WE HAVE A LIVER!!

Way to tired to speak, but mom was transplanted last night!  WIll post more after some sleep!

We got the 7th call on Wednesday at 5p.m. Doctor came in and asked my mom if she would like a new liver, she said "yes please!" We got the word it was good at 12:10 in the morning of Thursday.  2:00 a.m. they had all the lines in and she was intubated.  At 7:30 they told us the liver was in and fuctioning - producing bile and mom was producing urine (she developed hepatal-renal syndrom and had started dialysis on July 15) so they are hopeful that her kidnesy will kick back in.  At 10 she was in recovery and we got to see her at 1 p.m. on Thursday.  At that point, the staff sent us home and told us to get some rest and sleep and that we could call them anytime, but they didn't want to see us for 24 hours!!  Their words were that mom needed the doctors and nursed more then us, that she would need us way more very soon.  I think we were looking pretty haggard, we are taking their advice!  Theyhave called us a couple ot times to say that she is okay.  They have started to wean her off of the ventalator, and her eyes are open, but not processing anything just yet. 

I know we have a long way to go, but i am feeling over the moon!  The surgeon told us that mom's MELD score was 35 and probably wouldn't have made it through the week, which we sort of knew already.

Chin up everyone! 

Congratulations!! I am so happy for you all.......prayers for a speedy recovery. When you can, please post and let us know how she is doing!!

Mer

A bit of a set back - can't keep mom's blood pressure up, and her white count is up, but they nurses seem very calm and are handleing it, so we have to trust them!  They do have mom back on the vent - mostly to make it easier.  Dr and nurses say blood pressure first, then the vent, then they will try to get her kidneys to kick back in.  On a VERY good note - the liver is just fuctioning perfectely.  Her numbers keep coming down.  Mom is awake and responding - we tell her that she is doing great and to just hang in there and let her body do what it needs. 

We keep praying and stay hopeful.  We are actually getting some rest.  After just having to be all over the nurses to get mom to the transplant, these ICU nurses are just so plesant attentive and competent.  I want to take them home with me!

Thank you thank you thank you!!

I can feel the prayers!

Dr. says the new liver is just kicking butt!!!

Mom still in ICU - liver is fuctioning well.  Still on dialysis - but trying to get the kidneys to kick in.  Incision is healing really well, mom looks good.  Here's the problem - her mental state is aweful!! With the enseph - we had periods of lucidiy - we have had nothing ofr a couple of days.  White count up, so they are changinf leads.  She has only been up once since the transplant.  Can anyone offer insight?  Only thing the dr say is that it's the medication and that she was really sick.  What am I missing??? 

thanks Connie - maybe I just needed to hear it again!! 

I seem to recall other transplant recipients experiencing this.  Just give it some time.

Hugs,

Connie

Child4....you hang in there!! YOu guys have come a long long way....and don't forget that!!! As I was reading this, something just kind of struck me.....I believe after transplant they give very large doses of steroid medication, is that correct??? (Seems like I have heard this before). The confusion, etc could actually be a phsychosis of some type from the steroid medications. I would just mention it to the docs and see if that's a possibility. But, you have to remember, she also had a lot of junk in her system, and if her kidney's are still not kicking in correctly that can also cause ammonia to build up if I am not mistaken.....

Hang in there...we are all praying for your family!!!

Mer

Child 4  My husband got his transplant on 8/3.  He seemed really good and calm at first then wam they had to put him in restraints.  It was the prednsone.  He is normally a very calm person so I did get a little scared.  But the nurses and Dr. were great.  I hope she is doing better now.  I must tell you we had in our heads that once he got the transplant every would be great.  NO So he still has all the symptoms he had before the transplant and more.  We are learning that it takes time for his body to adjust.  We are still trying to get meds adjusted.  He is still the prednisone man.  Eats non stop!  He is finally sleeping some.  Averages about 4 hrs a night.  He still has horrible itching and has to eat in the middle of the night.  Its crazy but as I have said none of this life threatening so we just have to be patient  He still has fluid problems along with high blood pressure and blisters leaking on his legs.  I could go on and on but you get the idea.  Just hang in there and try and get as much sleep as you can while your mother is in the hospital.  Has the Dr. said anything to you that some of this could be caused from being put under for so long?  Just an idea I had.  Keep the faith things will get better.

JoAnn

Sending hugs and prayers. God show this family how great you are, strenghten them, lift them, and encourage them. I pray for healing on the mother.

Amen

Thank you Amee P - one of these days I will write the story about the Bishop of Pittsburgh coming to bless my mom - we refer to her liver as the Bishopr's liver.  I have lots of faith, sometimes i need to be reminded!! 

Hep 93 - yep, propafol!  Looks like milk.  She is on the continuous diaysis to help get the toxins out and remove the medications that might be causing problems, including the propafol.  The nurses think maybe she needs our voices to come around today, we are working on that.  I want to slip her lactulose!  That always worked before!  The drs laugh at me when I say that because my mom hated that and it was what she said to the doctors just before the transplant surgery - that she would not have to take that anymore!!  And I know that this is differnt, but I am begining to get despirate!!

Child4,

I hope things have gotten better for you and your family. I was wondering if they doctors ahve stopped the propafol? I noticed last night that they are also giving this to my mother in law. I think it has something to do with the fact that they were unable to colse her up completely, and they want to keep her in a deep sleep/paralysed state.

What were the side effects that you all experienced?

Thank you,
Amee

Ephesians 5:15 encourages us to 'be very careful how you live, making the most of your time..' Each and every one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings . Amen