tRANSPLANT UPDATES
1/14 9:30 AM - This morning I
find myself once again awaiting a phone call. However, this time,
it's with a different type of anticipation and anxiety. This time,
the call will be to announce Kelli's discharge from St. Luke's! Days
have been spent in preparation for Kelli's return. While we know
that there will be adjustments that need to be made and even an
anticipated bump or two in the road - Kelli's condition is
excellent.
From here out, I will keep everyone updated from this home front
board. Thank you all for your prayers and support during this past
week as Kelli has made her recovery from the hospital bed to home. I
will keep you posted.
God bless.
1/13 9:30 PM - The results of
Kelli's first biopsy of her new heart came today. There was zero
rejection! There was some tweaking of medication today to bring
other areas up to desired levels today. Kelli followed doctor's
orders today and rested. She reported a quiet day. So she should
be well rested for her return home tomorrow!
The kids and I spent the evening putting the final touches on the
house - everything is polished and fluffed and ready for mom to come
home.
Thank you again for all your prayers. The unified prayer of
countless scores of people made this miracle possible. "Those who
come unto me must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6
1/12 3:45 PM - One week ago a
multitude of family and friends were gathered in the waiting room
pacing, comforting one another and praying. Although the unknown
remained, there was a calming assurance that touched everyone
present that Kelli was in the best possible hands, physically and
spiritually. The outpouring of support was tremendous.
At approximately 5:45 PM the heart had arrived and there was another
overwhelming sigh of relief. The wait was over. To everyone's
surprise it was announced to us by 7:00 PM that the surgery was over
and it was a success!
Throughout the past week this site has been heavily trafficked while
the journey of her recovery throughout this week has been charted.
It's been a fast, eventful and surprising week of recovery.
***Kelli's anticipated date of discharge was tomorrow, January 13th, but as I was posting this message I received an update from Kelli that they were keeping her one more day. She did not indicate that there was something wrong, but that they just wanted to give her one more day of rest and adjustment. ***
Continue to pray that all continues to go well and that she may return home as soon as possible and practical. While we are anxious for her return home, we do not want her to do so until the doctors are truly ready to release her. Thank you all. God bless.
1/11 8:30 PM - One week ago
today, Kelli finished the 5th day of plasmapherisis. The mood was
growing sad. Discouragement was trying to take hold. There were two
more days of treatment to go before she was completely finished and
then would be discharged on the 6th to await the results of the
cleaning and to wait for that call. Kelli's condition was beginning
to decline, slowly, but noticeably.
As history will now recall, Kelli awoke the next morning to the news
that the call had come and this was to be the first day of her new
life. Almost one week has passed and her progress has been
rapid and sure. While each new day has brought it's own unique
issues symptomatic of a transplant, each day brings her closer to
coming home.
I visited Kelli today for two hours - she was doing well, getting
adjusted to the medicine routine and the various side effects...
She has her first biopsy of her new heart tomorrow morning - this
will be the indicator as to whether she goes home Tuesday or not, so
I invite your prayers for continued blessings.
1/10 5:15 PM - I'm hoping that everyone isn't tiring of my updates these past few days - I realize that the reports seem to be the same - but all I can say each day is WOW!!! Kelli's condition continues to progress at full steam ahead. It remains next to impossible to believe that it has only been just at 5 days since surgery! The kids and I just accompanied Kelli on a two lap walk around HI-4 and she out walked us all, stopping even to visit with staff and other patients. We even got everyone together for a couple pictures. (above)
1/09 8:15 PM - Did I say, "WOW"
yet today?! Again, another day of rapid improvement. Even Kelli
commenting today about how great she felt said to me that she feels
better today than she has felt for a long time, but she said that,
they're still tweaking things and tell me that I will feel even
better by the time I'm discharged." She said she can't comprehend
feeling even better! (Of course this is not talking about the
residual pain felt from the surgery, she's talking about her healthy
condition).
Her face, full of color. She even commented on how pink her
fingertips are today. And today, they began to train her on her
self-medication routine once discharged. That brought a WOW from me
too....but more from a perspective of disbelief in the quantity of
pills she will start with (27 in all and then wean down to hopefully
3 that will be a permanent part of her daily life.
Recovery is moving fast. She met a gentleman today who is transplant
recipient two years ago. Like all the tranplantee's we've met, he
glowed with that light of a renewed life. It's an amazing thing to
see, so it must be an amazing thing to feel! He invited her and I to
attend his scuba diving lessons after she is a year out. Another WOW
would be in order!
He also told her that when she gets out, to go home and live life.
She's been given a second chance to do all the things she didn't do
the first time. He said to live life well and to help others in this
new life. (Good, solid advice to us all.)
I for one can't wait to see what Kelli will accomplish. I know she
will do well. I know she will use her testimony to benefit others
and to Glorify the name of Christ. I look forward to continuing our
journey together through this thing called life.
