Baby Steps and Giant Leaps

Nicholas was sleeping peacefully when I arrived this morning.   His room was mostly dark and quiet,  a stark contrast from the ICU with its whirring machines and beeping monitors. 

His view here isn't as pretty but there's a blanket of snow lying on the ground between the wings.   This unit is directly across from the ICU.  I can see it through the windows. 

They are having him walk frequently and it's a slow pace.   Baby steps behind an old person's walker.  Every step makes him stronger and gets him one step closer to stepping outside and going home.

They say he is doing incredibly well for having had open heart surgery.   Of course his age,  general health and attitude give him an edge. 

....

I'm writing this hours later.  It was a busy, eventful day.

His chest tubes were extracted.  I was in the room for that and I watched his face.  It was the only time I cried today.  

After that, his pain level decreased, his mobility improved and with the exception of an IV and a wound vac, there are no other objects to be plucked from his body.

AND

He walked the hall further than before.

THEN

He walked without the walker.

Dr. Dearani was waiting for him in the hallway when he shuffled around the corner near his room.  He autographed his red Heart Pillow, told him he was so pleased with his progress and, get ready for this, announced that he can leave the hospital tomorrow afternoon!!!  

Two appointments are scheduled before we fly home.  If we weren't staying two blocks from the hospital for 5 more days and 6 more nights, he might not have been so generous to sign his release.

I attribute this miraculous news to not only the prayers lifted over the past several weeks for my son, but for the fact that we are here, in this very place, in this first rate, most excellent facility that is the Mayo Clinic Mothership.

This news came with 24 minutes of Visiting Hours left.   He was too tired to celebrate and they are strict about their timelines here.

His voice is still weak from the breathing tube.  By the time I left for the night, he was at a whisper.  But me?  I was using my silent, inside my head voice, shouting and singing praise to God above for bringing us closer to delivering a strong, healthy heart Nicholas Holt back home to normal.  Even if for the next few days, home is Rochester, Minnesota.

But you'll see us soon, Tallahassee!