A full 267 days after Russellville High School senior Jagger Mills’ transplant, his mother Misty George finally heard the word she had been waiting to hear: home.

George received word from doctors at Christmas that going home was in the near future – what George called her Christmas miracle.

A list of things still have to happen medically for Mills to get the all clear from doctors, but George said the hope of home gives her something to look forward to.

“Life goes on at home without us, and it gets tough,” George said. “I think just the comfort of home would really help boost our spirits.”

George said she hopes to be home at the end of January, but Mills’ release has been delayed because of issues retaining fluid because of the number of steroids he is on.

George said although she does not know exactly when it is coming, it is great to think about home and the small things that come with that.

“We have not been home since March,” George said. “I think Jagger is just excited to sleep in his own bed.”

Mills is on dialysis four times a week, but doctors are hoping to get this down to three times a week before releasing him from the hospital.

Once at home, George said Mills will have to return to Birmingham three times a week for dialysis on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.

“If they can consolidate us to three times a week, that would feel like a vacation,” George said.

George said she and Mills are thankful for Russellville and the support the community has been to Mills during this time.

“This would be so much more difficult without home,” George said.

Russellville High School Principal Jason Goodwin said Mills returning to Russellville is something he and all RHS students have been waiting for.

“I think his return will be celebrated more than any state championship or anything like that that we could receive,” Goodwin said. “He has just been so missed here.”

Once Mills is at home, he will have to follow the precautions of wearing a mask in public and refraining from being in large crowds.

George said although she has learned not to make plans, there is one crowd she hopes to see her son be a part of.

“It is his senior year, and he has worked so hard to stay in school and graduate,” George said. “I have told people I will see him across that stage at graduation if I have to wheel him across the stage myself.”

Goodwin said he is happy to hear that and will do whatever he can to make graduation possible.