Thank you all once again. It's been an awe inspiring, life awakening
experience and I am thankful to have had so many family, friends and
good people; even strangers who reached out with a word of comfort,
a moment of laughter to lighten the load; now who are named among
friends - new relationships - new beginnings.
1/08 6:30 PM - It was about 10:00 AM this
morning when I made it in to see Kelli. When I walked into
the room - I had to do a double take. Kelli was sitting up
in bed, face full of bright pinkish color, voice crisp and
clear - and she said, "Look!", pointing at the monitor
overhead, "Look at those numbers!" And, "Look! No IV's, No
oxygen line, No tubes!"
The monitor was reading a heart rate of 91; blood pressure
was 116/70. She was wide awake - you could tell that the
blood was flowing through her system, she pulsated with
life.
She asked me to step out and call her Dad to make sure he
was bring Mom with him and when I turned my phone on I was
bombarded with text messages asking for updates - so I
replied to everyone by saying that the word of the day is
WOW!
By 11:00 she was released from CVICU and taken to her
private suite. By 3:00 PM she had taken a couple strides
around the hallways.
The kids came to see her around 5:00 - they are all amazed
at her appearance and her hundred fold improvement from yesterday
(which we thought was amazing, but this is just WOW
1/07 10:00 PM - This really is isn't a status update, but rather an upgrade in classification I guess. While I in no wise wish to detract from the AMAZING work of all the medical professionals who have labored tirelessly to bring about this magnificent medical marvel in Kelli's life, but I realized as I sat tonight in quiet reflection, that I must elevate this even higher from medical to MIRACLE! Thus the reason for the change of wording for the update link above. God is the true attending Physician in charge of this case and he has performed a work before our very eyes that can only be called miraculous.
1/07 3:00 PM
- The term "Ejection Fraction" was the second medical
terminology we learned back in September when Kelli was
diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (that being the first term).
At the time of her diagnosis with cardiomyopathy in
September 2008, it was explained to us then that Kelli had
an "E.F." (ejection fraction) of 9% which basically means
that Kelli is only receiving 9% of the blood that her heart
is trying to pump to the body.
Since that point it has been to everyone's amazement
(including medical personnel) that Kelli managed to function
at such levels as she did throughout her day with such a
minimal percentage of her heart function.
This morning, 1/7/09, they performed an echo cardiogram on
Kelli. This is what allows them to determine the E.F. of the
heart.
Kelli called Al and I into the room a little while ago (3:00
PM) and said, "Guess what!" We both paused for a moment
unsure of what might come and she said, "Remember my old
heart had 9% - well my new heart has 60%! "
To explain that number let me say that it was told us even
early on that there is no 100% EF. 60% is the norm - 65%
would be an extreme. Kelli's nurse, MaryLynn explained
further that 60% is so good that it's probably even better
than her own E.F. % - and even that of most normal healthy
people.
So, all that said to say that Kelli's new heart is testing
out in top performance. One of the surgeons stepped in for
an update and informed the nurse to do some tweaks to the
meds she currently on and get her up to her own personal
suite A.S.A.P., even today if possible.
The nurse did inform him that having already checked with
HI-4 staff, that there were no availabilities today, but
that tomorrow, they would have not only a room, but Kelli's
room of preference from earlier last week.
So again, I close by saying, "It's Good!"
1/07 11:00 AM -Information
updates took a little while to gather and process. At 9:00
AM I ventured back to the ICU and encountered a team of
student doctors being coached through a teaching session at
Kelli's window. I was invited to listen in to this and did
so for about ten minutes, but of course, the conversation
was just a wee bit (a lot) over my head.
So, I waved to Kelli and motioned that I would be back
later.
It was about 9:45 AM when I returned and the class was just
breaking up. So I went into see Kelli and the nurse was
explaining the morning diagnosis with me, which at first
hearing, sounded a little confusing and caused an eye brow
to raise slightly. (I tried to find a picture for
demonstration purposes in this post, but haven't found one
yet so bare with me as I explain.)
Let me start by saying Kelli is well, everything is still
good. Early this morning they ran some tests and compared
some numbers and found that they didn't like two sets of
numbers in particular. Once set of numbers displayed on the
multi-parameter monitor overhead tells the story of the
inbound blood flow of the heart and the other number would
be the story of the outbound flow of blow from the heart.
By the test results and the numbers, the numbers relative to
the left side of the heart should be higher than that of the
right side. This was not the case this morning. The
numbers were equal to and sometimes greater on the right
side that the left, which meant that there was a build up of
pressure on that side.
(Please keep in mind you are missing out on the technical
medical terms, because a doctor I am not and I did not have
means to write what was being said - so this is information
filtered and processed after the fact and could contain
erroneous info as far as left and rights go, but the point
will be clear.)
