After 51 days in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, 3 days in Cardiac Step-Down, and 4 days on the Pediatric Unit we are FINALLY home. Leo was discharged from Duke on Wednesday afternoon, around 5 days before expected, as he was doing so well. He has come home with the NG feeding tube in place but is advancing quickly with how much he is able to tolerate orally on his own. He is also still on medications which he is tolerating well. Hopefully as time passes they will be able to wean him off most of these medications. 

As for his cardiac future - as of now all looks good. The hole between the bottom two chambers is still there but Leo has tolerated it with the help of medication. As he grows we are hoping this hole grows smaller. If it does not, there is the chance he will require surgery again. If that's the case, he would at least be a little older and bigger and the chances of having the same slow progression in recovery is low.

We will be following up with Leo's cardiologist often along with his pediatrician and a special infant care unit through Duke. Between that and all the education that Ryan and I received to care for our 'heart warrior', we feel that he is in good hands.

Having him home is an amazing feeling. We have been trying to get adjusted to this new reality over the past two days and are working on developing a routine which helps with a disciplined feeding and medication schedule. We feel that since Leo has been home he has already made big steps in his healing and is becoming less apprehensive that the people around him might cause him pain.

As we look back at this journey and all the ups and down we realize how much harder it would have been without the support of all of you and our families. While we would never want to relive the past 2 months, we do take from it that all is possible if you believe and never lose hope. Thank you, from the bottom of our very full hearts, for your prayers, well wishes, gifts, and words of encouragement. Leo is so loved and he cannot wait to meet each and every one of you.