Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Bittersweet Goodbyes...

Well, today is the day. We have been in DC for 113 days and this part of our journey ends today. We have not been in our home since March 18th.

Brittany woke up early this morning and made one last visit to GWUH. She arrived during shift change and was able to say goodbye to many of the day shift and night shift nurses. She shed a few tears as she walked out of the hospital for the last time. I'm sure she was a little sad, a little excited, and a little scared. Brittany then met Reed and me at Reagan International Airport. Brittany and Reed's flight left at 10:00 AM and they should be back in Montgomery by early afternoon.

Gaines and I will not leave until tonight. Apparently, the transfer team likes to do these transfers at night. The transfer team should arrive at GWUH between 8 and 9 PM. An ambulance will take all of us to an airport where we will board a plane headed to Montgomery. Once the plane lands, another ambulance will take us to Baptist South. We have been told the whole process should take between 6-8 hours so we should be in Montgomery between 2:00 and 4:00 AM tomorrow morning.

Our doctors here at GWUH believe Gaines should be transferred on CPAP. They see no reason to re-intubate him. However, once the transfer team picks Gaines up it is their decision to re-intubate him or not. Basically, the transfer team is responsible for Gaines so they decide what they think is the safest possible transfer for him.

On a side note, someone commented earlier that a friend of theirs was admitted to GWUH just a few days ago with preterm complications and she was only 25 weeks pregnant. When Brittany and I read this comment, we realized there was one thing left that God wanted us to do in DC. Brittany went and visited this stranger. When Brittany was on bed rest, so many people knocked on our door and said "you don't know me, but...". It was if things had come full circle. Brittany knocked on this stranger's hospital room door and said "you don't know me, but...". Brittany gave her our blog address, gave her a quick synopsis of our journey, and encouraged her to stay positive. As she left this stranger's room, she realized it was the exact same room she had been in while on bed rest for almost 6 weeks.

We'll keep everyone updated throughout the next 24 hours. Please say a special prayer tonight around 7 PM Central. This will be about the time Gaines transfer begins. Please pray for a safe and uneventful flight home.

Beau

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am thinking of you and your family and praying that you all return home safely. Please continue to blog so that we may see the progress that will be made once you are all situated at home. I can't imagine how wonderful it will feel to walk back into your own home and to know that this journey is almost over. Safe travels baby Gaines.

Katie said...

Funny I was watching the trains running to the airport this morning wondering if you all were on them... perhaps we did pass!

Full circle indeed. Praying for safe travels all the way around.

K, D & J

Unknown said...

Beau,

Praying for safe travels for Brittany & Reed this morning and for you and Gaines tonight.

Rhonda

The Rathmell Family said...

Hi Beau,

I've been stopping periodically through yesterday and last night to pray for Gaines and for your family, and I'll continue to do so as you travel. I'm so glad you're all able to come home together.

Take care,
Susan Reneau Rathmell

Avery Tales said...

What a bittersweet day this is for your family. I know you'll be so happy to finally be at home, but miss the life you've learned to love in D.C. I pray that you have uneventful travels and that Gaines handles it like a champ!

the story of us said...

praying ♥
how very neat that brittany had the chance to visit another mom in the same situation (and even the same room)! :) full circle indeed!

kim_brough said...

Wow! Insurance companies are a strange thing aren't they? They take forever to give you an answer about a transfer and when they do- BAM!- you're outta there! Sooo glad you're all going together.

How wonderful for Brittany to be able to encourage someone else.

Safe travels!

Tiffany Dawn said...

I was wondering if you would go meet that mom! So glad God used you to comfort her. And how neat that the room you were in is SO COVERED in prayer and DRENCHED in the Spirit of God!! Wouldn't it be neat if that ended up being the room of Miracle Baby's!?

I just LOVE how God works! His plan, not ours. His timing, not ours. If you'd left a day earlier even, He coudln't have used you in that woman's life.

I"m so encouraged just reading this. My faith has been strengthened. I know this will be a long day but its going to be so wonderful to be back in your familiar surroundings with your support of friends and family and church community nearby.

Mrs.HVK said...

Wow I'm almost in tears at my desk today at work. So nice to see the full circle. Praying for safe travels all the way around:) ((HUGS))

Brianna said...

I am so glad you are all going home! I know its not the homecoming you envisioned but I am so glad you will not have to be separated by several hundred miles now when Brittany goes back to work. Praying for great travels for everyone and for Gaines to get to his real home quickly!

Grammy Jane said...

Prayers for sure will be lifted up tonight for Gaines as you and he travel home tonight. Since I wake up often throughout the night I'll be sure his name is at the top of my prayer list each time I pray. Since I sometimes fall asleep praying, I want to be sure to pray for him first. I know all of you (including Jack) will be glad when you're home. Safe Journey!

Kelli said...

I am so excited that you all get to come home!!! Thinking of you and praying for a safe trip!

Kelli in Grand Bay

Amanda said...

Full circle indeed- praying this new occupant will have the same great long uneventful stay that you and Brittany "enjoyed". So happy that you will all be reunited in Alabama by tomorrow morning.

Shannon said...

Wow! I bet it will be strange to be home at first...then awesome:)

How amazing that you didn't have to leave Gaines behind for weeks or even days.

I really hope you can keep up the blog. I look forward to seeing Gaines reunited with his family and HOME!

Stephanie said...

Wow...talk about full circle! As always praying for your family tonight!

Tiffany Lockette said...

Lots of prayers coming your way for a safe transfer "home". Welcome back to Alabama!!