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Schimbare's Liver Transplant Journey- Part 3

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Posted 8/25/2015 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guess what?

I GOT THE CALL TO BE A BACKUP!!!

We are cooling our heels in the lobby, and someone should come tell us something by 9:30-10:00 eastern time.


I am calm about the whole thing. If it is meant to be my liver, then it will be. If not, another person will get the gift of new life.

Today is my dear son William's 16th birthday. We have an open adoption. I met and spoke to William's birth mom many times, and the thing about it is it is her baby until 72 hours after she signs the relinquishment papers. I told her over and over that if she changes her mind and decides to parent, we will be absolutely fine, and in fact happy that William was going to grow up with the mother that was meant for him.

The mantra to get you through the difficult procedure is if it is meant to be your baby, then it will be.

If it is meant to be my liver, it will be.

And it is the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The city is still quite a mess, but the building and re-habing is everywhere.

Please pray or whatever that the person who gets the liver lives a long and healthy life.

Susan
Posted 8/25/2015 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Still waiting at 11:30pm eastern.

Paul called up to transplant, and they were kind enough to tell him that they were waiting on the results of a biopsy. Maybe in an hour.

I am serene.

Susan
Posted 8/25/2015 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Susan, praying ...keep us updated...if not now, soon.
Music 👱
Posted 8/25/2015 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I am watching for your update, and so very excited you are getting back-up calls! Thoughts are with you and the donor family today. Big Hugs
Posted 8/25/2015 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. I got chills reading your post and your philosophical approach is wonderful. Suspect from the lack of posting today that it may well be your liver and I am hoping you do live a long and healthy life!
Posted 8/26/2015 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well,I am so self absorbed, I missed a whole chapter here and themiz had to send me a note on my phone about all this.

And no further word from Schimbare....so I sure hope she gave her password to Paul...we have to hear something.

Susan, if you are reading this...all my love and prayers and good wis either way..gosh I cry every time the phone rings for one of our gang.

Best to you and whomever received the gift of life.

Hugs,

Carol
Posted 8/27/2015 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
We had an email from Schimbare suggesting the first call was not successful, but we hear she is back at the transplant center on call #2. Hoping Paul, will post in if she cannot. Just wanted everyone to keep her in their thoughts today. Big Hugs
Posted 8/27/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
T H O U G H T S

H U G S

MAMA LAMA
Posted 8/28/2015 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am so tired I fall asleep while typing. call 2 to be a back-up was a no-go. The problem that we waited from 11pm until about 10am.

They did all the pre=tests except the enema, thank goodness. Actually, they admitted me when I go to the hospital, so Paul and I had a room. I probably got 2, maybe three hours of sleep. I was beyond tired.

Today at 1:30 I am scheduled for a paracentesis. We shall see if they can get any fluid out of there.

I am just so tired. Paul has once again upped his level of caregving, with even more love, thoughtfulness, and competence. He is a dream come true.

I will write when I feel up to it.

susan
Posted 8/28/2015 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
susan, after tp Mike was pretty out of it for 3 or 4 days.

he never realized he was catherizedl nor asked for food or drink...he just got fluids and meds iv.

then he started to pick up. he was mentally ok, just out of it with meds mostly.

do you have a plan where Paul could zip me or the miz an email or phone call in case you are too doped up...so we can stop holding our collective breaths?

we are hoping for good things coming your way.

sleep when you can, MORE HUGS,

carol
Posted 8/28/2015 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
You're almost there...
Posted 8/30/2015 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
3rd call was my charm. Hope the same for you!
Posted 8/30/2015 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Greetings! cooling our heels at the rental.

I am totally stressed out. I am not serene. I feel like crap.

Do you hear the phone ringing? I do not hear the phone ringing.

AAARRRGGGHHH

Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day, with a better attitude.

I will be sure that Paul knows to update this site after I get the new liver, God willing.

