numbers until the dose can be changed but in the meantime, we celebrate!

Thank you Lord for bringing us through the storm