Monday, September 10, 2012

Chip's Head Angel in Heaven (Mom) definitely works Overtime!

If one other family could experience what we have during this LIVER TRANSPLANT we would be so happy.  We know that our experience is far from typical and we do not take any of it for granted.  We also know that we still have a long road ahead of us and that things can change any day or moment. 
 
Miracles on top of miracles.... that's our theme for the year.... and we can only hope to pass this on to other families who are waiting. 
 
May you have a MOMMA B in heaven that is the best HEAD ANGEL ever. 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Doing Fine In Durham -- THANKS FOR THE CONTINUED LOVE, SUPPORT & PRAYERS!

Chip has been going back for blood tests about every day.  After our scare from last weekend they want to be really sure.  Turns out that they were maybe being a little 'too cautious' with our call to "GET TO THE HOSPITAL NOW" but we are fine with that.  Always better to be extra safe than not  -- especially when it is pertaining to a liver.

He went on Friday to give blood again and was greeted by his surgeons and many of the associates he had been dealing with the past number of months.  I wish I had been there to see it.  What a KODAK moment it was.  He found out that once you are placed on the list that you are number 1 on the list for 30 days.  I am not sure if it works like this for all hospitals that do transplants but this is what we were told for Duke.  His 30 days were close to expiring when our "LARGE" liver showed up.  His coordinator told him that she was getting ready to have to to tell him that she didn't know when he would get a liver and that it could be as long as a year for him to wait.  YET ANOTHER MIRACLE.  The day before we got the call about the liver Chip was talking to our cousin and Tim said to him "You may just get a liver in the next 24 hours.  They have done over 40 transplants this year and they do about 80 a year so you never know".  Uncanny just 16 hours later he got the call. 

So.... here we are day 17 after surgery and we are doing as good as can be expected.  Doctors are still tweaking the prograf (Anti-rejection medicine) and the Prednisone (Steroid) medicine.  This steroid is not the typical steroid that we think of as the illegal substance that body builders may use it is the one that controls some inflammation and works in conjunction with the other meds.  It makes him very emotional and tearful.  This drives him crazy.  He is laughing one minute and extremely emotional the next.  Who wouldn't be?  Who wouldn't be even without the drug and having just gone through a liver transplant?  We take each day as it comes and we take the tears and the good news gladly.  We are even getting used to the the insulin shots.  So if insulin is a part of our every day life from here on out... so be it.  We will do what we need to in order to keep "STEWIE" happy.
 
Thanking you for your continued prayers and thoughts!
 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Second Hospital VIsit comes at a BAD TIME

There is NO CONVENIENT time to go to the hospital but this was not the weekend we had expected.  We gathered in Durham for Heath's birthday (Chip's son).  We catered with MAC'S BBQ and it was fabulous.  Well, what we got to enjoy was.  We sat down for lunch and Chip's phone rang.  He had gone for blood work the day before and they said that the 'numbers' weren't there.  OK so we took more of this drug and less of that and tweaked as we were told to do.   Then they wanted him to come back on Saturday for more blood work.  When the phone rang that afternoon it was the results of the early morning blood work.  The lady said "I don't have good news, you need to return to the hospital.  Your numbers are off the charts".  She then told me (as Chip had to give me the phone since he was so upset) that we needed to get ready to bring him in.  We were to expect a call within the hour to tell us that a bed was ready.  Two hours later we get a call asking us when we will be there.  I explained we were waiting for a call making sure there was a bed ready for him.  So we head for Duke and we are there within 10 minutes.  I take him in and they are waiting for him.  I wheel him up to his room and it is the SAME room that he had before.  IT WAS WEIRD! 
 
We were told that the issue was unknown.  It was either infection or rejection.  So, our near perfect (if you can imagine that) journey so far has been disrupted.  I am scared to death.  It is Chip and I there by ourselves.  Donna stayed back at the hotel since it was Heath's birthday.  I fled the hotel so fast I didn't even think about leaving David and the kids there without any transportation since I was taking Chip in my car.  We arrive at 4:20 pm and finally at 9:10 pm they take him for an ultrasound.  They need to find out what is going on and why it looks like something is "WRONG" with Stewie. He gets back from the ultrasound around 11:10 pm.  I know then that I am staying with him.  I knew that  we were going to have a slumber party.  He was scared and so was I.  Not knowing what was going on was the worst.  He kept telling everyone how 'GREAT HE FELT".  He continued to joke with the nurses  and we just couldn't imagine what was going so wrong. 

The next morning he is taken for a biopsy.  He was NOT happy about that.  His lead surgeon has said "Don't worry about this.  You have a good liver now and we just need to figure out what is going on".  We had already been told that rejection is better than infection as infection can be quite nasty to figure out.  Since it was Labor Day weekend we were unsure of what we would find out.  They called in a senior pathologist to do some emergency cultures on the liver.  They start giving Chip STEROIDS again which makes him very emotional.  I had to leave and come back home to Charlotte and felt so bad for doing so.  Finally today (Tuesday) we get some news.  We have been basically idle since Saturday.  We did keep getting the words "YOUR LIVER IS GOOD and it is doing well".  We could only measure that he felt so well and that things were moving along so great yet we were back in the hospital and noone knew why. 
 
So to wrap up the many details that are interesting but maybe not needed Owner # 1 of the liver apparently at one point in time had a staff infection. Well Chip has had that too.  From what I understand once you have had staff the infection is always present in your body to a certain extent.  The liver was strong, there was no additional bacteria in it or infection.  Apparently something was going on with the steroids, the prograph (a anti-rejection medication) and the liver being in a 'new body',  So Stewie is not unhappy with Owner # 2.
 
Tonight Chip is at his hotel and resting peacefully.  After his turmoil for 24 hours with his blood  sugar being as high as 390 he is calm and getting things back on track.  We have been informed that this may happen again.  We have been told that 'over-reacting' due to the unknown is expected and will occur.  These Doctors are NOT messing around and we are glad about that.  We have had the best care that we could ever imagine at DUKE and not one waking moment goes by that we are not totally thankful for it.
 
The road to recovery is still long but it looks good.  So to the bumps that will show up we will fasten our seat belts for you and we will be a little more prepared for you when you want to pop up.  It's not that we weren't told that this wouldn't be a possibility it was just so down played.  Our miracles keep on giving.  The Angels are dancing and singing and sending many graces to us and we appreciate every single one of them. 
 
Thank you to our family and friends who without fail coupled with faith keep us going.  It is greatly appreciated!!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Awwww....MAN...Back at DUKE

Today is Heath's birthday (Chip's son).  We all came to Durham to see Chip and to get together for Heath's day.  We got a call just as we sat down for lunch telling us to be prepared to bring Chip back to the hospital.  What?  It is all going well...after all they are still calling him the "POSTER CHILD".   Turns out the blood levels are not what they want them to be.  I brought him in around 4 and I am now waiting for him to get back from his ultrasound.  Ultrasound and then possibly a biopsy.  I am scared and nervous but trying to be strong for him.  Everyone else is at the hotel waiting.  Its just big bro' and me.  I know that sometimes you have set backs and I am hopeful that this is just a small hurdle but....... THE MIND TAKES OVER.....

So we appreciate the continued prayers and support and appreciate the EXTRA ones now!

Hugs to all........

FROM LET"s make STEWIE Happy Land....

At DUKE MEDICAL CENTER.....

 

Template and Design by Custom Blog Designs/FreeStyleMama Creations