this biliary atresia experience

Rose with her great buddy, Pop (maternal grandfather)

Two of Rose's favourite nurses returning her to her bed on the ward, after a couple of hours back in ICU (dodgy breathing after a procedure this morning under anaesthetic).

EXCERPT FROM EMAIL TO FRIEND This time it’s Shane doing the writing! “Rosie is powering on, she has regained the ability to smile, kiss, talk and now she also giggles, although we can't make her giggle too much as it looks like it begins to hurt after few chuckles and we don't want her splitting her sides.”

A fresh start for Rose's head of hair. While she slept, I snipped it off close to her head. She is wearing a "faux pearl" bracelet, part of a set of jewels made for her by one of her beloved nurses.

EXCERPT FROM EMAIL TO FRIENDS IN MY BOOKCLUB “She's finally going quite well, after leaving ICU About 10 days ago. Thought we'd never get her off the *^$% ventilator - it was very scary. If I’d known on the day of transplant that she wouldn't be returning to the ward till 50 days later, I'm sure I would have had kittens when we handed her over to the transplant team. I didn't cope with the ICU experience at all well. It's fortunate for Rose that Shane so deftly took up the emotional slack. He's a very steady fella, thank heavens. Imagine if Rose had two nervous nellies as parents. Rose herself is a steady little rock too, of course. She didn't smile till last Tuesday, nearly 8 weeks after transplant. Truly, it seemed that she had utterly forgotten the notion of happiness. Not only was she not smiling, but her eyes looked so sad. Not any more - we're so relieved and grateful to see her happy again.”

After school with Rose

Hannah plays with Rose's feet

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

She seems to know that she smiled a minute ago

I know it's blurred, but the final photo in the short series above shows Rose's first smile since May 6.

Rosie lost most of her hair during her time in ICU. Every time I brush olive oil through it like this, it seems that a hundred or more hairs come out. It might be best to just cut it all off and start again. . .