Cassie continues to make meaningful strides in her recovery with unwavering faith and determination. The most uplifting moment was on Saturday when she got to take a 45 minute trip outside. Cassie was able to soak up the sunshine with a big smile on her face, a huge morale boost for her and the family
Her progress in physical and occupational therapy has been encouraging, as she has been able to sit up on the edge of bed for 25 minutes and complete arm, hand and trunk exercises. Cassie for the first time was also assisted by the staff into a chair where she stayed for a full two hours. Although it seems like small steps, they’re big wins reflecting the strength she continues to show daily.
Cassie’s transplanted heart continues to maintain proper function as she was able to wean entirely off dobutamine (heart assist medication) without issue. She has made notable improvement in lung function as she was able to tolerate 4 hours of “room air” for two consecutive days. This is a significant milestone that can allow for more use of the speaking valve and the potential of the speech team to evaluate her for a swallowing test – a step toward being able to eat and drink again.
While her kidneys still aren’t functioning at full capacity, she remains off continuous renal therapy and is stable with intermittent dialysis every other day. They have confirmed that the kidney’s are producing but not at the consistent rate required for normal fluid offload.
Additionally, the plastics team is very pleased with the healing of her left residual limb. If progress continues, they’re preparing to move forward with surgical intervention on the right lower extremity in the next few weeks.
Cassie continues to express her extreme gratitude for the multitude of thoughts, prayers, cards, and assistance the family has received throughout this process. Every single prayer continues to make a difference. This journey is full of peaks and valleys, but with continued encouragement Cassie remains ready to face each step ahead with strength and resilience.
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