The Hare and the Tortoise

The moral of the story is slow and steady wins the race. Though Mike wants to be the hare (and that's where his head is at right now) he needs to be the tortoise.

He is alert for longer periods of time and starting some basic physio (by physio we mean being lifted into a chair and sitting upright instead of being in bed). He still tires quickly but we know he is building up his energy to tell us loads of stories soon.

Mike has been sporting various hairstyles these past couple weeks as his different nurses test out their styling prowess. Anne-Marie's favourite is the slicked back, Italian style 'do. It is quite becoming!

Weekend Update

After two weeks of crisis managment and owing to the exceptional care of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Toronto General Hospital (TGH), we are relieved that Mike has had two calm days in a row.

We are hopeful that he will continue to make progress.

For the moment only immediate family may visit, however as he begins to come out of sedation we are reading him your messages of love and support.

Speed Bump

We have held off writting in the hopes of having good news to report.

Michael has had a couple of rough days. He has been sedated again and is in fragile condition.

We are so grateful to have such a tremendous hospital as Toronto General where even the most difficult problems are being managed so well.

We hope to be writing better news soon.

One Week Later

It's been a week since the end of the lung transplant operation...and a week of holding our collective breath, willing him to be well. Michael is just starting to wake, slowly. He seems to be making friends with his new lungs. His surgeon tells us these new lungs are "excellent"! Just like Michael to have the best. A very good place to start!

Although he is unable to speak at the moment, he is showing signs of recognition by blinking his eyes a little and gently squeezing our hand. Each gesture seems like a gift!

The highlight is when he raises his expressive, bushy brows! We just know he has so much to tell us!

We rejoice in each small accomplishment, knowing the Herculean effort Michael makes to give us hope. We are all so very proud of him!

Stephanie, Kate and I, along with his sisters Lesley and Heather, who are with us each day now, are grateful for the kindness, cards and constant prayers you continue to send us for Michael's recovery.

We need you there for him.....it's still early in the ballgame.

Day Six

Everything is in tiny steps as Mike continues to improve.

Day Four

There is more improvement, in small increments again. He has been able to come off the life support and the surgery for that was successful. He remains sedated for the moment. We are grateful to our remarkale surgeons and all of Michael's fabulous team!

We are all thankful to all those who have been sending their well wishes and prayers. It means a lot to us and we know Michael is truly encouraged by all your love and caring messages.

Keeping in Touch

For those who would like to email (and are potentially confused about how to comment on a blog post as it can be difficult) please email:

michael.applin@sympatico.ca

Day Three

It's now Day Three and Mike is still holding his own on life support. He remains fully sedated but comfortable. The team looking after Mike at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Toronto General Hospital (TGH) is truly remarkable.

We appreciate that you have continued to check the blog for updates as we are all in and out of the hospital so often that it makes answering emails and telephone calls difficult. We are saving all your emails up for Mike to read when he is home!

Our goal is to update the blog on a daily basis in order to keep everyone up-to-date.

Serious but Stable

That is his condition as reported to us by the nurses: "Serious but stable".

It is baby steps at this point and we have all been warned that there will be bumps in the road.

It's the family here again: Anne-Marie, Kate, Steph and Mike's sisters Lesley and Heather.

There isn't an update, except to say that he is holding his own.

He would want to know that he can count on your continuing support, positive wishes and prayers.

The Applin Girls

Mike Pre-Op 12:45 pm 11/01/09

Hurry Up and Wait

This just in:

The surgery was finished around midnight, but there are complications. And so we wait...

All updates will be posted here, on the blog. Please check back.

-Steph, Anne-Marie and Kate

It Looks Like a Go

It's 12.45 on Sunday afternoon and I've done all the prep work including a long session with the anaesthetist plus my first dose of cyclosporine.

The gurney is coming in 15 minutes so it looks like we are really on this time.

Kate made it in from Waterloo in time to see me.

Talk to you all on the other side.

The Second Call

It's 6.30 on Sunday, January 11th and they have just woken to me to say there is another set of lungs available. They knew at midnight but this time they let me sleep.

I'm now going through the prepping and they have done a cardiogram and a chest x-ray.

Next comes blood work and that involves giving 10 vials of blood. No wonder I have low blood pressure - I'm going to start charging for the stuff!

No food from now on - pity because today is Raisin Bran, my favourite.

If this goes ahead as planned the next few posts will come from my family with updates.

I'm petty calm this time around - the dry run helped.

Wish me luck!

False Alarm

After being prepped - xray, cardiogram, blood tests, long white stockings etc. - and waiting 18 hours without food and water, they have just told me that the lungs are not good enough.

So it's back to waiting. The dry run helps to prepare and here's hoping next time is soon.

I'm not hugely disappointed. I plan to be around for a while yet and need nothing but the best pair of lungs possible.

Huge thanks to all of you who have sent messages of best wishes and encouragement. They are most heartening and buoy me along as I look forward to the next call.

The Call

It's just past midnight on Jan 8th and the night nurse has woken me to tell me they have lungs for me.

I've to wait until the doctors come to tell me more - "just get some sleep" she tells me "and nothing to eat or drink".

Dam. I was thinking of the last of the Christmas cake and some single malt!