So Glad to Be a War Eagle!

Wow! We are simply amazed at the support our Wayne Co War Eagles are giving to our girl! Tonight at the ball game there were Erin signs everywhere, and the cheerleaders were wearing purple ribbons. How awesome is that? Well, we didn't get out of PICU today. We were supposed to, but there weren't any beds available. We are skipping PCU and going straight to a regular room tomorrow. Erin had 2 chest tubes removed today, and she is back to her normal self. Thanks to Sara & Kyle for visiting today. Looking forward to our weekend company. Erin still has 2 chest tubes in, and the epidural is still in, but she's on very little pain medication. Good luck to our Casey at State Band Competition tomorrow. We miss you & wish we could be there to cheer you on!

just a little bump

Well, we experienced a little bump in the road with some medication, but the doctor says he is very pleased with Erin's progress. She is having to limit her fluid intake until the chest tubes are out. She may get 2 chest tubes out tomorrow. She got out of bed several times today and sat up for a little while each time. Her appetite was not great today and she didn't feel that well either, but now her spirits are improving. Her friend Maddie went to the Carrie Underwood concert last night and got Erin a Carrie Underwood t shirt. When Maddie's mom Tina gave Erin the shirt, I saw Erin smile for the first time in days. Carol Tondre and her son Connor came by today to visit Erin; Connor has been waiting on the transplant list for 14 months, so please pray that he gets his lungs soon and that they are the ones God means for him to have. Mike finally got some rest last night; he slept a full 10 hours, so he feels much better. He's being a great daddy feeding Erin and helping her in & out of bed. Everything is going great except we miss our Casey and her smiling face. I posted a picture of Erin on facebook if you would like to take a peek. She looks gorgeous!

Fresh Air!

This morning Erin woke up with a great appetite. She ate pancakes, hashbrowns, & sweet tea. She got out of bed and stayed up for about 20 minutes. Doctors are really pleased with her progress. She may have one chest tube removed today and her central line may be taken out today. Her regular port will be accessed and used as her central line. In other words, they are decreasing her meds greatly. The catheter may come out today. They are reducing her fluids, so that the chest tubes can be removed. (less fluid in her body means less fluid in her lungs). She was wide awake this morning. A drastic difference from yesterday. She was still showing a lot of effects from the pain meds yesterday. She had Carrie Underwood tickets for tonight that Dr. Lefler in Dallas so kindly gave her. Thank you, Dr. Lefler! Maybe next time LOL. When Erin first got the call to come to the hospital; she was jumping up and down so excited then she stopped & said "Dang, I was supposed to go see Carrie Underwood!" Of course, 2 new lungs won out over Carrie Underwood! Sorry, Carrie! Anyone who knows Erin knows her favorite food is a loaded baked potato, so today our friend Tina is bringing her one along with lunch for me & Mike! Have I told ya'll how God has blessed us with so many new friends who have taken care of us here? It is truly amazing how HE works! Erin is sleeping now. So, Erin's Jason's Deli baked potato is on its way! Casey, Bro. Whit, Granny, & Papa left today, so it's just me & Mike. We have been going upstairs every night to Ronald McDonald house to sleep (It's just one floor above the PICU), so we are extremely close. Please continue to pour out your wonderful prayers to our Almighty God!

OUR MIRACLE

Hi! This is Erin's mom! ERIN GOT HER LUNGS!!!!! About midnight Saturday night the beeper went off, and we got to the hospital about 1 in the morning. Erin was ecstatic and cool as a cucumber. Her memaw asked her if she was scared, and she said, "No, I have 1000 people praying for me at home." After a long night of preoperative procedures, Erin went into surgery at 6:46 still as calm as could be. The first incision was made at 10:14, but the lungs did not arrive until 2 hours later. Mike, Casey, Granny, Papa, & Aunt Donna Rials arrived about 7 AM. My mom, mimi, and brother Russell & Sharon were already here visiting for the weekend, so my mom & Russell accompanied us to the hospital. Friends & family hung around the hospital with us supporting us through this arduous day. Thank you to Whit Lewis, John & Jennifer Williams; Clark, Tina, Elizabeth, Madelaine, & Abigail Davis; Andy Cade; and Stacy Wells for spending the day with us at the hospital. Thank you to EVERYONE for all the texts, emails, & phone calls that were sent that day and since then. At about 6:45 Erin came out of surgery with a gorgeous new set of lungs. Oh, How Great is Our God! Erin has been breathing on her own since yesterday morning. She is completely off oxygen (except at night). She's eating & drinking with a great appetite. She's sitting up in bed. The next 36 hours are still critical. In the next few days, the doctors hope to remove her chest tubes and epidural. She will be doing breathing treatments twice a day for the next couple of weeks. Doctors say she may go back to our apartment in Houston as early as Monday. WOW! We will still have to stay in Houston for at least another 3 months. Mike, Casey, Erin, & I will NEVER be able to express to everyone the gratitude that we feel for all who have supported us through this time in our lives. God has greatly blessed us & we give HIM all the praise & glory! We continue to ask you to pray for Erin's health and want you to know that Erin is just beginning her life as a new transplantee & will need many prayers as she begins this journey. Do not ever question the ability of our God to perform miracles!
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September 26, 2010

Had fun today with the Davises and ate at my favorite restaurant-Jason's Deli. My loaded potato was really good! I really, really, really, really..... miss my kitty & puppy. I went to church this morning. I met a new friend this weekend; her name is Bailey, and she is quiet and shy. My memaw and my mimi are coming this weekend and maybe Aunt Caroline or Uncle Russell. I've gained a little weight, and my lung function is 14.

September 19, 2010

I'm tired. I'm out of the hospital. I got out last Wednesday. I ate 2 loaded baked potatoes today. Kelsey, who is my BFF, and my family came to Houston for the weekend. Kelsey & I went bowling Saturday. I hung out with some new friends today, and I went to church this morning. I met Beth Moore this morning too!

Back in the Hospital

Erin is back in the hospital; she's been there for the past week. Her lung function was down, and she had lost weight. Today she's feeling better; her lung function is 14, and her appetite is back. Her daddy, Casey & Aunt Donna Stevens came down for the weekend. They went back Monday. She's been passing the time in the hospital challenging everybody to games of Mario Kart, and she's been winning! She's also done some schoolwork and slept. She has also been working on art projects. Thanks to everyone for the cards, presents, phone calls, fb messages, & MOST OF ALL YOUR HEARTFELT PRAYERS! She will be here at least another week. She is still missing her puppy & kitty; however, she is tolerating the hospital in TX better this time because now she knows some people, and they have been entertaining her. The nurse asked her the first night if she had any special needs, and she replied, "Yes, I need lots of attention!" Gotta love that! LOL and Yes, we are still waiting for lungs!!