Update #56 - Getting Settled

Trent made it safely to Cleveland last night and is getting settled. Currently, he is in the ICU for monitoring, but he will be transferred to the Heart/Lung Unit soon. Less than a day since the decision to go back to Cleveland, and already, he is doing much better.

Jill is in Cleveland with Trent and will decide whether to stay or head back to Cincinnati once everything is calm. Bryce and Sophia both got to stay busy serving at the food pantry this morning and are enjoying the rest of the day with friends.

Pray for a quiet weekend and a smooth transfer out of the ICU. For the time being, no news is once again good news.

Update #55 - Return to Cleveland, Return to the Blog

In a world where no news is good news, the reappearance of this blog page is not a welcome sight.

Late this past spring, Trent picked up what for most of us would be a minor cold but for him was an automatic threat to his new lungs. Over the past few months, in spite of changes in medications, inpatient treatments and trial therapies in Cleveland, the cold has set off a chain reaction that has caused a steady decline in his lung function and his overall health. For anyone who has seen him in the past few weeks especially, this information is only a confirmation of what you already know.

As I type, Trent and Jill are headed back to Cleveland Clinic after a particularly difficult day, week and month. While treatments have been (and will be) continuing, Trent's doctor, Dr. Budev, has also begun the testing necessary to present him to the Transplant Board for a second transplant. As it was the first time around, the process is long and arduous, and the result is not guaranteed.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Dr. Budev and her team have been with Trent from the beginning and have been hands-on (meaning Dr. Budev has done his bronchoscopies herself, something she would normally pass on to an intern) since day one. Trent and Jill are part of their family, and the team has been fighting with and for Trent as much as each of us has been inspired to fight because of who Coach Todd is.

2. For most lung transplant recipients, episodes of what is called "acute rejection" (the situation Trent's cold set off) normally happen within the first six months after receiving new lungs; Trent was almost completely healthy for TWO YEARS! While this news is incredible, is also has his transplant team at a loss for how to handle his very rare situation, especially because of how quickly it has progressed.

3. Trent and Jill have been very forthcoming with Sophia and Bryce, and the whole family has had a phenomenal support system in place all along. Hopefully this post will serve only to re-expand that network.

We will have more information once Trent arrives in Cleveland, but for the time being, please kickstart your prayers again. I'll update as we know more.

Update #54 - First Check-Up

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!

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.

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.

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!