No news is good news!

We are all still at the lake house enjoying the wonderful view! It's really a great place to recover.

Mom is continuing to do well. I keep telling her to take naps, but I don't think she is! She is looking great, eating well, and doing odds and ends to stay "active." She gets her blood work every Monday and Thursday, and we were told that no news is good news. So far, everything has gone well!

I have less energy than I expected at this point, but that is OK. The pain in the back and shoulder is still there, but other than that, I'd say there was no real pain.

My recent blood work was trending well too. On June 9th, one of my pancreas enzymes was 350 (normal is 7-78, I think), and now it is 89...so that's good news too! The liver enzymes of course are not normal yet, but are headed that way. I have an MRI here at UVA on July 20th, so I guess they will tell us how much has grown back!

Bryan will hopefully be able to come up to the lake to celebrate the 4th with us. He has been such a wonderful help to all of us!

Chloe seems to love me again, which is good news.

Not much to report! We look forward to being out on the tennis court again (September 3 for me...) soon!

-ashley

Smith Mountain Lake Bound!

Great doctors appointments today!! We are so thrilled with all of the UVA doctors, nurses, and transplant team members. Everyone is so thoughtful and caring. I want to give an extra special thank you to my own transplant coordinator, who I won't name on this blog, but she has gone above and beyond both pre and post-op.

So far, all of mom's blood work looks as it was to be expected, and her medicines seem to be regulated. She even was able to stop taking the slew of pills she had to take pre-transplant. She got all of her staples out today, I think there were 31 in there. She will have blood drawn in Bedford twice a week while we are there.

As for me, the blood work that has come back looks good. The pain in the side, could possibly be some sort of internal torn muscle. The doctor described the mechanism they put me in for surgery, and he described it as a "Chinese torture device." So, unless my fever gets worse, or the rest of the blood work comes back funky, it's nothing to worry about.

Both of us feel great, and are ready to get to the lake!

Mom's next appointment with UVA will be in three months. Mine will be July 20th for an MRI and a last visit with the wonderful doctors. I will probably come home before then, then drive myself back up for the appointment! I am no longer taking pain medicine, so she said once I feel safe driving, I can drive.

That's all for now! Lake Bound!

Things to keep in thoughts and prayers: healthy eating, SUNSCREEN for mom, no virus, good blood work, and continued incision healing.

-Ashley

One more day here!

Hopefully we will be lake bound tomorrow! Although the hotel has made me a little stir crazy, it's been a great place to relax. I highly recommend the Marriott Residence Inn. Our room had 2 bedrooms, a family area, and kitchen with full stove, fridge, etc. It also has a pool, workout room, and a free HUGE breakfast buffet. The other really nice perk is that they offer free dinner Monday-Wednesday nights.

Chloe still hates me, but she seems to be coming around a little bit.

Mom and I were pretty tired yesterday, hopefully some energy will be back today! I also had a slight fever yesterday, which was mysterious. I let the nurse know, but this morning it is back down to slightly above my "normal." My normal is 96.8...see, I really AM weird.

Today, mom is going to get a hair cut, and I will most likely get a pedicure. I also hope to go to Whole Foods before heading off to the lake tomorrow.

The doctor for me will be getting labs, looking at the scar, and seeing the doctors. Mom's will be labs, seeing the doctors, hopefully getting her staples out, and then we aren't exactly sure if she will have any scans or not.

After tomorrow, I'll probably have a more clear picture as to when I'll be able to come back to Georgia.

Last few days in Charlottesville...we hope!

Ashley here...

Things are continuing to go very well! Mom still looks great, eyes are white, skin looks good, and she is eating very well. Foods that used to upset her stomach are now doing just fine, which is an even better sign!

Yesterday was spent resting, and also going down to the nearby outside shopping center. Dad dropped us off, and we walked around for about an hour and a half. It was good to get out, although shopping is not my favorite. :) After that, we rested some more, then went over to the Garland's for dinner. It was really nice to see everyone, and the food was awesome!

My back is continuing to hurt at night, so I'm not sleeping much. I can't really complain too much though because nothing else hurts other than being a little sore. I think I said it before, but my former personal trainer had me more sore than this on a weekly basis. I am wondering when the back issues will go away though. Once I'm up and out of bed, it sort of fades.

As far as pain medicine goes, I stopped the Vicodin sometime last week. It is really not necessary. I am taking one Valium (smallest dose they offer) at night for my back, but it's really not helping, so we will see what the Dr. says on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure mom is not taking any at all, and if she is it's only occasionally.

The rash on my stomach is mysterious, but looks better today. It's so itchy though.

