Day 31 | OCTOBER 11, 2021

Good Evening Friends, today is day 31 of our new and amazing life!

We had another good day

Today after the usual morning responsibilities, I made my way to the hospital to be with Charlie, I arrived at the hospital around 2:30pm , and I was greeted by Charlie’s nurses , they could not wait to tell me how excited they were for Charlie, today during Charlie OT ( occupation therapy) , she was able to sit up on her chair, without any support to her back, only using her core and abdomen mussels!

They were so excited to see that, and they even took a picture per Charlie’s request to send to me ! Her OT told me , she was shocked and surprised to see Charlie seating up on her own.

That is a perfect example of Charlie’s strength and desire to live and get better! If Charlie keeps up at this speed, her rehabilitation process will be much faster!

I am so hopeful for Charlie ! It does not mean that it will be easier, but with Charlie’s grit and determination she will put in the work!

Her hands right now have around 50% motor range, at this stage it is amazing for someone with her burns. We will pray for continuing good news !

Well , after a very busy and accomplished morning, Charlie was exhausted! She just needed to sleep! And that she did for almost the entirety of our visit.

Charlie also got a new splint to keep her hands in the right position to improve her mobility down the road and avoid atrophy of her tendons .

I am very thankful for the hospital and her doctors early interventions, and especially her OT , this will help Charlie’s positive outcome in terms of her mobility!

Today my visit was all about her mobility, which is so exciting because now we are starting to talk about the future !

I can’t thank God and you enough for all the prayers and positive thoughts, I am a firm believer that they are helping Charlie in getting better.

I also want to mention how emotional it is to read your cards, some of the cards are bringing me and the nursing staff to tears, just incredible messages. Thank you so much for that, I think we have received around 500 cards .

Here is a subject that a lot of you have been asking about it, her laboratory skin procedure, let’s start with some of the terminology, the hospital call CEA or Cultured Epithelial Autograft, or the commercial name of Epicel. But they are both the same.

But you may ask , what is Epicel ?

Epicel grafts are sheets of skin cells ranging from 2 to 8 cell layers thick. The grafts are grown or cultured from a postage stamp sized sample of your own healthy skin. During this culture process, irradiated mouse cells, also referred to as 3T3 cells, are used to promote cell growth and to ensure that there will be a sufficient number of grafts available as soon as possible for treatment

The mouse cells used in the culture process have been extensively tested for the presence of infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The mouse cells are irradiated before their use in the process to prevent them from multiplying

Epicel is FDA approved as a humanitarian device, meaning it is used to save lives. I am thankful for this technology that will bring Charlie home, this is the only treatment option for Charlie , since she does not have enough skin to donate to herself, the only part available is her scalp, that is why her hair needs ro be shaved. To harvest the scalp skin to use as the base of the skin graft with Epicel.

There is a lot of information on their website if you like to learn like me.\

https://www.epicel.com/

They will also use two other products , I will talk about those tomorrow.

It is just amazing to now be thinking about her next phase of care , the reconstruction.

She still has a few months ahead of her at the hospital, but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Since we have so many new friends in the last 2 weeks, I would like to ask you if possible, to continue to pray for Charlie and to continue to share her story, the messages and cards I have been receiving are so touching, the way Charlie’s story is inspiring and touching people and how it is also giving hope to so many people, Charlie’s story is proof that God still performs miracles , and also that Love, kindness and faith can conquer anything!

I would like to ask you something if I may.

What books would you like to suggest for Charlie to listen to as an audio book in the next months ? I would like to create a list of 20 books. I would love to hear your suggestions.

Thank you and May God Bless You!

André