Esther and Katherine are ready and cleared for the transplant tomorrow! There was a potential complication that arose on Friday, so we haven't been 100% sure that the transplant would actually take place until we got word this evening.
The story is too long and I am too tired to try to explain all the details. Suffice to say, Katie had some baby bunnies die suddenly and unexpectedly. The surgeon learned of this at Esther's pre-op appointment on Friday and was overly concerned (in our opinion) that the deaths could be caused by a disease that might be passed to humans. He immediately put Esther on antibiotics and threatened to cancel Wednesday's transplant if he didn't have answers by Tuesday (today). We spent the rest of the day last Friday researching and talking on the phone with our local vet, two state vets, a doctor at the Department of Health, and folks at the state water testing lab. We spent hundreds of dollars to have one of the bunnies necropsied and tissue samples FedEx'ed to a lab in New Jersey. Feed samples went out for testing. The situation escalated into a huge stress for us as we scrambled to get the answers that the surgeon required.
Reports from the N.J. lab today showed no evidence of any disease. Mycotoxins in the feed are the likely culprit, but difficult to prove. Katie found evidence of the feed being contaminated with corn and corn is a problem for rabbits.
The surgeon is satisfied that there is no threat to Esther (or Katie and Samuel who are immune suppressed) and we are proceeding with the transplant. Whew!!
After last night's pain ordeal, we got some other folks involved in Esther's care. They changed her pain medication and it has made a world of difference! Praise God! Fletcher Allen is a teaching hospital and sometimes those learning are doing just that - learning. There has reportedly been some follow-up between attendings and residents because of the poor care that Esther received.
Leaving that behind, we're looking ahead to tomorrow with mixed emotions. Katherine starts things off by arriving at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. She'll be the first into the O.R. at about 7:30. Esther is expected to follow around 10:00 a.m. I'll try to post an update during the day.
We covet your prayers!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
New Day
It was a rough night here at the hospital, but the sky is beginning to brighten and a new day is just around the corner.
Esther and I will be heading down to dialysis in a few minutes. We are both exhausted.
If you'd like to send an encouraging note to Esther while she is here at the hospital, please click on the link below and follow the directions. Esther's room number is Baird 523. That will change tomorrow, but the volunteers who hand deliver the emails will be sure to find her.
http://www.fletcherallen.org/patients_visitors/visitors_guide/send_a_gift/
Esther and I will be heading down to dialysis in a few minutes. We are both exhausted.
If you'd like to send an encouraging note to Esther while she is here at the hospital, please click on the link below and follow the directions. Esther's room number is Baird 523. That will change tomorrow, but the volunteers who hand deliver the emails will be sure to find her.
http://www.fletcherallen.org/patients_visitors/visitors_guide/send_a_gift/
Monday, September 14, 2009
Rough Spot
If you have never had a child experience a "10" on the pain scale, get down on your knees and thank God! This evening we watched helplessly as Esther suffered through almost three hours of the most excruciating pain that she has ever experienced. I cannot describe the anguish we felt as we held her and tried to comfort her. To have a child begging you to make the pain go away and be unable to do it, is one of the worst things I have experienced as a parent. I'm afraid that Esther thought she was going to die. She gave us careful instructions that we were to donate as many of her organs as possible. I cannot type this without crying. In this age of modern medicine, it was unconscionable that they allowed her to suffer so terribly for so long.
Despite the incredible pain, Esther has been SO sweet. She just wanted to be sandwiched between her two parents and so we all squeezed into the bed. She couldn't get close enough to us. She whispered over and over again, "I love you, I love you". She was grateful for every small gesture that we made to ease her pain, thanking us each time. One of the challenges from the sermon this past Sunday was to consider what comes out of us when we are squeezed by hardship and difficulty. Tonight we saw the love and sweetness that is inside Esther. I wonder, if she had been angry and nasty through those hours of pain, would it have been easier for the rest of us to endure? As it was, it was heartwrenching.
After many, many requests and ultimately demanding that something be done, Esther was finally sufficiently medicated. She is now sleeping. Tom just crawled out from under her arms and has headed home for the night. I am just watching her sleep and trying to find peace.
At this moment, I am especially grateful for the wisdom of my dear friend, Kit, who insisted that I cancel the three Latin classes that I would otherwise be teaching tomorrow morning. Besides the likelihood of me being a basketcase tomorrow, this is where I need to be. Kit, thank you for mothering me!
There are both new and familiar faces here on Baird 5. One set of faces that is missing is the Perri family. Their Ross and our Samuel spent a lot of time together here and in the ICU over the last two years. Ross was buried on Friday. I know that watching a child suffer is nothing compared to losing a child. Tony and Tammy, we grieve with you and for you. I pray that you will find peace and comfort in the arms of Christ and your loved ones.
Despite the incredible pain, Esther has been SO sweet. She just wanted to be sandwiched between her two parents and so we all squeezed into the bed. She couldn't get close enough to us. She whispered over and over again, "I love you, I love you". She was grateful for every small gesture that we made to ease her pain, thanking us each time. One of the challenges from the sermon this past Sunday was to consider what comes out of us when we are squeezed by hardship and difficulty. Tonight we saw the love and sweetness that is inside Esther. I wonder, if she had been angry and nasty through those hours of pain, would it have been easier for the rest of us to endure? As it was, it was heartwrenching.
After many, many requests and ultimately demanding that something be done, Esther was finally sufficiently medicated. She is now sleeping. Tom just crawled out from under her arms and has headed home for the night. I am just watching her sleep and trying to find peace.
