Nialle

...might be able to go home tomorrow.
If he can learn to give himself the shots he needs, the blood thinners, then he can continue to recover at home. His count is around 100 after the last transfusion on Wednesday.

Did you know that all the blood in his body is from transfusions? !! I guess I knew that, because I've seen all the blood pumping into him, but I did not really stop to think about it till his doctor pointed out to him that he is not hemolysing it, and that is a good sign! As his body is accepting this "borrowed" blood, then it is also not likely to reject his own. (his bilirubin count is normal, so that confirms that he's not destroying red blood cells any more!)

He is looking forward to going home. Vanessa and Liam, real food, his own bed. Music and privacy and his guitar. (he's plotting how he'll get it into his lap...it's too heavy to lift after his surgery).
Even if he needs another transfusion or two, it can be done outpatient. His hemoglobin will take a while to recover, but once his body adjusts to all the stress and changes and surgery, he will bounce back!

We are all looking forward to a return to normalcy. He can't wait to get back to work in a few weeks, to get back to leading worship, to get back to his life with Nessa and Liam and *baby*.

Yes, Vanessa is expecting. Please pray for her; for strength and for everything else she needs. Especially her man.