Poster Boy

Friday morning we had some good news. We had clinic again and our surgeon took out the staples. They use staples because if they need to open up the incision for any reason they can only open the area they need to instead of the entire incision. They increased the anti suppression drug again, as his white blood cell count is up. Even so the Transplant Coordinator said all things considered, there is no temperature, no infection, Blood pressure is good, Blood sugars are ok, and the wound is healing nicely. The fact that he is doing well was confirmed by the diabetic nurse when she came in as asked " are you only 10 days?" Really it was 12 days, but who is going to argue. Then she commented on how good he was doing - "you look so good, you could be the poster boy for liver transplants". I have been repeating that to anyone I have talked to, what a blessing! The best was Tim's face, he was really proud of the work he has done.

It started this summer when he started walking with a soccer ball around the park. They were not long walks, but sometimes he would go twice a day. Many of the doctors have told him that by doing that simple thing helped him recover from the coma, regain his strength quickly and be ready for surgery. We have been supported by many prayers, positive thinking and encouragement from our agnostic friends. We did not have to wait years, or even months to get a phone call. Many that we have talked to have had several calls, only to be sent home. One person from the support group said that she had 8 calls, sometimes she was on the freeway and was called back to go back home. Others have gone through prep, and then sent back home when the liver was not acceptable. Few have only a ten day wait and a successful transplant on the first call. So as we continue to look back we see how blessed we were. As I look at how Tim was doing the week before the transplant, I know that our first Critical Care Physician would have been correct, we would have had several emergency admissions, hepatic comas. Even when he said that, my mind set was "not if I can help it"! In reality I could do my best, but I had no control over the problems that come with a dying liver. Tim can be called a poster boy, but not only because he walked and did some things to help himself, or I monitored his blood sugars, hired someone to be with him, watched for problems with his liver functions, but because grace interceded for us, with a 10 day wait, a healthy liver, skilled surgeon, and excellent support.

We have a way to go, so do not stop with your prayer, your notes, your calls, and your encouragement. We will get back to work, reading to our granddaughters, our walks, with your help. You have a part, as we do in all our living. We can pay it forward, without recognition or a thank you, which I know many of you have, even the ones we do not know about, who have given us your support in secret.