My dog is having some adjustment issues. Bryan left, so she is depressed or something. She also ignores me, which is sad because she used to be at my feet or by me all the time. I have to retrain her to sleep in my room again, as she had been spending all her time with Bryan. Finally at 1:30 last night I got her up on the bed and she is still here, but no where near me. At the lake, I took her down to the water, and usually she pulls and pulls on the leash to get down there. This time, I said, "careful, careful", and she would stop at every step and wait for me to take my step. So, I know she's not totally just being mean. :)

Today, I hope to get a pedicure! Maybe mom will come, but she is worried about infection. She has to be very careful since she cannot risk sickness or infection!

That's all for now! Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes for my family!

Back in Charlottesville

Bryan left this morning. It was sad to see him go, as he has been such a big help. He took my car, and will come back up to get me when it's time to go home. Chloe is having major withdrawals already. She followed him around everywhere he went for the past three weeks.

So, now it is just mom, dad, Chloe, and me. We will be at the hotel (yawn) until Tuesday. Tuesday we have our doctors appointments at UVA. If all goes as expected, we will head to the late after that.

When Bryan and I got back to the hotel last night, we could not believe how awesome mom looked! Her eyes are white, and her skin looks so much more healthy! We can't wait to hear what the doctor has to say.

The lake was nice...it's such a beautiful place. I know I over did it the past two days. The walk down to the dock is long. The walk to the mailbox is long. The ladder into the water is something I should not have done (The water just PULLED me in...just to my waist. I really couldn't help it.) :) I just didn't rest as much as I should have. But, overall, I'm just a little sore. I figure that can't be bad.

As far as pain goes, the back pain is still there at night, but other than that I tell people that my trainer has made me about 1,000% more sore than I am after this. The swelling and bloating is still there, which is...gross. The belly ring is gone forever since I've been so swollen.

When I had my trainer, I used to do these calf exercises with 30 pound weights. That was horrible. It's interesting that walking up and down the steps will give me that same feeling of soreness! I plan on walking more, to save muscle.

The Ultimate Taskmaster

How do you thank someone for taking so much time to do so much for others...in this case there is no real way but to say thanks Bryan! You have seen me at my worst and always said I looked great, heard me speak of unspeakable things without so much as an 'ugh'! You, for the past 3 weeks have been the ultimate taskmaster...creating the blog and keeping everyone updated,running errands, listening, walking the dog, giving massages, preparing food, running more errands, being at the hospital whenever possible and staying with Chloe when necessary, retrieving mail, walking with me down the halls,prodding me to do the breathing exercises, sprinting between my room and Ashley's room,keeping the nurse's station numbers at hand in case you needed to check on things,traveling back and forth to the lake, keeping Dad on an even keel,and I am sure much more that I am not even aware of and hardly having a moment to do what you may have wanted to do. We thank you for taking taking the time from your work to be here for us and appreciate your superior at Morgan Stanley for being so gracious in allowing you the time you needed and we needed you..you will have much to catch up on! I thank you for each and every minute you have been such an invaluable help...we are so proud of you, your maturity and thoughtfulness, compassion and love. We could not ask for a better son or brother to Ashley...we feel ultimately blessed! Love Mom and Dad

Tuesday Update

Ashley here...

Today Bryan and I are headed to the lake house at Smith Mountain Lake. We are very excited, but I am SO wary about the beds there. Ouch. Still in considerable back pain, that is minimal during the day, but terrible at night. The lake is our favorite place to me, and I know my dog will love being there too.

Mom is doing SO WELL. She had her first blood work yesterday, and the levels were "about the same" (slightly elevated), but it wasn't enough for them to adjust her medicines. She looks really, really great too! I just hope she rests and takes it easy!

Some have asked about recovery for me:

1. 6-8 weeks
2. Do not lift anything more than 5 pounds for 4 weeks. I know I've broken this rule, but it's almost impossible. On the flip side, I do not open heavy doors or pick up things heavier than my laptop. The problem is the use of the ab muscles. I never realized how much they are used for everything.
3. Do not swim or take a bath, showers are fine.
4. Do not drive.
5. Rest and relax!
6 There are no food restrictions, other than probably sushi.

Mom and I go back to UVA on Tuesday for blood work, and a check up. I am not sure what they will do for the check up part, but the blood work will be to make sure that her levels are all appropriate for the amount of medicine she has to take. My blood work will be to make sure my pancreatitus (sp) is gone (still not sure what that is), and all body functions are back to normal.

As for how I am feeling, I really feel great! I am quite (extremely) sore at night, but other than that, I just move slowly. I really am resting, despite what some may think. :)

I also can't figure out if I have a huge appetite, or if I'm just eating so much less at meals, that I feel hungry more often. I am not a snacker, so this is new to me. I also wonder if growing a liver back burns extra calories.

