{"id":383,"date":"2026-04-19T00:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T00:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforteamham\/?p=383"},"modified":"2026-04-19T03:37:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T03:37:50","slug":"a-marathon-not-a-sprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforteamham\/2026\/04\/19\/a-marathon-not-a-sprint\/","title":{"rendered":"A Marathon, Not a Sprint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Week of transplant: April 13-18<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re running a marathon on an uncharted course and it is full of hills. The ups and downs of recovery are expected, yet unpredictable. Here’s a quick recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 1 and 2 post Open Heart Transplant (OHT)<\/a>: early progress, pain management challenges, grit, determination, successful walks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 3 post OHT<\/a>: a walk all the way down the hall, but some decline in the afternoon\/evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day 4 post OHT: A Hard Day<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Today’s Update: Post OHT Day 5, Hospital Day 17<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This stretch of the marathon has been a hard one. Kya\u2019s been extremely fatigued, running a low body temperature, struggling to take full breaths, and has been too weak to walk for two days. Imaging showed a partially collapsed lower lung (atelectasis). Her kidneys haven\u2019t been able to keep up with removing fluid and processing all the medications. Her right ventricle is still \u201cwaking up,\u201d which is common in these early days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of this has a single clear cause. It could be medication side effects, the normal post\u2011op inflammatory storm, fluid overload, the start of an infection, or a mix of all of the above. These are known complications in the early phase of transplant recovery \u2014 not completely unexpected, but still undesired and hard to go through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today they\u2019re starting Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) to help her kidneys rest and remove excess fluid. She\u2019s continuing respiratory therapy to help her lung re\u2011expand, and her team is monitoring her closely, adjusting as they go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still Strong<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Her new heart continues to function well with no signs of rejection. The team remains proactive and attentive. They were able to remove her chest tubes today. This is progress and should help her feel more comfortable. This phase is difficult, and not what we hoped for, but these are the early miles and with time, can be recovered from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s been some emotional whiplash from progress, setback and regrouping \u2013 a bit like taking a tumble in the early part of a marathon. There\u2019s a lot of uncertainty and all we can do is focus on the next steps. Docs are assessing and adjusting for the long road of recovery, reminding us it isn\u2019t a straight line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the middle of it all, Kya keeps giving us these tear-jerking, gut-level moments. They\u2019re the kind of moments you hear from someone who is running the race of their life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s worth it. It hurts so bad, but I feel proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I can do it.\u201d You already are, my dear, and you\u2019re doing a great job<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love you mommy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our best looks different every day and she is giving everything she has. We\u2019re hopeful for a turnaround soon, and expect to remain in the ICU as she works through this part of the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To All of You – THANK YOU<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for the song suggestions that are building her recovery playlist, for the cards, for the messages, prayers and encouragement that meet us at every turn. You help keep us moving through this long, uneven journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have sent a package, please let us know!  Some are arriving and we don\u2019t know who they are from. Also, thank you for your thoughtfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For real time updates, follow us on socials:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week of transplant: April 13-18 We\u2019re running a marathon on an uncharted course and it is full of hills. The ups and downs of recovery are expected, yet unpredictable. Here’s a quick recap: Day 1 and 2 post Open Heart Transplant (OHT): early progress, pain management challenges, grit, determination, successful walks Day 3 post OHT: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2059,"featured_media":384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Marathon, Not a Sprint - COTA for Team Ham<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cota.org\/cotaforteamham\/2026\/04\/19\/a-marathon-not-a-sprint\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Marathon, Not a Sprint\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Week of transplant: April 13-18 We\u2019re running a marathon on an uncharted course and it is full of hills. 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