Hours After Transplant

After a full 24 hours of waiting for Addie's Transplant to take place, we thought we were finally done waiting.   But we were wrong - we were still waiting.  Except this time, we were waiting for Addie to wake up.  We were waiting to see how Addie's new liver was going to work.  We were waiting for Addie to be able to breath on her own.  We were waiting for Addie to be able to talk to us, and walk, and fight with her sister.  We were starting to become expert waiters (or maybe someone is just trying to teach us patience).

In the operating room, Addie was given a 1/2 dose of thymo (a drug used to suppress and nearly stop her immune system from working so her body wouldn't instantly reject the new liver).  Unfortunately, Addie was running a fever and her blood pressure was low - both side effects from this drug- but we were anxious to see this side effect diminish.  One of the way's to watch how well her new liver is doing is by liver function tests (LFT's).  Addison's ALT is 1,837 and her AST is 3,382 (to put this into perspective - normal ALT is 14-54 and normal AST is 22-63).  It was expected for Addie's LFT's to be elevated immediately after transplant as her body adjusts to the new liver.  After all, she has a new liver that just a few hours prior was in the body of another child.  How in the world.......

Addie's doctor's and nurses were watching her closely.  We felt very content that they were taking very good care of her and were doing exactly what they needed to help her recover.  As for Ben and I, were were exhausted - feeling that we could finally take a deep breath, our bodies were ready for some rest (I think we were going on 36 hours).  We headed back to the hotel that my dad reserved for us for some rest with Dad, Linda, Ang, Katie, and Alivia.  Just before we left the hospital, Addie was extubated (her breathing tube was removed and she was breathing on her own)!!  YAY Addie.  A step in the right direction, sweet girl!!


Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, Addison Grace!  We are thankful for such a fantastic team of doctor's.  We are thankful for the surgeon's, doctor's, nurse's, and all other "hands" that took such good care of you today!  We are thankful for God's protections, guidance, and unconditional love for our family throughout the day.  We are thankful that you are such a fighter.  You are truly our little warrior.

Some silly pictures of our "night at the hotel".  Thankful for family!!