8-24-20 Update on Walkers Journey

Hi All,

Lots has happened over the last few months. Last we spoke, Walker had recently had a stem-cell treatment and had begun peritoneal dialysis. It took till the end of July for this new method of dialysis to really work and become comfortable for Walker. A cumbersome and time consuming process that involves bringing 3 large bags of fluids to his room every night so a machine can pump the fluid in and out of his body all through the night. While it’s definitely better than the blood filtering version of dialysis, it’s still nothing a 21 yr old wants to be doing with his time. 

In late June, Walker was awarded the opportunity to be one of 5 teens and twenty somethings that were chosen to be filmed for a new Tobacco Free Florida initiative against the dangers of vaping. After a couple of phone interviews and signing lots of paperwork, they scheduled his filming for July 29th. Candy and I went with Walker to the shoot location which was a private home near downtown early that Wednesday morning. We had no idea what it would be like but we were blown away by the scene that greeted us. Walker had his own trailer as well as his own make-up artist and the amount of staff and equipment in and around the house was astonishing. In addition to the 30 or so staff milling in and around the property, they had a robotic camera on a rolling track and a guy with a floating camera mounted to a space age looking backpack. Walker was a trooper sitting in a hot house on oxygen doing take after take with the guys. We arrived around 11am and left close to 10pm that night. A long strange day to say the least, they told Walker that if you live in Florida You will Probably see thIs his ad at least once. The ads will start running either later this year or early next so stay tuned.

The next week on Aug 4th Candy started working for the first time since Nov of 2018. After applying for many, many positions at several local hospitals since before the COVID lockdown started, she landed back at ORMC in Risk management at Doctor Phillips Hospital which was a good place for her with less stress than her previous management role at AdventHealth. As always, even though we often grumble In anticipation, God’s timing was impeccable in that Walker was stable enough to allow Candy to return to work. Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. Candy and I had a chance for a much needed date night last Saturday at Lee n Ricks, see photo 😁. I love this photo, Candy looks beautiful and happy.

The next week on the 11th, Walkers half-sister, Claire 13, came to stay with us flying in from the St. Louis, MO area. Walker was amazed at how few people there were in the airport the afternoon when he picked her up. She is a wonderful little sister to both Walker and Laura always welcome as part of our extended family. She got to meet lots of our family and loves Florida especially the boat trip that Walkers Aunt Nickie and Uncle Lindsay took them on one day. And she went home with an extra suitcase filled with hip clothes courtesy of Aunt Nickie cleaning out her closets. It was a great, fun trip for all of us. 

Near the end of Claire’s trip, Walker got a call that he could come to the doctors office that they approved the removing of his shoulder port that was placed in March of 2019 when he was moved onto the ECMO floor. This was huge!! He had always felt like he was still very sick with this tubing hanging down the right side of his chest not being able to get into the water only take a shower after taping the whole area up completely. He is not sick anymore as much as he is permanently injured. They easily removed the tubing and he had to wait about another week before he could get in the water after the hole in his upper right chest closed. So, this Sunday he got the chance to jump in the ocean for the first time since February of 2019 while visiting his Auntie Christa and Uncle Mick at their New Smyrna condo. Woo hooo, yippeee back in the surf again. He is so very, very happy. This is a big step in the right direction, thank you Lord for your protection and provision in all things. 

And today he just got approved to re-enroll at FAU to start a class or two Online of course beginning this week after speaking with his guidance counselor this morning. Laura is back at Geneva and doing great, looking amazing with her long blonde locks and tanned summer bod. And I start a short term job tomorrow, thank God, working with Humana enrolling people during open enrollment with Medicare through December. So, we have lots to be thankful for today, many things going our way right now, the snow globe is settling down, life slowing returning to our new normal. I guess we all have a new normal at least for the short term.

And to top it all off, Walker got a call this morning from the transplant team at AdventHealth. They want to schedule a meeting with him to begin laying the groundwork for his lung transplant. This made his head spin rather hard today. Lots of good things Happening and a then a quick yank Back to the reality of his situation. Day by day, we move ahead knowing God has got our situation under control, thankful for the many blessings we Have had on this wild and wacky journey Already. 

May our world begin to return to normal soon for the sake of our brothers and sisters that are out of work and struggling. Let’s keep our spirits up and help those in need in whatever way we can. God bless you and your family. Love, The McKnights