Kerry

Our precious Kerry passed away last night around 8am. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Still in Hospital

It's been a long time since I've updated so here's where we are. Kerry did go back in the hospital May 27 and was discharged June 3 only to be re-admitted June 7 with very low blood counts and still hypercalcemia. Docs were able to get blood counts up but not to the root of the hypercalcemia so could only treat the symptoms. The goal still was to get her out of the hospital so that she could go back to pulmonary rehab and build up her strength in order to be listed for another liver. Obstacles kept cropping up: bone pain and a compression fracture in her third vertabra, dialysis to remove the calcium in her blood, kidney failure. Late August the pulmonary team shared that they didn't think they'd be able to get her out of the hospital. Kerry continued to do all she could to get better. As strong as she is though her health was not improving and she was growing tired so she began thinking about what it would look like if she stopped treatment. She discussed her thoughts with the pulmonary team about ten days ago. The team acknowledged her strength and endurance and said that they didn't think they could get her better so the treatment plan was changed from trying to get her better to pain management. Last weekend was a wonderful time of friends and family visiting, even Daisy dog the 60 pound chocolate lab was allowed to visit. This week Ben's family visited and Kerry got to meet her godson Aaron for the first time. God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Nan

Getting Well Again

Several issues to resolve to get Kerry fixed up and discharged. Anemic, dehydrated, elevated calcium level in her blood, jaundice, and itchy. Did some testing including an endoscopy which showed the esophigitis is much improved so Friday she began eating--wouldn't you know she doesn't have an appetite. Goal is to get her fixed up, send her home to get stronger through nutrition and rehab and get her listed for a new liver. Thanks for praying about all this with us. (Nan)

Discharged May 17 and Readmitted May 25

Tuesday May 17 was a joyful day, discharge had arrived. I felt like Miss America walking down the runway as Kerry and I left the 7800 floor with the staff cheering her on. It was good to be back "home" at the Residence Inn and begin a new routine. We got to sleep in Wednesday. Thursday morning Kerry had her assessment at the Center for Living then I dropped her off in the afternoon to begin rehab. Friday morning she had bloodwork at clinic and we met with the liver transplant coordinator. Daisy Dog came to visit for the weekend and actually we took Kerry to the ER Sunday--she was dehydrated and nauseous and got a bag of fluid. Monday she went to Center for Living and was very tired afterwards. Tuesday was a clinic day---pulmonary and liver. By this time Kerry was worn out and her bloodwork reflected it--still dehydrated and nauseous and also anemic. Rather than be omitted on the spot we choose to go home and increase fluids. By the middle of the night Kerry decided we were going to the hospital in the morning. Her transplant coordinator arranged an admission and about 4pm we headed to the hospital where she was admitted to room 7808. (Nan)

Discharge Close!

Discharge close! Gotta get esophagitis cleared up and eating. Original goal was this Wednesday then changed to Thursday then changed to whenever esophagitis is clear and she's eating! Docs think esophagitis caused by a pill getting stuck and irritating/inflaming the esophagus and think she may see some improvement this Wednesday or Thursday. Praying and believing God will heal the constricted bile ducts in the liver. (Nan)

Chris August - 7x70 (Lyrics)

Easter

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Praying God's resurrection power will bring healing to Kerry Girl! God has given her a good gift: new lungs, liver, and pancreas. Praying all, especially the liver will work as God intended--fearfully and wonderfully made. Now that she can eat, the sight and smell of food makes her nauseated. Praying that will quickly pass. Walked half a mile yesterday and today. Thanks to all for your love and prayers. (Nan)

Out of ICU

Finally got out of ICU 11pm last night, moved to a nice quiet corner room on 7800 pulmonary floor. Kerry says she slept half way thru the night, Johnnie says they slept pretty good. When I arrived 10:30 this morning she'd already had some coca cola, docs said she could have small sips of thin liquids and will get a food tray too! (Even as I write her food tray arrives: mac & cheese, peas, vanilla pudding, and thickcned apple juice.) She's walked three laps so far. Thanks everyone for your love, prayers and encouragement. (Nan)

Wonderful Day

Kerry is much improved. Extubated Tuesday and took 4 short walks. Wednesday was a wonderful day, she was sitting in the recliner bright eyed and bushy tailed when I arrived at
10 am and had already walked twice. Creatin has been trending down and she's producing urine so that the renal docs no longer need to see her. Ammonia level trending down too. Today was another good day and she's ready to move out of ICU back to the floor as soon as a bed opens up. She's enjoyed walking the 3100 unit and seeing all her nurse friends and is really ready for a cup of juice---FEES test tomorrow, hoping she'll pass and be deemed safe to have thin liquids and solid food. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. (Nan)