So, Bryan and I are off in a few hours. First stops: Michael's (we are getting a picture Bryan wants framed for him), Bodo's (some for the road), and somewhere that sells comfy chairs for the screen porch.

That's all for now! I don't think I knew what to expect post surgery, but our improvements surpass my expectations! :)

Things I've learned...

Most of you know me (Ashley) well, and most of you know how random I am. So, here it goes.

1. I was hoping that they would put the mask on me and say, "We'll see you on the other side." I don't think that happened.
2. I have never spent the night in a hospital until June 3, 2010, other than when I was born.
3. Once when my mom was in the hospital a few years ago, I got SO mad that she was not in a private room. I demanded that this change. Well, I spent 7 days with a roommate last week. Karma.
4. Hospital food is terrible. So bad, that I ate a total of probably 6 bites in 7 days.
5. I do not think that someone with a hacking cough who just got out of major abdominal surgery of some sort, had such low blood pressure that they had to check it every 10 minutes, and who didn't respond to the doctors for about 10 hours should say, "Can I go out for a smoke?" as their first words after waking up. (one of my roommates)
6. I do not think that any nurse or doctor believed the lady who said, "I don't know why you are giving me this blood pressure medicine. It's always been normal in the past." I mean, lady, you said this like 35 times in 2 days. I'm sure they caught on. And, if you are going to say your blood pressure is normal, please say 120/80 and not 98/99. Additionally, they told you about 35 times that it is typical for your blood pressure to go up some post-op. (one of my roommates)
7. All my nurses were awesome. All but the one who said, (Friday morning), "Sleep?? You ain't gonna sleep today! You got PT, OT, doctors, surgeons, and blood work!" She didn't know that I would easily win this little disagreement. Luckily, the PT and OT guys, came in and said, "You don't need it. Go to sleep."
8. I'm so bloated right now from surgery, I look 4 months pregnant. It's not comfortable.
9. The good news is, I used to eat like a pig. Now, 5 bites will do it for me.
10. It takes a lot of energy to just tag along on a quick errand.
11. My belly ring may never go back now. Last time I took it out, it closed up in 48 hours.
12. The pain is not what I expected. I had tremendous back pain (due to the bed I think, at first. Now I'm just generally sore, but I would not call the incision site (9 inches or so) painful.
13. The first thing I said when I woke up was, "Why did you do surgery on my shoulder. I didn't need it." The pain I had in my shoulder was about 1,000 times more intense than anything else I have felt since. They said it was because they bent back my ribs so awkwardly. That coupled with a tennis injury, didn't help.
14. I hallucinated with one kind of pain medicine. I saw: Chloe 5 times, writing on walls, violent things, weird doctors, and pictures would change. None of this bothered me, but it bothered the doctors.
15. I itched so badly with another pain medicine. They finally decided on Vicoden. I wasn't a fan of this either due to violent dreams. The other night I gave in, and have decided they do their job pretty well. Bad dreams are gone too.
16. They made me rate my pain on a 1-10 scale. I still don't know how to do this. The lady next to me always said 9. I always said 2. I think the highest I got was a 6.

Thank you!

It's Ashley--

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts, and prayers. We are overwhelmed with all of the positive well wishes!! It really is so nice to go back and read what everyone has posted. I have already thanked Jenny for coming up to help care for us. I just cannot repay her, and words do not do justice. For those of you who do not know, Jenny has been a friend since 1988. We grew up in the same neighborhood, and is one of those friends who if you don't talk to them for a while, you can pick up right where you left off in no time.

Another person whom I would like to thank is my brother, Bryan. He is a little over 5 years younger than me, but has shown more maturity than I could during this time. He has been at everyone's beck and call with no complaints whatsoever. When I got out of the hospital, he would get up in the middle of the night to rub my back or get anything I needed. He is extremely considerate, caring, and compassionate. He has played the role of caretaker, mother, father, brother, friend, dog-sitter, errand runner, chef, and everything else with grace. Thank you, Bryan! I love you!

I could not imagine having to have been in my dad's shoes. He had both of his girls under the knife at the same time. I said before I went under, "I'm glad I'm on this end and not the one who has to wait..." That had to be the hardest part! He did this with patience and calmness. He has spent his time running back and forth between hospital rooms visiting with both, errand running, dog-sitting, and making sure that everything was ready when we got home. Thank you, Dad! I love you!

As for my dog, I think she hates me. But, that will change with time. :)

I'm getting stronger and stronger as the days go by, and having mom here is awesome! We pray that her blood work comes back great tomorrow!

