11/06/05
Wow. I'm amazed by how fast time races forward ...and by how little of it I seem to have between work and family. Updates to Zach's website become more and more rare as the boys get older and need more of my time...just the way I like it!

In three days it will be SEVEN years since Zach had his transplant. Our initial transplant discussion with Dr. Theodore always sticks in my mind....he gave Zach 50/50 odds of making it through the transplant and explained to us that it's lucky to make it 10 years with transplanted lungs. It's been nearly three years now since Dr. Theodore died of cancer and Zach is still going strong...I guess you never know what the future holds.

Not that everything is perfect with Zach but from a distance Zach couldn't be a more normal little boy and continues to exceed all my expectations.
The tissue samples from Zach's most recent Bronchoscopy showed 1A 1B which to my very limited understanding is a sign of some very minor chronic rejection. I believe the scale goes from 0 to 5 or 6.
While I obviously wish Zach was still scoring a zero for rejection, he is still doing very well for seven years out.
Zach's B.U.N. has continued to be high on recent blood work which makes us worry about the health of his kidney's. Several of Zach's drugs (including his main imune suppressant) put Zach's kidney's at risk.

Zach is like a lot of kids in that one minute he will totally amaze everyone with something he can do or understand and how far ahead he is in some areas but struggles in other areas. Zach continues to read well above his class and is tremendously interested in history and in learning details. He was George Washington for Halloween and his favourite Super Hero (which as far as I can tell he made up) is history boy. Zach can be very outgoing in conversations with adults and often discusses issues that wouldn't occur to children his own age. He is extremely caring and sensitive and often asks questions about medical, social or emotional things that others are going through.
On the flip side Zach continues to struggle socially with kids his own age and often doesn't relate well to them. He doesn't like to play sports or catch, or rough house like his little brother. Zach has a hard time not being the center of attention and often acts out when he isn't. Zach's writing is improving but motor skills are still something he has to work at.

Zach is now involved in the local Awana club. Awana is an international youth church program whose mission is to be a positive influence in the development of young people. I've been really happy with Zach's experience there. The activities have been great (hiking, activities and games) but what Zach really enjoys is getting patches for his vest for reciting bible verses. Memorizing is something Zach has always enjoyed and been good at and it's been great for his confidence to do well at it. Zach tried T-ball and and did karate for more than a year but he had a hard time competing physically and didn't stick with them so I'm hopeful that Awana's we'll be something Zach can excel at.

While Zach isn't a sports nut like his brother he does always want to either be the referee, the umpire or the coach. on Saturday Zach was my assistant while I coached his little brother's basketball team so I was glad to see him take an interest and participate.

11/27/05
Zach said grace at Thanksgiving on Thursday...I had to grin...he was Thankful for so many things he wanted to mention that I thought our food was going to get cold!

Zach's going to be a Shepherd in the Christmas play at church. He should do great with the memorization but I'm not sure how he'll be with the crowd...he's allergic to embarrassment like his father.

Also like his father Zach is getting a mole on his nose. I've had several removed and I'm afraid he's inherited the mole growing gene from me. I also worry about immune suppression and the increased likely hood of cancer so we will be in to see the dermatologist soon.

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