8 Months Post

Yesterday Big Bird was 8 months post transplant. Liver results are in, and he is doing P-E-R-F-E-C-T!! He has truly been blessed!!

Thank you to everyone who has and continues to keep him in your prayers.

Big Bird is in school now, and doing ok. He is taking a Business Management degree course, so anyone who knows him well, knows that written communication (verbal could be questioned) is NOT his strong suite, but luckily he has a cousin who is very patient with him and has been a great tutor for him.

I will have to get some recent pictures up of him. We still have not written to the donor family. Though this is close to our hearts. We talk about doing this frequently, but the words just seem to fail us. But we will continue to push through until we can most express the gratitude and love we have for this family.

Difference

I thought I would do some comparison for the eye....

This is Big Bird, June 30, 2007. Jaundice, 187lbs of skin & bones. Sick....he wasn't even sure he wanted people over for his birthday.....

This is Big Bird, June 30, 2008 (well actually it was June 28.. but really you get the gist!) NORMAL color, his baby blues are back, no jaundice to be found! 218+lbs of healthy weight! (he is after all 6'10") His face is full and round, not that sunken sick look of a year ago.

So, yes, I would say, Big Bird you had one of the BEST birthdays you could have ever imagined!

And just for giggles.....

Here is the cake his friends got him for his birthday bash with his friends...

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Big Bird. You are now a whooping 32 years old! And 6 months post transplant.

???????

I am tired! I am ready to stop being the sister and the primary caregiver. I am ready to give up! I am ready to have my own life!

Six months post transplant, he is doing remarkable well medically speaking. But now....now I am tired of the fights! Here is the latest...

Big Bird: "Saturday night my friends are throwing me a birthday party at Grahm's, do you wanna go?"

Me: "No...why are your friends throwing you a party in a bar? Why are 30 & 40 year olds still hanging on to the bar scene?"

Big Bird: "They are my friends, I don't say anything about your friends"


Am I the only one who questions the intelligence/intentions/friendship of "friends" who throw a birthday party in a BAR for a liver transplant recipient?????

Of course this is my rant...so I won't post it here....I'm just beyond patience level anymore these days.....sigh............

Stand Up to Cancer

The networks news anchors are coming together and launing a new fight on Cancer. In honor of my Aunt Karen-I donated and launched a "star" in her memory. You can learn more of this initive here.

Idaho bound!

I am a total gluten for punishment. Being sentenced to two weeks on a road trip with the crazed lunacy of roid raged person!! Please pray for Big Bird's well being, other wise he could find himself left on the side of the road in stinky New Mexico never to be heard from again... Otherwise, it is some Grandpa visit time!!!

Dear Aunt Karen

Early this morning our dear Aunt Karen lost her battle with lung cancer.

Life

Life happens. Big Bird gets his transplant. He is doing, as he doctor puts it last visit "spectacular".

Now, my Aunt Karen has stage 4 Lung Cancer. She is a fighter! It breaks my heart. I just pray that she is kept in comfort while she goes through this.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Myspace Layouts

And A Very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grandma!!!!!

3 Months

Big Bird is 3 months post transplant. He is doing VERY well. Tomorrow he will start to wein off of the one of his anti-rejection medicines.



I can't believe it is already 3 months. The change has been immense. He is gaining a little bit of weight (oh how he desperately needs it).



We will be out and about all weekend-so I will get some recent pics and post them next week!

Looking, well normal

People are often amazed at how much Big Bird's appearance has changed over the last couple months. Most of the jaundice has disappeared. The yellowness in his eyes is mostly gone (just a wee bit in the corners of his eyes). His face is filling out-the sunken skeletal look-no more!

He almost looks HUMAN! No, if only he would act human and I wouldn't want to kill him for his obnoxious antics on a regular basis (but I suppose that is me just being a sibling).

He is 2.5 months post transplant. All is going perfectly. He even managed to not catch the flu bug Melissa & I both got plagued with for nearly 3 weeks.

All is well

Tomorrow marks a 2 month milestone. Two months ago tomorrow Big Bird received his liver transplant. He is doing very well. He doesn't look skeletol anymore. He actually has some roundness to his face. He belly has healed nicely. Each day is a day of progress. He still has days were he is easily exhausted, but for the most part-he is doing well.

We talked this weekend about preparing to write a letter to the donor family. This is a difficult thing to do. How do you thank someone for something that goes beyond measure? It is something we feel we need to do, just trying to compose the right words and the appropriate tone has been hard. We are truly greatful.

I will get some pics posted soon of the scar and of Big Bird.

Normal Labs

For the first time in years!!!!! Dustin has normal labs. It is amazing what the last few weeks have brought us.

Dustin goes to two week appointments now. So no more clinic until February 1. He has been to very blessed in this whole situation.

His skin color is normal, his eyes are normal, his labs are normal (too bad he isn't normal-hehe). This has been such a blessing. Tomorrow he will venture in to a public setting for the first time (aside from doctor visits)-he will be going to church-everyone is very excited.

Happy New Year!!!

Well, Happy New Year! What a whirl wind we have been through. I apologize for the lack of updates. All is going well on the home front. Dustin's labs are coming more normal in range each week we go to clinic. His liver is doing a fantastic job. His color is darn near normal.

Last week, Jesse took out the staples from the incision. Dustin was very happy about this, as they were beginning to stretch and becoming increasingly itchy. A good thing-since this is an indication of healing.

The picture on the left is all the staples out and them prepping for the adhesive "stitches". this just protects the incision and holds it together as the healing continues. Of course this is Big Bird admiring the new stitches.

They rearranged his medications last Friday as well, and now he is on a once a month breathing treatment. His potassium levels are too high, so just something we have to watch out.

He has been suffering from headaches-side effect of the Prograf-we are told this will level out once they find an appropriate dosage for him-so it will change from week to week for awhile.

After a very long clinic day Mom, Dustin and I went to the Bass Pro Shop in San Antonio-outside they had this cute Fish, so I told Dustin he had to take a picture and well- I will let you come to your own conclusions on that one!

Mom came around the corner, and took this pic of the two of us!