Susan
Posted 8/30/2015 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
glad to hear from you.

the waiting is awful.

but the goal is near.

rest when you can.

xoxo

carol
Posted 8/31/2015 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Okey dokey. On Sunday evening, I got the third call to be a back up. Which is fine with me - you gotta be in it to win it!

Paul and I will go to Ochsner at around 4:30am, Monday, August 31. There we wait until around until 9am and we should hear something regarding the liver.

Then they tell us that we did not get the liver, which is fine with me as long as someone's life has been saved.

Then we get coffee for paul, and something for me, and a little muffin, scone, bagel and try not to scarf it down like a starving animal.

Then we drive back to our rental and collapse.

OR

they call and tell me the liver is mine.

More updates after I hear the news around 9am.

Susan
Posted 8/31/2015 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Your turn will come and it will seem as if all those false alarms were meant to happen.
Posted 8/31/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
[Paul posting for Susan]; Third time WAS the charm! In surgery right now. Surgeons felt this liver was a better fit for Susan (morphology-wise) than the primary candidate recipient. We raced in and the team got her IV in, read her her Miranda Rights, and wheeled her off lickety-split, with some anesthesia already in her veins.
Posted 8/31/2015 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Woo Hoo...Congrats!
So happy for you both!
Posted 8/31/2015 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Such GREAT news!! Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Paul. (and nice to finally meet you here).

Wonderful way to start this week!!

I just let my husband know, and we both are keeping you two in our thoughts today. Would love updates, if you are able. Biggest Hugs to you both. themiz
Posted 8/31/2015 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Paul, I have been in your shoes...waiting and praying. He was prepped at midnight, they gave me updates 3 times, but I didn't see him until 5 pm the next day.

First I noticed he was pink...for the first time in a long time.

I had been prepared for the tubes and hope you are too.

Central line in neck was left in just in case they needed to go back in.

Nasal gastrointestinal tube to uick blood etc out of stomach. You would vomit if it stayed in.

Mike was so dry but they don't let you drink til that guck gets out.

IV lines and one in the wrist for the aorta.

Vent...they get that out as soon as it is safe and try to keep them sedated some until it comes out. Mike had had this twice and they used gentle restraint on his wrists so he didn't mess with it.

Catheter for several days.

And a yukky belly drain to get out what has leaked about during the surgery.

The scar is big and Mike had another big one on his leg where they bypassed the blood during surgery...they do t run blood through the liver til it I'd all rehooked.

Some get a Mercedes scar others a lexus. Mike has the big L.

I go into this detail in case she did not. Mike's daughter almost passed out.

I on the other hand only saw PINK and ALIVE. And thanked all the powers that be.

Typical me, I am crying tears of joy.

I hope her recovery is smooth, but there can be bumps...keep your seat belt in.

Hugs

MalaLama
Posted 8/31/2015 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
[Paul]: The operation was a success! I just spoke to the surgeon who said it went well, the new liver is already producing bile, and that perfusion is good. I await the gory mess in ICU now, as Susan is still in Recovery.
Posted 8/31/2015 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! That was a fast transplant. Thank you so much for this wonderful update. We all hold our breath for one another. She will be up and about before you know it.

You must be exhausted. I hope you are able to get a nap and something to eat while she is being well cared for in ICU.

Susan is lucky to have you. Let her know we are with her (and you) as she recovers. Big Hugs
Posted 8/31/2015 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Amazing. A new life begins. We celebrate his rebirth day now...not that silly old age thing.

When she is awake give her our well wishes.

ML
Posted 8/31/2015 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Best news I had in a while! It's not so bad (gory). You do what needs to be done to get back to a more normal life. It will be an old memory in a few months.
Posted 8/31/2015 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
[Paul]: I am with Susan now. Resting peacefully, intubated, and watched over by a pair of angels: Rachel and Michelle the ICU nursing team. So far, everything is in normal range for hours after they closed her up, say the Seraphim.
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