Second Update on my niece

Friends, one more update on Liz's kidney situation. Turns out the positive update from earlier has turned out to be somewhat less so. The definitive results from the biopsy shows severe rejection indicators, likely from being under immunosuppressed for some time. She is at this moment receiving a treatment to "zero out" her immune system (a type of chemotherapy) which she hopefully will tolerate. If that works well then she and Jane will fly home tomorrow night where she will spend the next seven days in the hospital for the remaining doses of immune system therapy. So, we would appreciate continued prayers for her situation to improve. The prognosis is good if the doctors are correct in their diagnosis and treatment option. Our greatest worry is the amount of damage, if any, caused by this episode. Thanks again for your care and concern

Update on Prayer Request

Update from my brother about my niece, Liz:

Friends, I wanted give an update on Liz since so many have been interceding in her behalf. We are forever indebted. Good news- no signs of rejection! Likely some sort of infection which caused an acute reaction. Clearly, prayers work. She will be in the hospital in Denver until Tuesday while they confirm the type of infection and start treatment.

Praise the Lord for this great news. Will update again if anything changes!

Prayer Request

Around midnight last night I heard from my brother, Ron, that my niece, Liz, was transported by ambulance from Colorado Springs to a Denver hospital with a transplant center.  She had a kidney transplant 4 years ago.  Her blood pressure and creatinine levels were high; her hemoglobin count was low.  Please pray for Liz, my brother (who is at a conference in Chicago) and his wife (who is at home in Kansas City.)  

Please pray for the three of them, especially that the doctors there will be able to get her counts under control and that there will not be any damage to her kidney.  I'll update as I have more information.

God's Miracle for Elizabeth

I just wanted to update everyone on Elizabeth's progress since the kidney transplant surgery on June 28.  It's barely been six weeks, but the doctor's have released her to normal (and not so normal) activity because all of her important "levels" are in the normal range.

I say "not so normal" because Ron and Jane drove her to MU last weekend so she could move in and begin practicing with Marching Mizzou!  I think classes start this week and God answered our prayers (and hers) to be a "normal" college student.  Of course, she still has a lot of medicine to take and regular bloodwork and blood pressure checks, but compared to where she was just 6 weeks ago . . . . . it is God's miracle for Elizabeth.

Here's a picture of our beautiful niece . . . . . thanks for praying her (and my sister, her donor) through this process.

She's Back (at home)

After 13 days at Children's Mercy, Elizabeth (and Ron/Jane) went home yesterday afternoon.  Of course, it's a little scary to be at home, away from the constant reassurance that everything is progressing as it should.  Please pray for the three of them as they begin this new phase of recovery.  Specifically, pray that she will regain her strength, that the kidney will "take charge" of her blood pressure, which is still higher than the doctors would like, and that she can begin to feel normal again.

She is scheduled to leave for her freshman year at MU in about a month, so we are praying for a month of consistent, continuous recovery.

Praying Elizabeth Home

We visited Elizabeth yesterday and she's ready to go home and praying that the doctors will agree.  Please pray along with us that this is her day to say goodbye to Children's Mercy and start the next phase of her recovery at home!

Recovery in Progress

My sister was able to go home from the hospital yesterday and "enjoy" her birthday.  She's feeling better (relatively speaking) each day, although the doctors told her she would probably feel like she's been hit by a Mac truck for 2-3 months.

Elizabeth is improving also . . . . little by little they are removing IV lines and meds and replacing them with oral medications to get her ready to go home one of these days.  Without the IV fluids she's now up to her new goal of drinking 5 liters of water per day.

Here's a picture of her with two special visitors, Royals players Wade Davis and Alex Gordon.

Medical lab error or power of prayer?

I heard from my brother last night about 10:30 and they are rejoicing!  As many of you know, yesterday morning Elizabeth (Liz) had routine bloodwork that showed her hemoglobin had dropped significantly.  In addition, the new kidney appeared to have stopped producing urine.  With these two "red flags," she was sent for a CAT scan and ultrasound.  We sent out a rather urgent petition for prayer.  Before the test results were available her surgeon told them that he wasn't "overly concerned."  We prayed, nonetheless.

