Independence Day

Where do I begin? This journey is far from over, the real fun has only just begun, but it has been a pretty great week, 5-weeks post-transplant. Hana is getting around, she’s climbing, she’s talking and signing a lot. She is free from the Berlin Heart that helped her so much. She is free of the hospital that saved her life. She gets to celebrate Independence Day by being Independent.

The fundraising efforts by Eugenia Mancini Horan (Gina) yielded $3,000 for Donate Life America! That is amazing! Forty-five limited edition prints were sold of the Hana painting, The Gift. We are so grateful and amazed and touched!

Gina worked so hard in so many ways. I think she really knows how to motivate a cybercrowd. We are really humbled by her efforts. Thank you Gina! She and Hana make a great team!

I hope Hana continues to inspire her and all of us. But Hana is just Hana and that’s all she needs to be. Her personality has been coming out strong! Today she refused to take a nap and has been very strongly resisting bedtime. Loudly. Screaming and crying. Who is this girl?

This coming week we have a busy, busy Tuesday at the hospital. Then we resume feeding therapy on Wednesday. I’d love for Hana to eat and drink more. Right now she will stuff her cheeks full and then won’t swallow her food.  I’d love to get rid of the NG tube and the feeding pump. That will really change our lives. Well, how can I say that? Nothing could really change our lives like Hana’s amazing donated heart. I think of the donor family often. I hope they are doing okay. I hope they at least get maybe a little solace in knowing their child’s heart is beating inside of Hana and has given her life and freedom and Independence. Happy, Happy, Life, Freedom and Independence Day!

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We hope to be back home soon. We REALLY miss our dog, Poppy!