Hello everyone..

Kendall was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday Nov 13th. The EBV blood levels have been continuing to going down so it was decided that it was most likely a viral infection and not lymphoma. Blood draw values will be weekly and followed closely by Oncology/Hematology, Infectious Disease, and transplant cardiology team.

Biopsies from colon showed evidence of EBV but not lymphoma thank God!!

She was started on another immunosuppressant medication called Everolimus. She still remains on the tacro and blood work will be done weekly and doses adjusted according to the values.

Fast forward as of today….She had more blood work done and had an appointment with hematology/oncology.

Theses frequent blood draws have caused her to have some emotional breakdowns. We purchased a device on Amazon that vibrates and it’s placed on her arm above where they are going to poke. It helps a lot and distracts her from the poke with the needle so she doesn’t feel it. We have used it the past couple of weeks and I will make sure we have it with us every time she has to go to the hospital from now on.

They did a physical exam and could not feel any obvious swollen lymph nodes. The plan is to see them frequently for the next few weeks until EBV numbers are low enough that she doesn’t require any interventions from their team.

I just looked at her blood work on the patient portal and it looks like her tacro levels are low and the new medication (everolimus) levels are high. We will be getting a phone call from the transplant team in the morning to adjust those doses.

She is being weaned off prednisone and her last dose will be this Friday.

Other than being a little more tired she feels great. We are still working on getting her outpatient PT/OT. speech and cardiac rehab scheduled.

Thank you all for your continued love and support and all that you do that lets us know you are on this journey with us.

#TeamKendall

#BeKendallStrong

#NewHeartNewStart