Late evening, they repeated the hemoglobin test and it was NORMAL!  The lab said the earlier test was an error.   The ultrasound results showed nothing of concern.  In addition, they realized that the lack of urine was due to a small blockage in the bladder.  The kidney was WORKING, but nothing was exiting.

By 10:30 pm, she was getting ready to go for a late evening stroll and had been eating solid food.  So, I am pondering the question--Lab error or power of  prayer?  We don't have to know exactly what happened, but we can't deny we serve an awesome and powerful God.  Our God is healer! 

We're so grateful for your prayers and I will continue to keep you updated on her progress.  Today is my sister's birthday and she should be heading home this morning.

Two days post surgery

We visited both Kristi and Elizabeth today.  Kristi was sitting up in the chair beside the bed and trying to eat the wonderful hospital made mashed potatoes, but not having much fun.  When the surgeon stopped by to see Elizabeth today he told her she could move out of the PICU this afternoon.  Her kidney is functioning well and, as a result, her levels are dropping in to normal ranges--something she hasn't seen since her kidneys failed more than one and a half years ago.

It's so amazing how God knits together our bodies so that a kidney from a willing donor can be transplanted in a recipient and the "kidney" immediately does what it was created to do. 

Thanks for praying; keep it up!  There's still a long road to recovery for both of them, but we're praising God for his provision this far!

Saturday morning transplant update

Just talked with my brother, Ron, and he said that Liz is doing well this morning (as well as can be expected after a 8 hour surgery.)  Kristi is struggling with pain and nausea.  Please continue to pray for both of them as there are still some rough days ahead.

Transplant is Complete!

Surgery is over!  Doctor's said it went "peachy keen."  Elizabeth has been moved to the Pediatric ICU for recovery.  Ron and Jane should be able to see her in 60-90 minutes after she wakes up.  Kristi is out of recovery and in her room.  Her husband and girls went up to see her about 45 minutes ago.  Praising the Lord for his goodness and mercy!

Surgery Update

Surgery is going as planned.  The transplant coordinator was just out letting us know that they have finished removing both of Elizabeth's kidneys.  Kristi's kidney has also been removed and looks good. 

Kristi will be done in about an hour and moved to recovery.  It will be another 4+ hours for Elizabeth.

Thanks for praying . . . . God is good.

Surgery Waiting Room

This will be a day of waiting . . . . .

Elizabeth, my niece, and Kristi, my sister were admitted to Children's Mercy Hospital yesterday afternoon in order to prepare for today's surgery.  Ron and Jane, my brother and sister-in-law, spent the night last night.  They said that nurses woke Elizabeth up at 3:30 this morning to start the process.   She left the room about 7:30 to head down to surgery.  They will do her nefrectomy (removal of both kidneys) first.  Kristi will go down to surgery about 9:00 a.m. as her surgical process is much shorter.

All together, they are telling us Liz's surgery will take from 6-8 hours, while Kristi's will be 3-4.  Liz will go to the ICU after recovery; Kristi will go to a regular room.

Thank you for praying along with us today.

Transplant Surgery Tomorrow

My brother, Ron, posted this status and photo on Facebook yesterday, 

"Last day of dialysis for my daughter Liz, hopefully forever. Back to the hospital tomorrow morning to prepare for her kidney transplant on Friday. Thanks for all your prayers here-to-fore. Would appreciate continued prayers for the operation, upcoming 8-10 day hospital stay and for her donor, Liz's Aunt Kristi, my younger sister. Forever grateful."  

Please remember to pray for both of them tomorrow.  We will be spending the day in the surgery waiting room of Children's Mercy Hospital.  Ron says it will be a 6-7 hour surgery, so it will be a long day.

Not just another prom

If you have a chance, please click on this link to read an article about our niece, Elizabeth, who is waiting on a kidney transplant.  It's from the Children's Mercy Hospital website:  Elizabeth