Trent and Jill are back in Cleveland today. No worries, though - just a routine check-up. Trent will have some blood work, get a bronchoscopy and, hopefully, get an AOK from the doctors, in which case he and Jill will head back to Cincinnati later tonight.
Be praying for safe travels, for a great check-up, and for another few weeks of quiet time at home!
The Todds
I'll keep pushing, you keep praying!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Update #53 - Home Safely
Welcome Home Trent!
For the first time in two months, the Todd family is all in their home together. Trent, Jill and their friend Ronda got back from Cleveland just after 5:30 p.m. today. Although I know we shouldn't have been surprised, there were quite a few open mouths when Trent opened his car door, got out of the car, and walked down the driveway on his own, without a walker, without tubes, and with a WHOLE LOT of hair. :-)
As we already know, Trent was discharged much more quickly than anyone anticipated; what you may not know is he is also the first lung transplant patient to leave the hospital without being attached to oxygen. He rode the entire way home, greeted his Welcome Parade (fist bumps only, of course), gave a thank you address loud enough to be heard at least 15 feet away, then made his way into his house with his family to celebrate...with a Five Guys burger and fries.
If you have pictures of the homecoming, please post for those who missed it! Just a re-reminder to give the Todds their space, privacy and germ-free home for the time being. And if you do happen to encounter them when they are out and about, resist the overwhelming urge to hug, high five or shake hands! Fist bumps save lives! :-)
After such a long haul, pray extra hard tonight that Trent will be able to stop pushing long enough to enjoy a good night's sleep at home and yet another beautiful morning with new lungs.
For the first time in two months, the Todd family is all in their home together. Trent, Jill and their friend Ronda got back from Cleveland just after 5:30 p.m. today. Although I know we shouldn't have been surprised, there were quite a few open mouths when Trent opened his car door, got out of the car, and walked down the driveway on his own, without a walker, without tubes, and with a WHOLE LOT of hair. :-)
As we already know, Trent was discharged much more quickly than anyone anticipated; what you may not know is he is also the first lung transplant patient to leave the hospital without being attached to oxygen. He rode the entire way home, greeted his Welcome Parade (fist bumps only, of course), gave a thank you address loud enough to be heard at least 15 feet away, then made his way into his house with his family to celebrate...with a Five Guys burger and fries.
If you have pictures of the homecoming, please post for those who missed it! Just a re-reminder to give the Todds their space, privacy and germ-free home for the time being. And if you do happen to encounter them when they are out and about, resist the overwhelming urge to hug, high five or shake hands! Fist bumps save lives! :-)
After such a long haul, pray extra hard tonight that Trent will be able to stop pushing long enough to enjoy a good night's sleep at home and yet another beautiful morning with new lungs.
Update #52 - Time Change
ETA in West Chester is now 5:30 p.m. I will give you a one hour warning, but plan to be in the Todds' neighborhood by 5:15 p.m.
Update #51 - Homecoming
Trent is still scheduled to come home today!
For anyone who is interested, we will be meeting outside the Todds' house and lining the streets to welcome Coach Todd back to West Chester this afternoon. The estimated time of departure from Cleveland is noon, which should put them back home around 4:00 p.m., so plan to arrive by 3:45 p.m. I will update here and on Facebook if things change at all.
This is probably obvious, but just so I can say that I mentioned it, Trent will be exhausted when he gets back (as will Jill), and they will be anxious to spend time with Sophia and Bryce. Please come to wave and cheer and blow kisses, but then plan to leave and allow the Todds to get settled at home.
Keep your eye out here or on Facebook - I'll plan to give a confirmation when they are an hour away.
For anyone who is interested, we will be meeting outside the Todds' house and lining the streets to welcome Coach Todd back to West Chester this afternoon. The estimated time of departure from Cleveland is noon, which should put them back home around 4:00 p.m., so plan to arrive by 3:45 p.m. I will update here and on Facebook if things change at all.
This is probably obvious, but just so I can say that I mentioned it, Trent will be exhausted when he gets back (as will Jill), and they will be anxious to spend time with Sophia and Bryce. Please come to wave and cheer and blow kisses, but then plan to leave and allow the Todds to get settled at home.
