The Ritz-Carlton (02.02.2013) Today is Dylan’s 2 year Transplanniversary. Hard to believe another year has come and gone and here we are writing about it again (which is a good thing). Rather than do a complete breakdown of how challenging our past year was, I’d rather only go back a few weeks and give insight of how our lives are lived from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month, and hopefully this time next year I will be able to just use the term from year-to-year.
We are always brought back to reality of how fragile Dylan’s condition is. It’s something that we never get total relief from, even on the “good days” which we call uneventful times; it’s always in the back of our mind that something can go south in a blink of an eye. It’s not a matter of being negative or looking at the glass as half empty but rather this is reality and this is the reality of a liver transplant kid whom is on crummy immunosupression drugs.
Just 2 weeks ago Dylan was hospitalized for 4 days due to what mostly was a bunch of normal/small things that quickly turned into a bigger issue. Our assumption is his common cold he got from school, turned into double pneumonia (around this time we had labs and they were showing signs that he was fighting a bacterial infection but the docs didn't agree and wouldn't prescribe antibiotics like we requested), which in turn ran down his system even more, which then turned into him getting the extremely contagious Noro-virus…which further dehydrated him even more and only then did they agree and start treating him for ascending cholangitis (which is a bacterial liver infection). So 3 full days of IV antibiotics + fluids were needed to get him back on his feet, an additional day for observation to ensure he was feeling good again and finally he was released from the hospital. At least we were out in time to enjoy our wonderful trip that was upcoming the following weekend.
Virtually 2 years ago to the week…we were in the same spot as we were this past weekend. We were fortunate enough to have been welcomed back to The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, which is where Dylan’s Make-A-Wish trip was back in 2011 (just a week or so prior to his liver transplant).
The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is more than 5 star amenities, more than the glitz and the glamour of a luxurious hotel…and let me tell you; those simple/subtle words do not do this place justice, its beyond fabulous in every imaginable way. This place is an experience; from the folks at the valet whom ask you how you are, to how your drive was, to saying they’re happy you’re here. Its crosses all boundaries of what service is all about. When you stay at the Ritz, you’re truly welcomed like a family member and not one that is awkward like Thanksgiving dinner; it’s like your every hope/dream of what and how one should be treated. When you’re here, you’re pampered…and not just by way of the finest decor, the softest linens, and/or the most exquisite material things but rather by way of the amazing people. The folks that work there must truly love there jobs, its shows in there everyday dealings with people and it’s a breath of fresh air to say the least. It’s the epitome of the human experience. That is what makes The Ritz-Carlton what it is.
I must say being able to spend the weekend in the same spot as we left off 2 years ago, which was a place of not knowing how things would be, how they would go, or where we would even be in 2 years…it was nice to be allowed that experience albeit only have been for 2 days; I can’t thank certain folks enough who made it possible for us to be there on such a special circumstance. It truly gives hope and a tremendous feeling of being very blessed for those folks who give a piece of themselves for the sake of others.
As always we thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for Dylan this past year, unfortunately this past year we have seen our fair share of the hospital, turmoil, and lots of emotional days that feel like a roller coaster ride but we truly believe better days will be in Dylan’s future, its just a matter of when that shift happens and those days of heartache become fewer and far between. We know it’s a lot for folks to read and take in and it’s ok to think to yourself that thankfully this isn't your life. Although we don’t wish to change any aspect of our life, we certainly wouldn't wish this on anyone as well. But at the end of the day, we feel very honored and blessed to be Dylan’s voice, to be his parents, and to be his fighter’s on his behalf. It’s what makes our family who we are and we thank you for taking the time out of your lives to read a bit about ours.
Here’s to hoping for a less eventful 2013!
-Noah
Slideshow:
***The images below are in a slideshow format, you can hit the "Play" button on main image or click on individual images to have them enlarge. To get more images put your cursor over the last picture shown on the right, it will scroll to more images***
We are always brought back to reality of how fragile Dylan’s condition is. It’s something that we never get total relief from, even on the “good days” which we call uneventful times; it’s always in the back of our mind that something can go south in a blink of an eye. It’s not a matter of being negative or looking at the glass as half empty but rather this is reality and this is the reality of a liver transplant kid whom is on crummy immunosupression drugs.
Just 2 weeks ago Dylan was hospitalized for 4 days due to what mostly was a bunch of normal/small things that quickly turned into a bigger issue. Our assumption is his common cold he got from school, turned into double pneumonia (around this time we had labs and they were showing signs that he was fighting a bacterial infection but the docs didn't agree and wouldn't prescribe antibiotics like we requested), which in turn ran down his system even more, which then turned into him getting the extremely contagious Noro-virus…which further dehydrated him even more and only then did they agree and start treating him for ascending cholangitis (which is a bacterial liver infection). So 3 full days of IV antibiotics + fluids were needed to get him back on his feet, an additional day for observation to ensure he was feeling good again and finally he was released from the hospital. At least we were out in time to enjoy our wonderful trip that was upcoming the following weekend.
Virtually 2 years ago to the week…we were in the same spot as we were this past weekend. We were fortunate enough to have been welcomed back to The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, which is where Dylan’s Make-A-Wish trip was back in 2011 (just a week or so prior to his liver transplant).
The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is more than 5 star amenities, more than the glitz and the glamour of a luxurious hotel…and let me tell you; those simple/subtle words do not do this place justice, its beyond fabulous in every imaginable way. This place is an experience; from the folks at the valet whom ask you how you are, to how your drive was, to saying they’re happy you’re here. Its crosses all boundaries of what service is all about. When you stay at the Ritz, you’re truly welcomed like a family member and not one that is awkward like Thanksgiving dinner; it’s like your every hope/dream of what and how one should be treated. When you’re here, you’re pampered…and not just by way of the finest decor, the softest linens, and/or the most exquisite material things but rather by way of the amazing people. The folks that work there must truly love there jobs, its shows in there everyday dealings with people and it’s a breath of fresh air to say the least. It’s the epitome of the human experience. That is what makes The Ritz-Carlton what it is.
I must say being able to spend the weekend in the same spot as we left off 2 years ago, which was a place of not knowing how things would be, how they would go, or where we would even be in 2 years…it was nice to be allowed that experience albeit only have been for 2 days; I can’t thank certain folks enough who made it possible for us to be there on such a special circumstance. It truly gives hope and a tremendous feeling of being very blessed for those folks who give a piece of themselves for the sake of others.
As always we thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for Dylan this past year, unfortunately this past year we have seen our fair share of the hospital, turmoil, and lots of emotional days that feel like a roller coaster ride but we truly believe better days will be in Dylan’s future, its just a matter of when that shift happens and those days of heartache become fewer and far between. We know it’s a lot for folks to read and take in and it’s ok to think to yourself that thankfully this isn't your life. Although we don’t wish to change any aspect of our life, we certainly wouldn't wish this on anyone as well. But at the end of the day, we feel very honored and blessed to be Dylan’s voice, to be his parents, and to be his fighter’s on his behalf. It’s what makes our family who we are and we thank you for taking the time out of your lives to read a bit about ours.
Here’s to hoping for a less eventful 2013!
-Noah
Slideshow:
***The images below are in a slideshow format, you can hit the "Play" button on main image or click on individual images to have them enlarge. To get more images put your cursor over the last picture shown on the right, it will scroll to more images***
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