Want the good news or bad news first?

Let’s start with the GOOD news and goals:

Westen is expected to be discharged from the hospital on Friday!

He will have a home health nurse checking in 2-3 times per week to monitor him and do lab draws. He will also be going home with his PICC line (his large IV line) and TPN running 24 hours a day so he can get the full nutrition he needs and hopefully continue to gain some weight and strength before transplant.

The GOAL is to eventually get his TNP down to 18 hours per day, giving him a 6 hour break each day. This will remain part of our new routine to some capacity until Westen gets his new liver.

Now for the BAD news:

Westen tested positive for rhinovirus (the common cold for most) on Sunday. Because of this, our original goal of being listed today is being pushed back 7 days. He needs to be infection free for transplant to be as safe as possible.

As much as this news sucks, we are learning to accept that we simply cannot control every part of this journey. If all goes as planned, September 27th should be the new goal for getting Westen active on the transplant list, and that date puts us even closer to October 1st – the day we can begin screening potential living liver donors.

This journey has continually been full of ups and downs. Good news, bad news, unexpected setbacks, and little victories. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is getting Westen healthy. We will keep taking it one day, one step and one goal at a time.

Keep praying for our boy.