The nurse reassured Kelli and I that this we should not be
alarmed by this. This is normal transplant behavior, seen
with most every patient and is expected and treatable by
medicine which she administered on the spot and within the
hour that I was in the room had remedied the issue.
So, for example (not actual figures) The top number this
morning was "17" and the bottom number was "15-19" and
fluctuating up and down. What the wanted to see was top
number "20-25" and bottom number "12-14". (See the
difference)
After the medicine given made it's way through her system,
the numbers reflected perfect levels. The medicine elevated
the heart rate to pleasing numbers, blood pressure perfect,
left and right sides working in concert appropriately.
From what it sounds there is a round of treatments with this
medicine that she will get while in the hospital that will
train this new heart to function this way.
Staying with their exceptional practice, the doctors have
leaned on the side of caution and have chose to leave her in
ICU today as opposed to moving her to the private suite,
only because it's easier to perform these tests and
diagnostics where she is. However, the did say the
possibility would remain that they could go ahead later today
and authorize her move.
This is what we know this morning. I hope no one is alarmed
by anything I attempted to explain. I could have just said
all is well, but I felt it significant to explain this
morning just why all is well and how they arrived there
today.
1/06 11:23 PM
- "And God said, "Let there be light", and
there was light, and God saw that the light was good....and
there was evening and there was morning, THE FIRST DAY."
[Gen 1: 3-5]
The first full day of a new heart has come and gone and all
remains well. There are talks of moving Kelli to a private
suite as early as tomorrow. The attendings say that all her
numbers are looking good and all is heading in the direction
they want to see. I'll close by saying, "It's Good!" And
Good Night.
1/06 9:00 AM
this morning I was permitted into the room with Kelli. I
was very nervous and apprehensive but the Doctors urged me
inside. She was awake, alert, and trying to be funny. She
is experiencing some expected pain from surgery, which they
are treating, but everything is still going perfect.
They intended to get her up and sitting in a chair sometime
today and begin the process of removing the remaining tubes
and hoses from surgery and project that she will be taken
upstairs to HI-4 in her own private transplant suite by
Thursday morning.
Visitors will be permitted in small numbers of 1-2 at a time
(for under 10 minutes at a time) to wave hi through the
glass window.
1/06 8:30 AM - We are
awaiting any updates that will come from the doctors. Shift change
and Dr.'s rounds are currently taking place. All was quiet
through
the night. Kelli's father Al and I stayed the night.
Information that was shared last night showed the possibility that
she could be up and sitting by sometime today. They have told us
throughout the process that they get the patient back up and on
their feet as quickly as possible after transplant and on the road
to recovery.
They anticipate given Kelli's rapid progress throughout the entire
ordeal and given the excellent physical, mental and emotional
condition that she will progress equally as rapid through the post
transplant recovery and even be discharged in a 5-7 day time frame
all things considered.
So, for now, we wait for updates. I will endeavor to keep this
board as current as possible as quickly as I can upon receiving any
new information.
1/05 : 7:30 PM - The phone rang in the waiting room and they instructed us to join in the hallway and they would take us to a conference room and the surgeon would talk with us. The surgeon came in and informed us that the surgery was a success, transplant complete. It took 1 and 1/2 hour from the time the heart arrived at the hospital at a little after 5:30.
He said it will take two hours to get her ready to be taken to the ICU room and about 9 PM or so we will be able to view her through the glass window
THE CALL HEARD ROUND THE WORLD!!!!!!
01/05 : From the calm of a routine day at the office came a call from Kelli, which I expected to be a causal visit and update on the start of day 6 of the blood cleaning, but as answered the phone, she asked "What are you doing? " and I nonchalantly replied "working'. I then asked, "What are you doing?" As calm and equally as nonchalant she replied to me, "Getting a heart!" For a moment I thought she was joking and then she burst in to tears and said, "get to the hospital."
I don't even know if I said goodbye as jumped from the project before me and spun around the corner, down the short hall, past my desk, and unknowingly, grabbed my cup of coffee, ran through the front office saying, "I gotta go - Kelli's got a heart!"
My mind totally drew a blank from the predetermined plan of action I had prepared in my mind in the event of such a situation as this. The calm, cool and collected course of action I had planned out in my mind - didn't work. I couldn't remember phone numbers, names, or anything else. I raced to the hospital to find things were not moving at the same rapid pace that I was. (Which is what they said in the beginning - that things start out pretty slow once that call comes in.) So, we all caught our breath and slowed down the pace.
By 3:00 PM she was taken to the OR Holding area and final preps were made. At 4:00 PM she was taken into the OR and hooked up to the IV's and other medical peripherals and then the wait begins.
They say that surgery should take 3-5 hours and that they will send someone out to update us on an hourly basis.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. I will keep this site and the forum and photos as updated as possible during this time.
