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!

Seeing is Believing.....

The above photo was taken on November 1, 2007. Dustin & I at a friend's Birthday dinner.

This is Dustin and I on December 21, the day he was getting released from the hospital.

This was Dustin yesterday morning. It is amazing, truly amazing to watch how his color has come back. How his skin has been completely changed but this amazing new liver. We really need to name his new liver-it deserves a name (I have mentioned this before and Big Bird really wants to name it Grapefruit-since that is a big no no to transplant patients)

The gratitude of this gift is without the a doubt, the greatest gift anyone could have wanted for Dustin or our family this Christmas! I know I keep saying how grateful we are, you no words truly reflect how we feel, how Dustin especially feels. He is so thankful, but he is so sad by the means in which he got this gift.

I hope you Christmas was as blessed as ours was!

Some updating and photos!

I'm free, I am really free.....This was Friday, December 21, 2007 when Big Bird was released and being escorted to the car.

To the right is Big Bird's Transplant Educator-Darnell. He was great and also a fellow PSCer transplant patient. We learned so much from Darnell-thank you Darnell!!!!

Big Bird Christmas Morning. He got lots of bath products-as he loves hot baths. Unfortunately he can't take a hot bath right now, it is all shower time....and of course his Christmas presents were purchase before his transplant....so.....

To the right again, Big Bird 15 days post transplant. His color is remarkably normal...Such a difference....


This is Big Bird's delightfully scrumptious breakfast!

Merry Christmas

Dustin is doing very well. He is adjusting to a position that is more comfortable for him to sleep on (he was a right side sleeper). We are getting his drugs down pat, (thank goodness we are both paranoid about missing one). He has started some swelling, but only what is "normal". Today we went out for a walk, just down to the end of the street and back-about 5 houses. We took Poochie & Bella so that was the adventure for them...

His color has improved even since we got home. I have given him a few days "off" from photo taking (it didn't help that my house has been in total choatic mess either). But with it being Christmas we will have some photos to be had.

We are so blessed this Christmas, this is surely to be one of the sweetest ever. We will all have his donor family in our hearts this day-for their loss gave Dustin a new life-new hope.

Merry Christmas. May each of you have and feel the spirit of Christ this very remarkable day!

Home

Big Bird got discharged today! He is home and adjusting. I will update more tomorrow, I am in need of some puppy snuggles!!!!

Poochie is 7 today!

The sweet little Poochie is 7 today... Happy Birthday Poochie Poo. Treats will be in your near future! (with any luck your buddy will be home today too!)

Day 8

Day 8 finds us suffering from "roid rage". Webster defines it as "Uncontrolled physical or verbal anger exhibited due to excessive anabolic steroid use"

They had to give him additional steroids for the slight rejection episode he had yesterday-steroids and Big Bird not a happy combo for anyone involved!!!

Other than that he is doing well. FINGERS crossed we can go home tomorrow. I am so ready to go home and see my fur babies.


Here is a pic of the liver pillow we have been having everyone sign. We will have to take it to a couple doctor appointments to get everyone whom we have missed to sign it. What a great thing to have! We want to get a shadow box to put it in.







To the right is some balloon love Big Bird had been feeling. All the fur babies of the house sent them, along with his Monday night fur buddy- the Suki Doodle and her momma Edie!

One Week Ago

One week ago today Big Bird got the call. It is hard to believe it has only been a week. What a whirlwind we have all been through.

My deepest respect goes to the donor family. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are feeling. They made the hardest and most selfless choice any one person can make-and for that my family and I will be forever grateful.

I ask everyone to consider being an organ donor. It is the one greatest act of service you can do. The blessings of that choice reach so many people beyond the lives that it saves. You can visit the Donate Life website to learn more about becoming an organ donor!

Dustin got this really cool liver shaped pillow from the TX education coordinator. We have been having everyone that has helped in his liver tx from the surgeon to his nurses sign the pillow. What a great memento to take home.

He showered today, what a relief, his mop was looking quite greasy...he certainly needs a haircut. I offered to shave his head with the dog shears when we got home, it wasn't as amused as I was. hehehe

Today he is experiencing a slight rejection episode, he bili was up a few points. The hep doc and surgeon both said it was normal and "not to worry". They are upping the Prograf meds tonight and also doing some steroid iv this evening to combat that. His spirits are doing very well. He is eating better today. He is also walking the hallways 2-4 times a day. He set up for about 7 hours today as well.

We were hoping to go home tomorrow, but they want to watch the drugs a bit more, so it is looking like Friday or Sat. discharge. That is ok with us, he wants to go home, but at the same time is ok with staying for however longs he needs to be.