Wow!

That word doesn't adequately describe the situation, but it'll do. Plus, it's nice and short.

Loren is doing very well. He is progressing just as one who's had a heart transplant would be expected to. I saw him just a few moments ago and got to be in with him for over an hour. He still has a breathing tube in, but that may come out within the next hour or so. His blood gases are good, but they left the tube in since he got to his room kinda late (10:30pm) I think they have a 12 hour time frame they stick too barring extenuating circumstances.

He wants that tube out, though, since he cannot speak and it makes his throat sore. But he is being quite compliant.

(this lady on the library computer next to me is rather distracting. She's a "hunt and pecker," to which I have no overt prejudice, but, she "hunts and pecks" with the enthusiasm of a stomping elephant. "Give it a rest, honey!")

When I talked to the surgeon last night he said everything proceeded in a normal fashion. They were actually waiting around, with Loren all ready to receive his heart. Things had gotten held up on the other end. But, Pastor John and I were both making phone calls when we heard the helicopter coming in for a landing. "Did you hear the helicopter?" "YES! Did you hear....?" He'd been waiting all day with me and when we both heard the helicopter, we knew they were bringing Loren's heart and we both pricked up our ears.

Within 10 or 15 minutes, they were sewing the heart into him. (yes, he had already been on bypass and just waiting) When we talked with the surgeon (around 9ish) the team was still removing some of the old hardware from Loren: defibrillator, leads, and coil patch in his side)

The Lord was watching out for Loren in such detail, that He gave him a surgeon who was one of 9 children. Rather appropriate, I'd say.

The first 24 hours are the most crucial. With someone like Loren, who has been on anti-coagulants long term, there is always extra bleeding to watch out for. Neurologically, they like to see the patient be able to move hands and feet at some point. But, these potential roadblocks were not an issue. I know, for I woke up at 3:03, and, not being able to sleep, called the nurse assigned to his room. (she said I could :-) She filled me in that there was no excess bleeding, and he had moved both hands and feet, though weakly. She told me LOTS of stuff, half of which I don't remember, but it was all reassuring.

Loren does have a temporary pacemaker in place, two wires coming out of his chest. His new heart actually beat on its own, but just a little slower than the doctors like to have it after transplant. They are pacing him around 110, which, he NOTICED when we "conversed" this morning. But it is all normal stuff. They also have him on a drug, Isuprel, which acts as a pacemaker. It takes time for the body to recognize the new heart and for body and heart to get "in synch" with eachother. So, many times, a temporary pacemaker is utilized. It is possible that Loren will have need of a permanent one, (some heart transplant patients do) but we won't know that for a bit, yet.

In a few days, the body will "notice" the heart, the drug will be gradually weaned off and the heart picks up.

Loren is being given a little morphine for the pain. When he coughs or laughs it really hurts, so, I am trying to keep my conversation as dry as possible :-) Each heart transplant patient is provided with a heart-shaped pillow, which they press against their chest when they need to cough.

There is an IV line going into his neck, one in his right hand, and an arterial line in his groin. The arterial line will come out about the same time as the vent, and then, they will attempt to have him sitting up on the side of his bed. Imagine, all that invasive surgery and sitting up the next day!

The nursing staff have asked me to channel any inquiries and phone calls through me. So, I'm not giving the room number out. If I'd been THINKING, I would have jotted down the ICU lounge's phone number. Oh well, later. Blogging is a quicker way of disseminating knowledge to a lot of people at once, which they can read at their leisure.

Speaking of room numbers, now that I've sent out the Christmas letters, the room number given there is out of date. (Really, we weren't expecting this quite so fast) But, I'm sure cards can be sent to:
Loren Hoyt
Saint Marys Hospital
1216 Second Street SW
Rochester, Minnesota 55902

I've read all your kind comments and let me say, "THEY MEAN A LOT TO ME."

Thank you for your prayers. There is still a great deal of work ahead. But, at least this particular hurdle is past.

A note to any caregivers of the children. It is SOOOO important that no one come who is sick, or has been exposed to sickness. I am hoping to bring the children up to visit their dad sometime this weekend. I do not even want them to go to church. Somehow, I feel God and Pastor John will understand.

Thanks to Pastor John for helping me pack up Loren's computer and for sticking so long to the arduous chore of waiting, waiting, waiting. Thanks to Weikerts, Linda in particular, for helping out with the family, and just "being there" on a rather tumultuous day.

I'll post more as I am able.

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