Improvement

Kidneys are producing urine and creatin still elevated but trending down. Ammonia level in blood still elevated but trending down too. Tomorrow they will take her off the ventilator. She's responsive. Plan to walk after she gets off the vent tomorrow--need/want to exercise those lungs. Liver team working on a treatment plan. Thanks everyone for your encouragement and prayers. (Nan)

One Sick Girl

The bile duct study showed her bile ducts are constricted. This occurs when there is a lack of blood supply to the liver and the doctors do not know when this could have occurred, during transplant or after transplant. Also her kidneys are not producing urine. Doctors believe this "kidney injury" is a result of iv contrast in some of the liver testing last week and high levels of one of the immunosuppressants; the injury is recoverable in time. She was moved to ICU this morning where they intubated her to protect her airways. The plan for the weekend is to get her stablized: kidneys working and staying infection free. The liver team is working on a treatment plan. Our hope is in the Lord (Psalm 131), God is our refuge (Psalm 90:1), nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37), God began and will complete His good work (Phillipians 1:6), and Kerry's verse Jeremiah 29:11 KJV "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".

Encouraged today!

Kerry's stomach emptying is sufficient enough that she began today to take some meds by mouth and can even have small sips of clear liquids! Also her liver numbers and billirubin decreased today! The liver team is still looking into why her liver numbers are elevated and she has a test tomorrow where they'll look at her bile ducts for blockages. Regarding the bacteria in her blood, blood drawn for culture Friday is showing negative for bacteria as of today. Needless to say we are thankful for the encouragement and for God's continuing care. (Nan)

Update

Hi everyone, please forgive me for falling behind. Doctors are testing on several issues: stomach emptying slowly, liver not rejecting per liver biopsy but not doing well based on elevated enzymes and billirubin, and Infectious Disease doctors trying to figure out where the bacteria that shows up in her blood cultures is hiding in her body. Also changed rooms this week, moved from the surgical transplant floor (3124) to the pulmonary medicine floor (7831). Thanks for your prayers, cards, pictures, Bible verses shared and a special video greeting delivered by friends--all have encouraged and refreshed us spiritually! (Nan)

GI Troubles

Endoscopy on the schedule Friday to take a look at her stomach to see if there's anything anatomically causing her stomach to empty slowly. Also docs will place a new feed tube in her stomach to replace the one that came out this week. Hoping and praying this will help docs resolve slow stomach emptying. (Nan)

Still Working on Digestion

Kerry's tolerating the tube feeds so far as the liver team increases the rate VERY slowly. She's at 20 ml/hr and goal is 40 ml/hr. It still appears her digestive tract empties slowly and the docs are contemplating what to do about that. Her G tube has been giving some trouble over the weekend and x-ray showed it was no longer in the stomach so they pulled it out today and are thinking on if they need to put another one in or not---should have a decision Friday. G tube feels like a small bump in the road but keeping the faith and trusting God for His best. (Nan)

Faith

Friday was the last day for one of Kerry's favorite nurses who's moving out of state due to her husband's job. We will miss her and her encouraging word always telling Kerry to keep the faith. Galations 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Phillipians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"

Try Again

Triple organ transplant recovery has been a challenge. New organs show no sign of rejection. Getting Kerry's digestive system back on track has been troublesome. Liver transplant docs did some tests and studies last week which ruled out any leaks or blockages so Saturday resumed tube feeds again. Please pray that in God's time these will be successful--her pattern has been tolerate for almost a week then she feels bloated and they have to stop and figure out why. Friday was six weeks post transplant and she's tired of being in the hospital. Saturday was a beautiful day and her nurse got permission to take her outside for a few minutes. We are thankful for so much and know that every day gets her closer to going home. God's still in control, has plans for good and not evil, plans for a future and hope per Jeremiah 29:11. (Nan)

Recovering, A Good Day

Kerry's recovering in ICU and slept most of the day. Not too groggy to ask for something to drink--of course the answer is no, sorry :( . I think it was a good day. Psalm 34 Come let us exalt the Lord together. Nan

Another Bump in the Road

Well, Kerry went back into surgery this afternoon for a fluid leak in her abdomen. Thankfully no new leak was found and docs think the fluid they removed is from a previous leak. She's recovering in ICU tonight. Thankful God is for us. (Nan)

A Day at a Time

Pain management better these last two days and she walked a short distance in ICU twice today, caught two 30 minute naps and we played two games of Go Fish. Naseau seemed to be the problem today. Her nurses tonight are Maggie and Kelly but not the Maggie and Kelly who are her big sisters! Thanks for praying for healing, endurance, and encouragement.