Keep your eye out here or on Facebook - I'll plan to give a confirmation when they are an hour away.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Update #50 - Imagine...
...the best possible news you could get on a Thursday evening in July.
Then, throw that out the window, and read this instead:
Trent...our very own Coach Todd...will be moving home from the Cleveland Clinic next Wednesday! He has a bronchoscopy on Monday, Jill is heading back to Cleveland for final discharge instructions on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Trent is coming home!
Much more info to come, but send up some major prayers of thanks tonight!
Then, throw that out the window, and read this instead:
Trent...our very own Coach Todd...will be moving home from the Cleveland Clinic next Wednesday! He has a bronchoscopy on Monday, Jill is heading back to Cleveland for final discharge instructions on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Trent is coming home!
Much more info to come, but send up some major prayers of thanks tonight!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Update #49 - Freedom
The day after Memorial Day, Trent got his new lungs. Today, the day after Independence Day, Coach Todd is using those lungs as he moves closer and closer to freedom...from hospitals, from breathing treatments, from complete dependence on loved ones and medical professionals for everything that he so easily did himself for so many years.
This movement toward freedom has given him a new room - M80, Room 16. It has given him six hours of rehab per day to regain the strength that he needs. It has given him control over his medications. And, most importantly, it has given him back in-person motivation from his two biggest cheerleaders, Bryce and Sophia, who are in Cleveland for their second visit as I type.
Trent's own Independence Day is going so well that Jill has decided to come home to Cincinnati with the kids tomorrow. While she will finally get a chance to sleep in her own bed, catch up at work, spend some quality time with Bryce and Sophia, and eat something that didn't emerge from a paper sack, Coach Todd will give the doctors, nurses and therapists 20...and 20 more...and 20 more. The "20" will not be push-ups (at least not yet) but instead 20 minutes of talking without a breathing treatment; 20 steps without support; 20 days without infection. He will continute to push; we will continue to pray.
Trent has a lot of work ahead of him. Like anyone who has ever "paused" their exercise program (but to the extreme), his muscles have atrophied during the months that he has focused only on breathing. In addition to building strength, he is learning a very strict medication schedule to prevent himself from rejecting his new lungs. He is also getting used to the ins and outs of his new life as a transplant recipients, practices and precautions that will one day seem routine but for now can be overwhelming (can you imagine how hard it was for him not to hug his surgeons when he woke up?).
This week, be praying for safe travels for Jill, Sophia and Bryce, and for a very normal week at home. Be praying for patience and endurance for Trent as he pushes through his therapy. And as we continue to celebrate the amazing gift that Coach Todd received, be praying for the families who lost someone over this holiday weekend and had to make the difficult decision to give that same gift to someone else.
This movement toward freedom has given him a new room - M80, Room 16. It has given him six hours of rehab per day to regain the strength that he needs. It has given him control over his medications. And, most importantly, it has given him back in-person motivation from his two biggest cheerleaders, Bryce and Sophia, who are in Cleveland for their second visit as I type.
Trent's own Independence Day is going so well that Jill has decided to come home to Cincinnati with the kids tomorrow. While she will finally get a chance to sleep in her own bed, catch up at work, spend some quality time with Bryce and Sophia, and eat something that didn't emerge from a paper sack, Coach Todd will give the doctors, nurses and therapists 20...and 20 more...and 20 more. The "20" will not be push-ups (at least not yet) but instead 20 minutes of talking without a breathing treatment; 20 steps without support; 20 days without infection. He will continute to push; we will continue to pray.
Trent has a lot of work ahead of him. Like anyone who has ever "paused" their exercise program (but to the extreme), his muscles have atrophied during the months that he has focused only on breathing. In addition to building strength, he is learning a very strict medication schedule to prevent himself from rejecting his new lungs. He is also getting used to the ins and outs of his new life as a transplant recipients, practices and precautions that will one day seem routine but for now can be overwhelming (can you imagine how hard it was for him not to hug his surgeons when he woke up?).
This week, be praying for safe travels for Jill, Sophia and Bryce, and for a very normal week at home. Be praying for patience and endurance for Trent as he pushes through his therapy. And as we continue to celebrate the amazing gift that Coach Todd received, be praying for the families who lost someone over this holiday weekend and had to make the difficult decision to give that same gift to someone else.
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