Discharge notes and instructions

The news is official - Ollie has been discharged.  He slept with us for the first time last night.  Of course we were looking in on him ever so often to make sure everything was still going well, which it was.  For the first time in 9 days, Ollie slept without someone waking him to check vital signs!

Upon discharge, they reported that the consolidation in his left lung had improved much, but that some crackles and wheezes could still be heard.  The ECG also showed that he had some prolonging of the PR interval (so there is some delay in electrical conduction in the heart) but this will resolve with time.  On Thursday we see the cardiologist again for a final follow-up, to make sure that he can fly safely.  In the mean time we want to see some sights around Birmingham, then visit some friends around the UK (now would be a good time to switch off your mobiles!), try to go up to Scotland to rediscover the roots of the Annandale clan and relax a bit.  We are disinfecting hands and avoiding crowds as much as possible - mostly because of trying to keep Ollie and the rest of us healthy, but also because the South African gets a bit claustrophobic in crowds...

The last couple of weeks have been a journey in itself, also one of discovery of the importance of faith, friends, family and of the precious gift of life.  Thank you to each and everyone that have thought of us, prayed for us, prayed with us, sent messages, bought gifts, encouraged us, cried with us, hoped with us.  Without you, this would have been much harder, if not impossible! We have had messages and prayers from people we haven't even met, separated from us by thousands of miles, yet bound intimately to us by love.  Thank you so very much! We are humbled and grateful beyond expression!  

Finn and Ollie waiting to go home

Outside the hospital with Dr Bear

Birmingham Children's Hospital

Ollie, back sleeping an uninterrupted sleep in his own bed