Progressing

The last ten days have been up and down, one day good and the next not so good. Pain in abdomen still persistent and illusive until Thursday when they drew some fluid off her abdomen. The fluid showed signs of infection and iv antibiotic treatment began. Belly pain still persisted and became more severe so that 11:30 Friday night they took her back into surgery where the surgeon repaired two perforations in her intestine, drew off the fluid, and washed out the abdomen. Kerry should start to feel better and is back in ICU. Her new new organs are doing just fine! Thanks for your love and prayers. God is faithful and we are thankful He has a plan for her life, plans to prosper her and not harm her, plans to give her hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11). Posted by the mom, Nan.

Swallow Study Milestone

Good results on the swallow study today and can now have thickened liquids. Enjoying thickened ginger ale and thickened apple juice. Walked half a mile so far today. Pain still bothering her. Thanks for praying. Nan

Out of ICU

Yeah! Moved out of ICU this afternoon to the Step Down Unit. Her voice, which was a whisper, is coming back after ENT performed a procedure on one of her vocal cords this morning. Swallow Study is scheduled for tomorrow. Walking goal today is 6000 feet. Pain manageable. Thanks everyone for your support, prayers and encouragement. Nan

Saturday February 12, 2011

Thanks everyone for praying. Pic line in yesterday and FEES test/swallow study on the board for Monday. She says pain level still around 8. She's walked twice this morning and will walk at least once more before shift change. I've had to remind myself to still wait on God's timing and ran across Isaiah 64:4 which encouraged me ". . . You, who acts for the one who waits for Him."

"I want a sip of juice"

Kerry asks prayer that she passes the FEES test today (swallow test), she knows she can't go directly to solid food and would like just a sip of juice. Also they're going to try and get a pic line in today so please pray for success. Pray too for pain level to decrease. She is up walking 3x a day. Praise and thanks to God for His goodness. Psalm 103: 1-5. Nan

Bump in the road resolved

Well turns out there was a blood clot in the portal vein. Clot was removed and coumadin and/or heparin for awhile. She should be back to ICU shortly. Thanks for your prayers. Nan & Johnnie.

Bump in the road

We've hit a little bump but still okay. Kerry is going back into surgery to take care of some fluid in her abdomen. Please pray for a quick and easy surgery and guidance for the doctors as they look for and repair the source of the excess fluid. Thanks, Nan & Johnnie.

Transplant Completed

Well Kerry's Thursday morning call to come to the hospital because they might have organs for her turned into a "go" around 6pm. Surgery began at 8:30pm Thursday night and finished at 11am Friday morning. We were able to see her in ICU around 1:30pm. Saturday morning they got her off the vent, up sitting in a chair and she even walked 50 feet. Sunday she walked 200 feet and says she's hungry. She asks you to pray she passes her swallow test tomorrow--a prerequisite to injesting anything. We thank you for your prayers and well wishes. We are thankful for the donor and his/her family for a wonderful gift. We are thankful for God for the way he has made us and medical science. (posted by Nan, her mom)

Call from the Organ Store?

Hey all, just a quick note. I got a call from Duke this am saying they had possible organs for me!! Please pray for the perfect match and please pray for me, my fam, donor fam and the RNs and Docs.

Love you all!

The Embolization went well yesterday. They took me about 4:30pm and I'm not sure what time I got back to the floor. Maybe around 7ish because I vaguely remember Jeopardy was coming on or off. It went well, the coiled off one big vessel on the right side of my lung. Hopefully this will do the trick and keep my bleeding down to a minimum for a while.

I think mom had some fun with me last night because apparently the first thing that came out of my mouth when I got back was "I need to walk Daisy". I was to be on strict bedrest for 4 hours so the artery wouldn't start bleeding, so needless to say she just laughed at me. :) I did get my yummy, juicy cheeseburger I'd been craving for two days straight! It was REALLY REALLY good I must say. I was a little out of it last night but today I am 100% with it! I may be going home, just waiting to hear from the RN and Docs.

During this hospital stay I had a student nurse for two days. Kinda funny. He did a good job. It brought back good memories and stressful memories. I don't miss being a student at all. Those long clinical days and being watched and quized on everything you do..phew. But at the same time good learning experiences and nice patients to talk to and help was worth it!

I'm chomping at the bit to get out and go buy some more hooks and yarn to start my next project!

