Please Pray

Ok, this is one of those times that I have to admit that I am totally lost as to what God is doing. It is almost 3 in the morning and we are all trying to calm down. Mom just woke me up and said that God had answered prayer Hopkins just called her and said they had a liver and kidney for her and that surgery was scheduled for 6:30 this morning for mom. As I was waking Laura up, Hopkins called back and said that it was not going to happen. I am not sure why, and neither is mom. So we are all trying to calm down. Please pray for mom and dad as I know that emotionally, they are drained. Mom even said "How do you calm down after that call?"

We got the call

Mom got the call from Memphis yesterday and they told us that her score is high enough that they recommend she come to Memphis to wait for a liver. They told her to think about it over th weekend and let them know on Tuesday what her decision is.

We are asking desperately for your prayers. We are ready to say yes to Memphis and are asking God to close the door to Memphis if he wants her to wait for the liver at Hopkins. How He does it, well, that is in His hands.

Thank you for your prayers.

Rheba's Score Climbs Again

We got mom's latest MELD score today and it is up to 24. This means that she should be even closer to getting the call. Please be praying.

First Day of School

When we moved in with Mom and Dad in May, one of our biggest concerns was Olivia having to start 2nd grade at a new school this year. Well today was the first day of school and she did great! She is the first stop on her bus route so she did not have to worry about walking onto a full bus and looking at a bunch of strangers staring at her (a.k.a. Forrest Gump syndrome - "seats taken". Her Mimi (Rheba) even got up to see her get on the bus.

Please pray that she will have a good start to the school year.

First Day of School

When we moved in with Mom and Dad in May, one of our biggest concerns was Olivia having to start 2nd grade at a new school this year. Well today was the first day of school and she did great! She is the first stop on her bus route so she did not have to worry about walking onto a full bus and looking at a bunch of strangers staring at her (a.k.a. Forrest Gump syndrome - "seats taken". Her Mimi (Rheba) even got up to see her get on the bus.

Please pray that she has a good start to the school year.

Celebrating Rheba's Sister's Birthday

We went to Richard and Shellia's house to celebrate Shellia's birthday. Rheba is feeling good and is enjoying being with her sister. Still waiting to get a call.

New MELD Score

After the roller coaster of emotions that we had to start the week, every one is doing fine now. Mom has really done well this week. She is feeling the stress of everything, but is doing really well.

We received her latest MELD score (refer to the first post of this blog) and her score is 23. That is high. In fact it now has us at a true crossroad that we are asking for your prayers over.

With that score, Mom is waiting for Memphis to call her and tell her that she needs to come to Memphis to wait on a liver and kidney in that it could be within the next month. At the same time, Hopkins is telling her that it should be within the next month also. So, do we stay here at Hopkins and hope that a liver comes in the next few weeks, or do we head to Memphis and hope that a liver is available there soon. We truly need prayer for God's direction and peace.

I want to thank all of you who have posted your comments on here. It has been a true blessing to mom. If you are having trouble posting your comment, make sure you click the WORD comments under this post. Some people have clicked the icon that looks like an envelope and that is something different.

Hope this helps. God bless.

Not happening today

Well, we did not get the news we wanted. The liver from the donor is too large for mom. So, we are going home tonight and waiting for the next call.

Keep praying.

Still Waiting

We are still waiting for them to take mom. I am puttung this post up from my cell phone and I am trying put a picture up. If it does not show up, I am sorry.

Taking Mom to the Operating Room

Well, they are getting ready to come and take mom to the OR. They are coming back with the Liver and it sounds like things are a go. I will post an entry when I know for sure.

Mom's schedule today

Ok. We met with the doctors this morning. At this point, things are looking positive. The liver and kidney seem to be a match. Their main concern now is the size of the liver. It is coming from a large person and if the liver is too large, then it would not be good for mom.

The time frame has them extracting the organs this afternoon and mom receiving them late afternoon or evening. So right now we are in a waiting game.

If the organs will not work, they will discharge her. She is though, the number one on the list in Maryland, so she will most likely get her transplant within the next few weeks if this one does not work.

Please keep praying and checking the blog as we update it with new information.

A Little While Longer

Well, it looks like mom's surgery is going to be in the morning now. Not sure of the time, but we are anticipating about 8:00am. Please keep her in your prayers and my father. He needs his strength for tomorrow so pray that he sleeps well.

Admitting Mom to Hopkins

They have admitted mom and started all the paperwork and testing. They said if everything is a go, that the surgery would not happen till tonight or early tomorrow. Continue to pray and we will stay in touch.

Also, a praise report. The last three days, mom has been feeling great! In fact, this morning, she told some people at church that with the way she was feeling, that this would be the best time to have the surgery.

Heading to the Hospital

Well, we got the call today at about noon. We are headed to Johns Hopkins now to see if the liver and kidney are going to be a match. Please be in prayer and I will update this blog as soon as I have confirmation on the surgery.

Meeting with Kidney Doctor

Mom met with the Kidney Doctor at Johns Hopkins yesterday and things went well. She told mom that the kidneys alone are not at the point where she would need a transplant, but combined with the Liver, she is recommending the kidney transplant also. The transplant team will meet next Wednesday and should (I emphasize should) be placing mom on the Kidney transplant list also.

Some really good news also. The kidney doctor says that Mom is actually high on the transplant list at Hopkins. In fact, some of the liver doctors had been talking to her about Mom and they knew that Mom was coming to meet yesterday with Mom. Next week, mom is to have her bloodwork done again where they get her MELD score again. It takes about one week to get the results. The doctor yesterday believes that it will be just a matter of days after that, when Mom will get the call to get her transplant. We are having reserved optimism, but praise the Lord for this wonderful news. Please be praying for Mom and the family over these next few weeks that God's perfect Will will be accomplished.

Also, please be in prayer for mom mentally. With her already going through two transplant surgeries, she knows the tough battle that is ahead. She is scared and frightened. It did not help that last night on the TV show Hopkins, they showed a man who got a liver transplant and four weeks later died of a blod clot. I know Mom saw the show and I know she worries about that. We know that she is in the Lord's hands, but I do ask for continued prayer that she will have peace about this whole process.

Mom's Doing Well

It has been almost a week since mom came home and she is doing well. When she first got home, she was sleeping a lot. Too much in fact. After talking with her doctor at Hopkins, they determined that her blood pressure medicine was causing the fatigue. So, they reduced her medicine and she improved almost immediately.

On Saturday, the Livingston cousins wanted to see her, and before we knew it, we had a crowd coming to the house. We were worried that Mom would not be able to rest, but it worked out great. She rested until they all arrived while Laura and I cleaned the house and set the party up outside. Aunt Trudi and her family brought most of the food, including steamed crabs and Shrimp!! What a feast. I will have pictues soon of the party. Mom came outside for a little while and then rested inside in the recliner. She said she felt fine and got up just fine on Sunday. We praise the Lord for this because in the past, it would have taken her a few days to recover.

This week she has an appointment with the kidney doctor at Hopkins to determine if she will be approved for the kidney transplant at Hopkins. Please be in prayer that everything goes well.

She has appreciated all your prayers and well wishes on here. Keep them coming!