The family of Deb Rice, husband Dave Rice, daughters Dana Haggith, Delynn Miller and her sister Kelly Roy, would like to thank everyone for their support of Deb, whether it be funds, meals and mostly prayers as she is progressing through this life changing moment.
As of today, Deb is still in ICU and is expected to be in there for another three weeks. They have stopped the medication that was keeping her sedated and are now giving her tylenol for pain when needed.
She has started to respond to commands.
They also have her on dialysis eight hours per day, six days a week. This is to help her kidneys until she is able to be up and moving. This is a normal process.
They have replaced the breathing tube with a trache. They are trying to slowly wean her off of the ventilator, but this could take weeks.
The physiotherapy team will start working with her to keep her muscles limber.
One of the things hindering her recovery is her white blood count is elevated but they feel that was where her IV port was inserted on her neck, as well as the surgical incision being infected.
Yesterday, they were able to insert a central line and she is scheduled to go into the operating room soon to have the incision cleaned up.
Talking to the surgeon who performed the transplant, he said that Deb is improving slowly each day but we have to take baby steps to keep moving on.
If you know Deb, she is a fighter with a positive outlook and I am afraid as soon as she can get on her feet, she will be hard to stop.
She is a fighter and will not back down.
As things improve, we will update you as soon as possible, but please forgive us as the four of us have been busy being with her as well as trying to maintain a daily schedule with family and work.
If you know a nurse or see one. Please thank them‎. We cannot say enough for the medical staff that are attending to our loved ones. Especially for what they have to deal with, within their means. Toronto General has one of the biggest ICU units around and they are stretched to the the limits. The nurses and doctors are great.
Please go online and sign up to donate your organs if you have not done so already. This may not only help you, but your loved ones when you least expect it.
Also please take time to donate blood. I did it for the first time last week and I wish I would have donated sooner.
Again, thank you for your support for our wife, mother, daughter, sister, Nana, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law and especially, our friend.
Bless you all,
Dave, Dana, Delynn and Kelly
Here is a link to a story, which includes more details about Deb’s journey:
Lung transplant recovery for Deb Rice
Here is a link to a crowdfunder for Deb, that is currently at 90% of its target: Lung transplant recovery for Deb Rice
Thank u so much for the update: I’ve been on pins & needles since the last one. I will keep praying for a complete recovery one day at a time. I also pray for all of u fam members as u patiently sit ,& care for her day after long day. May God fill u all with strength, hope, patience & joy in the fact that things are progressing even if its slowly. Give my love to Deb for me OK. Love u!
Janet