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.