A journal of Ellis' journey from cardiomyopathy patient to heart transplant champion. Care from the Heart Transplant Team from Children's Hospital in Seattle, WA.
Ellis's health is great. But there are always worries. Earlier this summer she had to have a lung biopsy to check an anomoly found on an xray and CT Scan. So far it's thought to be just a little encapsulated virus and nothing more dramatic.
Ellis started school @ Santa Clara University in September and is doing well.
Mom and dad are missing our little girl.
Here are some pics from the past few months.
As we approach Ellis' six year anniversary we are excited for some news from Santa Clara University. Ellis has applied to several colleges, but did the Early Decision deal with SCU. We should hear around mid December if they're smart enough to take our little trooper on. Heck, she's a senior in high school - better come up with a better description, huh?
This fall Ellis participated in crew as a coxswain (just fun to spell) and rower. The Head of the Lake Regatta blew our team right off the course as it was cancelled partway into the event. So she only participated in one race, but she "enjoyed" the training and teamwork enough to continue into Winter Training with CrossFit, running and erging. Ellis also is taking a swimming instructor course in the mornings.
She exercised so much this fall that her blood pressure meds are way out of whack - in a good way, I guess. Had us worried for a bit.
We had a big gang over for Turkey day including the Brady's who have been gracious enough to continue celebrating with the Patricks. It was team Brady who joined Ellis in 2011 @ Children's Hospital for a holiday celebration just before her transplant. They've been through thick and thin with us!
Ellis is up for her yearly cardiac cath just before Christmas. All signs point to positive things. Keep your fingers crossed.
The Patrick kids have grown up with a pair of mockumentaries, The Office and Parks and Recreation. Ellis has memorized pretty much every episode of both and we've all watched way too much of these shows. It feels like Mike, Dwight, Jim, Andy and Co. from The Office are family. When P&R came on we jumped into this family as well watching Ron, Leslie, Tom and especially Andy.
Local boy Chris Pratt was Ellis' favorite actor and she even had the chance to meet him in passing one Thanksgiving when he stopped by the Four Seasons in Seattle. In the TV show, his mock rock band, Mouse Rat, had some classic songs like 5,000 Candles in the Wind and The Pit.
Since we've torn down our old garage and have a hole in our yard, she was inspired by Andy's fall into the pit. For a special birthday present, Ellis shot and produced a great video for Ian.
Inspired by Andy Dwyer.
Soundtrack by Mouse Rat.
Song from P&R Episode 6, Season 1 - Rock Show
Check it out:
Team Patrick has been busy as usual. Haven't used this forum much for updates, so I thought I put up a few snaps. Our annual cardiac cath showed no signs of rejection! Being a junior in High School keeps Ellis busy, busy, busy! But her new Mini Cooper gets her to crew, school, appointments and other activities in style.
Enjoy.
One week after the Head of the Lake Regatta, Ellis was scheduled for her yearly heart catheterization. We did this about a month early because at her last clinic appointment some labs came back which caused everyone to get worried, including Ellis, about organ rejection. Shea, as usual, did an amazing job of organizing the whole show (appts. in Seattle & Bellevue, absences, food, meds, clothes, distractions) including pre-op the evening before. Since our check-in was 6:15a the ladies spent the night at their favorite spot, the Maxwell Hotel. Ian caught the 5:20 and found that might be the only time Seattle doesn't have traffic! Once there, the great team @ Children's Hospital got the process rolling quickly. The team this year included the great nursing staff and Dr. Jeremy M. Geiduschek, Dr. Erin Albers, and a doctor to be named later. We missed Dr. Rubio and Dr. Joffe who have performed all of Ellis' other procedures. Dr. Geiduschek's kids were rowers and he teased Ellis that he would be reading to her from Boys in the Boat while keeping her sedated. Ellis has heard most of the book's stories from Grandma, Mom and Dad and is "refusing" to read it! Long story short. The results came back on Friday as great! No signs of rejection! Yipee! We will treat some blood pressure issues with tiny dose of amlodepine and hopefully Ellis will be more relaxed now that we know our regimen is on track.
Below are some pics from another amazing year! Or see them in a better layout in Google Photos
