Today was not the day we thought we were going to get a liver....however HIS plans were different for us. Around 9:40 am this morning my brother CHIP called the Dr. because his knees were hurting him so. He wanted pain killers for his ailing knees and looks like he will be getting a liver instead. He has been on the liver transplant list OFFICIALLY since July 20th. On Tuesday August 14th he was told that he was # 1 on the list for O type blood & # 4 overall for DUKE. Of course with this many other things go along and I am not privy nor do I understand all of them. I am updating this to try to be informative of our journey which was started January 1, 2012. What is written is about OUR experience and what we have been told by our Dr.'s & nurses. What I do know is that the wait that we have endured is ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE NEAR what many others have had to suffer through. Our blessings are overflowing and we know it. I think of my friends Glenda & Julia and their many many months of waiting for their loved ones liver. Their patience was tried much more than ours has been. While we know there are still many days and hurdles to get through we understand and realize that our process has not been nearly as grueling as others have had. We can only hope that somehow some way others can get what we have gotten.... A MIRACLE thus far.
Heath (Graduate & my nephew) & Chip (my Brother)
9:40 am call from Dr.'s office gets a "Hey, we might have a liver for you... stay close to your phone".
11:50 am call from Dr.'s office saying "Don't eat or drink anything".
3:00 pm call from Dr.'s office saying "Looks like an ideal match, the donor will be off life support soon so once this occurs we will check things out further and call you back"
4:00 pm call from DUKE Dr.'s office saying "COME TO DUKE.
4:10 pm Chip & Donna pull out of driveway for Duke Medical.
6:30 pm Arrive at Duke. Admitted, Tons of paperwork done, samples of anything and everything you can think of are taken. Meeting with the anestheologist and the post ICU Surgical Doctor.
7:43 pm Taken to X-ray.
8:02 pm Returns from X-ray.
9:00 pm Liver arrives at Duke from Wake Forest Medical via Med Life.
Thus far they are saying that the liver will be put in around midnight with the knowledge that at any point in time they could change their mind due to medical reasons.
9:15 pm Dad and Ann arrive. We find his holding tank and visit.
9:15 pm Dad and Ann arrive. We find his holding tank and visit.
11:00 pm Now Surgery will be between 1 and 2 am.
Thursday 8/23/2012
12:19 am Chip taken to prep by Mr. Bill.
12:26 am Mr. Bill comes to get Donna to go & see Chip.
1:33 am Donna came to get Heath, Alesia & Christina. They are now saying they will take him back in about 30 minutes.
1:36 am Heath, Alesia & Christina return.
2:08 am Anestheologist arrives. Donna returns to waiting room. Were told that we would be notified once first incision made.
3:05 am Blankets delivered to waiting room. NO WORD yet.
4:20 am Operating Room called and they haven't started yet. Have been doing some 'REPOSITIONING'.
4:50 am Reception area open so we check in again and get new badges.
5:00 am Receptionist comes by and says that she got a call..."All is still in progress and moving along".
5:10 am Our area in the waiting room appears to look like a war zone. Bodies everywhere.
Unfortunately I couldn't get all bodies in the photo.
TO BE CONTINUED...........
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