Biopsy Results, Missing Teeth and Giants

Owen's 7th biopsy went great! He was a goofball all morning and fell right to sleep in the cath lab.  He woke up an emotional hot mess, but snapped out of it when the Versed wore off.  It took a few hours this time, so I think we'll skip the pre med in two weeks.  Anyway... we got the results back this afternoon and Owen had another ZERO for rejection!!  We are thrilled! 

The good news just keeps getting better.  Remember the last few times we have checked his antibodies before/after IVIG and the numbers were in the 20,000 range {ideally 0 is what you want}.  We had discussed indefinite IVIG and had the conversation about Plasmapheresis if it came to that.  On Thursday, during the transplant team's HLA meeting, the pathologist asked "what happened to Owen?"  The doctors were shocked to hear that his antibodies are ZERO!!  Not a single one.  They stained the tissue taken for biopsy to check for any signs of antibodies and none.  They even re-ran the blood work from the pre and post IVIG labs and nothing.  Not a single antibody to be found.  We will check again in two weeks when he gets his next round of IVIG and then again, in November.  How amazing would it be if his antibodies are gone and we can stop IVIG!?  Owen has been doing these monthly 18 hour infusions for the past 14 months... I know a boy that would be thrilled!!  I certainly believe in the power of prayers!!

Today at school, one of the pitchers for the SF Giants surprised the kids with a visit.  He brought them "snapback hats" and autographed them.  Owen told them how much he loved his "San Fransisco Diamondbacks hat"... always a funny boy. 

He was also excited to show off his missing tooth... that's right.. tooth number 5 fell out this morning!  We had to do some minor dental surgery to get it out though.  I tried pulling it out with my fingers, wiggling it, tied some dental floss around it and it was so slippery I couldn't get it.  Owen had me call daddy since he is a pro and Owen thinks he is a genius for suggesting I try a paper towel to get the tooth.. and pop.. it came right out.  I'm going to start calling him toothless and the tooth fairy is going to need a raise to keep paying for all these teeth.

Two weeks from today we should be on the road home.  I still can't believe it.   Owen is such a different boy than he was when we came.  It's incredible and we are so, SO blessed!!