Hi Everyone,
A lot has happened since the last blog update - and you'll be happy to hear that all of it is good news : )
Natalia is right back to full-steam-ahead recovery and progress, back to the second stage Step Down Unit after last week's setback, starting to eat food in mass quantities (she's currently only 88lbs from trials, tribulations & transplant with an ideal weight of 125-135lbs [I know, I'm sorry Nat, I just told them your weight:], gaining more strength every day, walking further and further, in better and better spirits, and continued monitoring of her new lungs have doctors concluding that they are a particularly strong set...and Natalia is adjusting to them superbly.
Natalia and baby Scarlett were reunited yesterday via a covert, undercover visit (children under the age of 11 aren't allowed in this part of Toronto General Hospital so Scarlett was snuck in - for any/all medical staff currently reading this thanks in advance for turning a blind eye). It was quite a sight to behold (see video link below).
The key components to Natalia's next steps are continued patience combined with food. Lots and lots of both (Natalia is busting to get home), but food in particular for critical weight and additional strength.
So, Natalia won't be home for Christmas, but she will be home soon. Exact date is yet to be determined because every day is a little bit different...sometimes 5 steps forward, other days a few steps back, but overall progress to the goal line which is the most important part.
Her hands are still shaking (cause cannot be determined....likely due to how under weight she currently is and not related to immunosuppressive drugs as mentioned in a previous post) which has been preventing her from getting online to start writing in her blog again, but her emotional and psychological healing from her too-close-to-death ordeal has been particularly tremendous in the last few days which has encouraged her to fight through the shaking and personally type a Holiday/Christmas message to all of you very soon so keep your eyes peeled....
All the Best and Happy Holidays To All,
And continued thanks on behalf of Natalia, Martin, Scarlett and family for your incredible interest, support, thoughts, prayers, love, offers, wishes.
Myles Slocombe
PS: FRONT PAGE COVERAGE WITH UPDATE ON NATALIA&FAMILY's JOURNEY in the TORONTO STAR:
http://www.thestar.com/living/christmas/article/742570--a-breath-of-life-for-christmas?bn=1
Special and ongoing thanks to Reporter and friend Barbara Turnbull
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24 comments:
The video is beautiful to see - everyone so happy. Praying for you all, and may you have a lovely Christmas, gain strength and health with your new lungs Natalia.
Love, love, love it! Natalia... you look so happy and Scarlett is too adorable! I have watched this video countless times and each time it gives me butterflies and goose bumps! I am thrilled that you two have finally been reunited and that you continue to make leaps and bounds! A wonderful Christmas present for us all. Wishing you all the best... 2010 is going to be your year my dear! Nothing but fabulous things to come - looking forward to reading your words again... and better yet, have visits with you and Scarlett! Merry Christmas! xo Claire
Speechless....just amazing. I am so happy that things are looking so bright. I continue to keep you all in my prayers.
Breathtaking. So happy for you all.
Natalia,Martin,Scarlett...
What can I say, it brought a tear to my eye seeing your reunion. Natalia, it is so nice to see you breathing well and feeling better, so happy for your whole family, look forward to seeing you make your trip home..
Thank you so much, Myles for the news. I know you've had your hands full but I've checked often for an update. I'm absolutely thrilled to hear and SEE all the good news. I hope you can publish a link to the Star article in time.
Oh, how hard Natalia will continue to work to gain the strength to hold her sweet Scarlett! I have tears and "Holy Spirit bumps." Calling the chill "goosebumps" sounds just too silly when I know that God is the One who directs this thrilling confirmation of His work.
I continue to praise Him for all the wonderful care, work and love that surround this dear family and the real "star" of Toronto, Natalia!
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23
We are all so happy for you and your family Nat!
Love,
Sarah, Brad and Brielle
Although I don't know your family I've found myself drawn to your story. You have a beautiful daughter and I wish you all much health and happiness in the years to come.
The video is amazing. Nat you look fantastic! Scarlett is adorable and yes Martin you look great too! It's so nice to see all of you so happy! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you always and Nat you are making great strides and proving everyone wrong again and defying odds. Keep Fighting girl! Merry Christmas to all and Myles, you have done a great job of keeping up this blog.
what amazing news and what an amszing video. >It broght tears to my eyes!!!
NAT - you go girl!!! SO poud of you!!!!!
Thank you so much for all the great news as well as the beautiful video. Brought tears to my eyes!!
Natalia, you look wonderful. You really do! I'm so glad to hear you're doing better and that your so close to going home.
I'll be anxiously awaiting your message.
Happiest of Holidays to you all~
Sooooooooooo exciting!!! You look wonderful Natalia and that Scarlett is the cutest thing. Adorable.
Linda in Louisiana
Natalia - you look absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for posting this video. It is amazing to see you smile with Scarlett. This has made my Christmas so much more meaningful. It is a true miracle and you are a true fighter and an inspiration. I know there are probably times when it is very hard but look at how far you have come. The worst is behind you and you will continue get stronger in all ways every day.
