Davey Is Recovering After Amazing Lung Transplant

Update as of 10/11/23:

Davey is finally back home!!!! …Well our temporary home in Chicago, anyways. The pups and I are beyond happy to have him back with us in our apartment. He still has weekly appointments and lab work with the lung transplant team at Northwestern and he starts Day Rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab on Monday 10/16. He’s still making great strides each day and he’s even able to walk a short distance with his AFO (basically a leg brace) since he did develop foot drop- and he pushes himself whenever he can! His kidneys are also making great progress and he no longer needs dialysis as of right now. We still have a long road to recovery ahead and it can be so tiresome for both of us at times, but I could not be more proud of Davey and all his successes! Thank you all so much again for your continued support, donations, prayers and shares! We appreciate absolutely everything you all have done and anything helps!! ❤️☺️

-Susan

Update as of 9/23/23:

Davey is making great progress! His transplant team cleared him to start eating food and drinking liquids a little over a week ago. Since then he’s been transported to Shirley Ryan rehab facility where they’ve been REALLY putting him to work, but he’s been thriving everyday! We now have our two pups, Penny and Bear, with us in Chicago and they’re trying to get used to the big city while not having their fenced in backyard to run around in. They’ve been doing well all things considered. We still have a very long road to recovery and rehabilitation and will have live in Chicago for at least the next 18 months. Again, we cannot thank you all enough for the continued shares, prayers and donations throughout this difficult time for our family. Thank you all so so much!

-Susan and Davey

Update: Davey is doing great! He’s getting stronger and stronger everyday. He now realizes that he’s been an ICU setting for almost 3 months and he’s just tired & wants to come home and be with his family ❤️ he’s been making great strides in his recovery though, including being able to verticalize and even stand (with help) for a few seconds at a time. He’s also able to speak more clearly through his trach and express his needs and wants most of the time. His personality is shining through more and more with each day. He does have to undergo dialysis every few days which is really hard on him but he’s handling it like a champ and he knows it’s only making him stronger and getting him that much closer to recovery. I am so proud of Davey and his progress! We’re now just trying to adapt to the city of Chicago and how difficult of a life change we’ll have to make for the next 12-18 months. Davey and I are so beyond grateful to all that have donated, prayed, shared and kept us in their thoughts lately, thank you all so much! ❤️

-Susan

David is now in the recovery process of his lung transplant.Today he did 10 hours of only his lungs doing all the work! His oxygen level is at 99 percent And when he is doing therapy it is at 100Percent.Every day he is doing more hours of being up in a sitting position.They are close in therapy to getting his feet on the ground.He is embracing the physical therapy pure David Bauer Style!!!

DAVID BAUER AWAITING DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT David is now at. Northwest Memorial hospital his Doctor is Dr. Bharat who is one of the leading lung transplant doctors in his Field. The thoracic surgeon who works directly with Dr. Bharat said that things with David are looking (very promising) his exact words. Over the next couple of days they will establish candidacy for David’s lung transplant. Once he is a transplant candidate they will proceed with a pneumonectomy where they will remove his lungs and then the waiting game for the set of new lungs for David. Until the transplant is complete and for 3 to 6 months or even a year David and Susan will have to stay in Chicago for David to be monitored at The hospital after his transplant. The cost of living in Chicago is marginally higher than St. Louis we are looking into a long term housing solution for them. Thank you so much for the overwhelming support you have already shown. This will allow David to focus fully on recovering from this life saving procedure. We appreciate all of your prayers your thoughts and your support through all of this. David Bauer was checked into the Hospital on Sunday night on April 16th with servere flu and bacterial pnumonea. By morning he was put on a ventilator in the ICU. The next day was tough as he was clinging to life. They were able to stabilize him enough to be transferred to SLU hospital where they were able to put him on an ECMO machine which allowed his vitals to stabilize. He has been in the MICU -critical care now for 30 days. He was diagnosed with a very rare Myocaditis which attacked his inner heart lining. Since then his Heart has recovered and all his organs except for his lungs are doing good. He was sedated for 4 weeks and is just now beginning therapy. Davey is still hooked to a (VV) ECMO which directly supports the lungs. He also has a tracheostomy tube supporting his lungs. They are trying to put him on a lung transplant list for a last case option but as of now is ineligible due to still fighting an infection in his lungs and not being able to walk or get out of bed as of yet. He still has a long road ahead in the hospital plus a mimimum of 6 months rehab and recovery time once he gets home. David is such a strong and determined person and we know he will get through this challenge stronger than ever. Many of you I know are praying and have asked if there is anything you can do. We are so thankful for all of your kindness, possitive thoughts and prayers. I (Josh) wanted to put this together for my brother as an avenue for anyone who wants to bless him and contribute towards his needs as he recovers over the next 6 plus months. Susan, his partner of 7 years, has not left his side throughout this ordeal missing work but being Davids rock though this time. All of the money donated will go directly to David to assist with medical and living expenses. We are so grateful to be surounded by suck loving and kind people. We will keep you updated of Daveys progress. Thank you, Josh Bauer