My Friend Laree

We are HOME after an amazing month and we want to say Thank You and update you on Laree’s progress.

We arrived home on Friday after 30 days in hospital and Hearty Towers following Laree’s heart transplant operation on 25 October. It is a wonderful feeling to be home here at Lovelock. It’s so peaceful. The operation and recovery so far has been as good as we could ever have hoped for. There is much still to do as Laree continues rehabilitation and recovery. She will be on essential medicine to manage rejection and other side effects for the rest of her life but being able to climb several flights of stairs already is a great sign for enjoying the future and having a more normal life.

Laree was called at 9.45am on 25 October to go to hospital. She was there 10 minutes later. The operation was later that evening and by 2am she was out of theatre and into intensive care. She woke later the next day and was able to stand up on the second day. She moved out of ICU to the ward on the third day. After a week in the ward we moved to Hearty Towers, which is the specialised rehabilitation unit for heart and lung transplant patients.

Progress over the month was incredibly fast but there have been many ups and downs along the way. The pain and side effects have needed careful management. Laree has been enjoying the physio and gym. Her new heart seems to really like the exercise. She quickly walked up four flights of stairs with no rest and no pain. It was impossible to climb just one flight two months ago.

We would like to thank everyone who has help us in the last few weeks, and many months before. We have had such amazing support in many ways from our family, friends and colleagues. This has been helped reduce stress in the most perfect way. You’ve all been amazing. Laree is determined to pay it forward as she recovers.