Myles - thanks for keeping us so well informed. You are an awesome writer.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Tears of joy!!! That was just beautiful. :)
I have been following your story and reading the blog since the first Toronto Star article. I am so thrilled to see the progress you've made. My father died 4 years ago while awaiting a lung transplant. He was 58 years old and I miss him every day. Thank you for spreading the word about organ donation. With tears in my eyes, and joy in my heart I wish you a lovely Christmas. My prayers and positive thoughts are with all of you.
Denise in Toronto
Thanks for such a great update - Natalia - you look amazing! And so happy to see your little girl...the video was beautiful to see. Thanks for sharing : )
Wishing you continued strides forward and a very Merry Christmas all around.
I've followed your story in The Star and just wanted to encourage you about the shaking and the walking. I'm hoping this will help as I had a similar issue. Five years ago this week, I was on the verge of being released from rehab after I too learned how to walk again. I had had life saving surgery in August after several weeks of treatments that left me incredibly ill failed. I then developed Sepsis the long weekend in September and was transferred to St Michael's to die. I was on ventilator in ICU for a month, my brother was asked to take me off life support. I was on TPN for nutrition for 2 months and lost over 60lb (I had it to lose though). When I woke up I couldn't lift my arm, could barely wiggle my toes and my sheets felt heavy. I couldn't breath without oxygen and could barely string the words together to make a sentence. I was told in October I'd be in hospital learning to walk again until April or May. I could barely lift my arms and I shook so badly I couldn't feed myself - they gave me a finger food diet at St Mike's. I couldn't write, could barely hold a book and couldn't roll over or even sit up in bed without a lot of help. The shaking continued so long and so badly, that my doctor had a neurologist examine me. When I finally got to a rehab unit to learn how to walk again, they also gave me a hour a day of resistance band work. By then I had managed to operate a phone with a great deal of difficulty and write a few words. The shaking completely disappeared as I grew stronger and I set a goal of being able to walk into church on Christmas Eve. Not only did I walk into church a week earlier than my goal, I had been ready to do so even earlier, and was just kept in hospital til Dec 31 to ensure I could get safely up and down a flight of stairs. I returned to my job Jan 31. So much for being in hospital til April or May :). It's hard work and very frustrating at times, and I used a rollator/cane for a while, but it can be done. The shaking will pass, the walking will come and you'll be home and looking after your new daughter.
Natalia, Martin and Scarlett,
What a wonderful video to watch this morning. You look so happy and I am thrilled to be able to see you and hear about your fabulous recovery.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
What a fabulous video! Such great news.
Merry Christmas.
Thank God! Seriously this is the greatest news. I wish you all the best to come in 2010. Your story really has given me so much hope that yes Lung Transplant does have its ups and downs but is for the best. 2 months 2 weeks for me on the list but whos counting! LOL
cheers
Shannon
Blessings, love, joy and happiness to all of you!
HOW WONDERFUL! To see you reunite with Scarlett, is a dream come true. Your still in hospital, fighting to get better and get home, Scarlett knows this, in her heart she knows her momma will be with her soon. Your doing such a great job Nat, I keep saying that, but you keep doing it!
It's so awesome to see you with your baby girl, I'm sure it was a great moment for the whole family.
We continue to root for you, we continue to pray for a quick recovery, to see you walking and home again.
Keep it up Nat, and thanks so much for the update.
Merry Christmas, and happy New Year, this year is going to be filled with new beginnings for your entire family...I'm so happy for you.
Hang in there with the shaking hands Natalia. It is rough, but it will get better! I promise! I also had trouble with concentration. But, that got better too! hang in there!
Natalia and Family,
I believe the days are coming when you, Natalia, will feel normal again...I wish it was sooner and you did not have to be patient for it, because you've already waited so long, but it will come.
I have CF and was on the vent for several weeks and when I got off, I had a really hard time emotionally (it was the first time in my life, I felt like I couldn't go on) and I weighed 88 lbs, and I couldn't walk either (prior to being on the vent, I'd been on bedrest for 6 weeks). I had to learn to walk again, but it came but I felt wobbly for awhile. And I wanted to hurry and get home to take care of my baby--still, I just didn't feel like myself and a lot of people, including my doctor, said it was all the drugs from the ICU; they said the drugs can take a long time to get out of the body. I don't know, but I did get better and I could handle being alone again after awhile and everything. This was all when I had respiratory failure when my little one was born.
I just know how frustrating it is to want your body to do something that you've waited for so long and not know when you will feel like you can be normal again......and I also remember how stressful it was on my family to not know how to help me because all I wanted was to go home (which I couldn't do) and to feel normal (which was taking too long).
Love and prayers to all of you,
Hang in there,
Kerry
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