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.