At this moment, I am especially grateful for the wisdom of my dear friend, Kit, who insisted that I cancel the three Latin classes that I would otherwise be teaching tomorrow morning. Besides the likelihood of me being a basketcase tomorrow, this is where I need to be. Kit, thank you for mothering me!
There are both new and familiar faces here on Baird 5. One set of faces that is missing is the Perri family. Their Ross and our Samuel spent a lot of time together here and in the ICU over the last two years. Ross was buried on Friday. I know that watching a child suffer is nothing compared to losing a child. Tony and Tammy, we grieve with you and for you. I pray that you will find peace and comfort in the arms of Christ and your loved ones.
Surgery Complete!
All is well!! Tom and I are now sitting in the PACU with Esther. She is drifting in and out of consciousness with an emesis basin under her chin. They are working to keep her comfortable.
Praise the Lord, the surgery went without complication! Esther ending up losing three organs for the price of two. In addition to her kidneys, they decided to also remove Esther's appendix when they found that it was a bit plugged up. Apparently, the chances of having appendicitis are much higher when one has a blocked appendix, so they removed it as a precaution. They tell us it would be a more complicated procedure to remove an appendix with a transplanted kidney in place.
We will hang out here for a couple hours until she is more comfortable and a little more alert. Then it is on to Baird 5 and all the familiar faces up there.
Praise the Lord, the surgery went without complication! Esther ending up losing three organs for the price of two. In addition to her kidneys, they decided to also remove Esther's appendix when they found that it was a bit plugged up. Apparently, the chances of having appendicitis are much higher when one has a blocked appendix, so they removed it as a precaution. They tell us it would be a more complicated procedure to remove an appendix with a transplanted kidney in place.
We will hang out here for a couple hours until she is more comfortable and a little more alert. Then it is on to Baird 5 and all the familiar faces up there.
Surgery in Progress
With the hospital's new wireless internet, I will have easier access to the internet. So here I am, reporting live from the scene. We just had a bit of a scare when the hospital pager went off. We've been through this enough times to know that the timing was odd. Usually, a page at this point in a surgery means bad news. Thankfully, it was just one of the surgeons returning my camera to me and reporting that one kidney was out and that everything was going well.
So, thanks to technology and a surgeon who doubles as a photographer.... here is a picture of Esther's recently deceased left kidney! May it rest in peace! One more still to come out.
So, thanks to technology and a surgeon who doubles as a photographer.... here is a picture of Esther's recently deceased left kidney! May it rest in peace! One more still to come out.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Exciting News!
Well, it is time to fire up the blog once again! I'm hopeful that this round of updates will all be good news. So, let's start with a super duper awesome announcement....
Esther is having a kidney transplant on Wednesday, September 16th! Her wonderful, kind, generous, lovely, talented, funny donor is Katherine Blume! She is Tom's cousin and has come all the way from California for the big event. She brought along her 5-year old daughter, Nicole. We have all enjoyed reconnecting with Katherine and look forward to doing the same with other long lost family members who will be arriving throughout the week to support Katherine. The second cousins (Nicole and my children) have been having a great time together swimming in the hotel pool and doing some sightseeing.
Before Katherine and Esther's big day on Wednesday, Esther has to have a double nephrectomy on Monday (tomorrow!) to remove both of her native kidneys. On Tuesday, Esther will have dialysis, and on Wednesday, the surgeons will reopen the same incision to do the transplant. Two surgeries in three days is a lot, but this routine was used successfully when Katie had her transplant, so they are going to try it again on Esther.
There is so much more I could say...so much has happened in the last few months...but it is getting late and we have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 6 a.m. Please keep both Katherine and Esther in your prayers this week. It will be a hard week for both of them.
Here's a picture of Katherine and Esther after a tour at the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury.
Katherine, you are a hero in every sense of the word! I struggle to find words adequate to express my deep gratitude for your gift. Please know that we recognize the incredible sacrifice that you are making on Esther's behalf and we are so, so grateful! A thousand thank you's!!
Esther is having a kidney transplant on Wednesday, September 16th! Her wonderful, kind, generous, lovely, talented, funny donor is Katherine Blume! She is Tom's cousin and has come all the way from California for the big event. She brought along her 5-year old daughter, Nicole. We have all enjoyed reconnecting with Katherine and look forward to doing the same with other long lost family members who will be arriving throughout the week to support Katherine. The second cousins (Nicole and my children) have been having a great time together swimming in the hotel pool and doing some sightseeing.
Before Katherine and Esther's big day on Wednesday, Esther has to have a double nephrectomy on Monday (tomorrow!) to remove both of her native kidneys. On Tuesday, Esther will have dialysis, and on Wednesday, the surgeons will reopen the same incision to do the transplant. Two surgeries in three days is a lot, but this routine was used successfully when Katie had her transplant, so they are going to try it again on Esther.
There is so much more I could say...so much has happened in the last few months...but it is getting late and we have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 6 a.m. Please keep both Katherine and Esther in your prayers this week. It will be a hard week for both of them.
Here's a picture of Katherine and Esther after a tour at the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury.
Katherine, you are a hero in every sense of the word! I struggle to find words adequate to express my deep gratitude for your gift. Please know that we recognize the incredible sacrifice that you are making on Esther's behalf and we are so, so grateful! A thousand thank you's!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Still Waiting
As of today, Samuel has accumulated 600 days on the waiting list. There have been no offers of a kidney from the organ bank. It seems Samuel has developed a significant number of antibodies which makes him incompatible with a large percentage of the population. We have recently had three wonderful people step forward to donate. Sadly, because of these antibodies that Samuel has developed, he can't receive a kidney from any of the three. The transplant team is beginning to explore other options.
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