Mom is doing well. She took the plungeand finally got her long awaited haircut. She was very nervous because my aunt has always cut our hair (we are very fortunate and spoiled in that way) so we had no clue where to go ro how to explain how we wanted it cut. Anyway, it looks good! Maybe she will let me take a picture and post it. :)

Please just keep up the prayers for my organs and health, the donors family and my family as we are apart.

So I am back at Duke due to a lung bleed again. Saturday night around midnight-ish I woke up and started coughing up blood! About a pint in 15 minutes, which is quite a bit. So Ben and I headed to the ER. They kept me to watch, but then this morning I started coughing up more blood, only a quarter of a cup this time, but still not good. I was sent down to IR to be emolized again in hope to stop or slow these bleeding episodes. Hopefully it will do the trick and I can remain blood free for a bit. I am currently getting blood, on my second bag. Hoping to get to go home Tuesday or Wednesday. I really wanna be home for SB Sunday. But we shall see God has a plan and I know its good...so I will wait on Him.

Please continue to pray for me and my new organs and esp for the donors family. My mom is doing a super job :). But you can also keep her in your prayers as well as the rest of my family. Love to all!! xoxo

So here it is, my first ever crochet project a scarf. It's not too bad, a little uneven in places, but I figure with practice I can weed that out. I'll post pics of my next project when I finish!

Passing the Time

So I decided to pick up a new habit. I am attempting to teach myself to crochet. I was inspired by my sisters best friend who can make the coolest stuff (from her head) and also the fact that I have alot of time on my hands. Crocheting seems to be a relatively low cost habit. My friend Pam taught me some before she left for Mississippi. I bought a kit at B&N thinking I could make the animals in it, but I quickly realized I was in over my head. So right now I am working on a scarf. Its not half bad looking. I already have a foot of scarf!! :)

My goal is to be good enough by Easter to make my nieces some animals for their Easter baskets.

Ma and I are doing well. Still rehabing everyday at CFL. She is doing a super job as caregiver! Still praying for that phone call, hope it won't be too much longer. Thanks for the prayers and cards!

Tenth Avenue North - You Are More

More Beautiful You- Jonny Diaz

This has beautiful lyrics...they are so true!

Freedom!

Outta Duke again, had a short stay. Went to ER Saturday night around 10pm and was admitted for couging up a cup of blood. I was Out Monday evening. Thought I was gonna be bronched or embolized, but thankfully neither!! Just a CT to see how much blood was in my lungs and since it wasn't too much the Doc said she felt comfy to send me home on roids and oxy and the blood should be reabsorbed by the body. So here I am! :) Back at rehab...yay! God is good!


Ma is doing good, hangin in there, learning the routine for the blood episodes and learning the hospital layout :) She's a great caregiver just like Daddy was/is. Miss and love my hard working Hubby back home too!

Lord, Create in Me A Pure Heart...

After much searching and praying I think I figured out why God has given me this time of waiting. I think I've been placing too much emphasis on how the transplant may change my outward appearance. For example, my hopes of getting rid of this barrel shaped chest, my hope of getting rid of the 02, my hope of gaining weight and muscle tone, scars and getting rid of feeding tubes and I'm sure there are many other things but they are not coming to mind right now. It is hard (for me) to be in this condition when I see everyday on TV, out in public and magazines what the true female figure is to look like and its hard knowing I'm different. but at the same time I feel it is very selfish of me to think this way. I should be thankful for how God created me, for I was created in His image and made to glorify Him, I don't see how I can do it this way, but He does. All this to get at the point that I think God is teaching me that it's not about how this will change my outward appearance but how someone I don't even know will give me a second chance to live and that alone should make me grateful and it does. And yes, the selfish side comes out again when after transplant yes I'll have the puffy chipmonk cheeks, the tremors and thin hair from all the meds, but it is like my good friend Pam told me: "who cares what you look like, you can breathe!" Which is very true. So in all this waiting, I'm praying that God will create in me a pure heart, rid me of this selfishness that haunts me and just be thankful for the gift I will recieve so that I can go and help others.

I'd appreciate it if you'd keep me and this matter in your prayers! I will overcome!

Cookie Baking and Decorating

We baked and decoreated sugar cookies for Santa Christmas Eve...here are some pictures.



Never too much frosting!


My lungs!

No one mixes the color in like Dad

Molly mixing her sugar cookie in colored sugar!

MORE SUGAR!

Chef Molly

More CFL Buds

Here are more of the wonderful people at the CFL who take care of me!

Wanda (PT) and I

Melanie and I

Carol(RT), me, Toya (PT) and Jennifer (PT)