My Dear Ed

I am sure all of you who are reading this know my loving husband, and I want to tell everyone what a trouper he has been through all of this journey to this point. Knowing your wife has to have a liver transplant and knowing as well, that your daughter is not only willing but determined to be the donor can creat a great amount of stress, I am quite sure (since I have theoretically only 1/2 that amount). Ed has never once questioned the decision I made that we should go ahead with the transplant in this way, nor has he ever complained about all the doctor visits to Piedmont Hospital and other local places for shots or tests and 'listing'. We also had to travel several times to UVA for visits of various sorts and never a thought about .."do we really need to do this - can't we do it here" sort of thing....he knew how important each step was and was always there to do whatever necessary to make it happen. He did wonder from time to time if I was spending too much time researching things on the computer but knew it was in my best interest and would make me feel more comfortable about it all. As "the day" came closer I could tell he was becoming more anxious and just wanted to be able to DO something to make the transplant work out just perfectly...and the only thing he could do was figure logistics which was not really possible since no one could anticipate what sort of outcomes there would be for either Ashley or myself.He became a little frustrated with that but realized that was the way it was. Two days out with the little glitch we were all a little on edge not knowing if all the plans would change but we got through that evening with his suggestion of playing our family card game of "Push" and had some good laughs and tried to relax. With the all clear and the preop day at hand everyone was feeling good! On "THE DAY" Ed was as calm as a cucumber...to possibly his surprise! MY brother Tom and his wife Barbara as well as their daughter Meredith and her husband Kyle were here to give Ed any needed support. I am sure their being here made the time pass more quickly and that he enjoyed the visit with them and all the support, love and caring they provided. (Unfortunately I didn't get to see them and if I had, I would not have remembered!)As the days passed, Ed revealed that his calmness was in part due to his complete confidence in the team of doctors who performed each surgery. With the minor setbacks, he was of course attentive and concerned but knew the wonderful nurses on 5 West were equally attentive and both he and they wanted nothing more than to be sure I was completely on track. Now that some of the worst is over (well, we hope that is the case), his body is showing so by his feeling like he is coming down with a cold so he headed off to the lake this AM to be away from us (to his regret) which he knows is best. He will return when that has passed and the kids will head over for a few days of sun and rest in another location! I am so lucky to have such a loving, caring, thoughtful and devoted husband..I could not ask for more! ~Martha

Everyone has busted out!

Free at last!! Mom and Ashley are both resting wonderfully at the hotel and extremely glad to be out of the hospital! For the first time in 10 days, we were able to be together as a family on our own terms, doing what we wanted to do. Its a great feeling. And frankly, I am looking forward to eating breakfast together tomorrow....even if it is the free Continental breakfast served at the Residence Inn with probably 20 other individuals spending time in Charlottesville, VA.

Dad and I went to the hospital this morning to pick up Mom, and after spending about 30 minutes with the discharge nurse going over medication, lab work schedules, vital signs, and many other things we should be mindful of from now on, we were able to leave. On our own. Normally a nurse or an orderly escorts you out, but we got special treatment. Carrying Mom's belongings, flowers, and box of meds, we gave our thanks to the wonderful team on 5West and continued on our way!

We will all spend the weekend together here and sometime next week I plan to take Ashley to the lake for a few days to enjoy some sun, more rest, and much deserved relaxation. Mom and Dad will follow shortly after to join us!

Our mission is near completion here, but the journey is far from over. Mom will have to get used to a new regimen of medications, regular blood work, and a tweaked diet, but I don't think she will have any problems adjusting :)

More to come...as always!

Mom Comes Home!

After 9 days in the hospital, we have received clearance to bring Mom home today! Her liver numbers continue to improve, and frankly have never been an issue after surgery. Yesterday afternoon she began drinking more fluids and eating more solid foods. From the time I left the hospital yesterday morning to the time I returned after lunch, her energy level had dramatically increased. When I returned after dinner to take her for a walk outside I was amazed at how well she looks. I think I could have snuck her out the back door last night and no one would have objected.

We are going back to the hospital shortly to pick her up. Before she can leave I am sure her transplant coordinator will need to go over mountains of information with her. I am sure it will be hard for her to stay focused during that time....that's why we will be there! And I wont be surprised if many of the wonderful surgeons and RNs come by to wish her well. Might be a good picture opportunity!

More to come later.

8 Days after surgery

Well, here we are 8 days after surgery and for the most part everyone continues to get better. Ashley has been home for 2 days now. Her first day home was probably her most challenging day yet. Her body got used to being in a mechanical bed for 6 days that would allow you to lay somewhat sitting up. Moving to a flat hotel bed (as well as much more walking around then she was used to) was hard on her back. She has been suffering from severe back pain in her middle and lower back. The "ropes" down either side of the spine have been really tight making any position (laying down or sitting up) very uncomfortable. And to make it worse, she can only lay on her back! I got up and massaged her back a few times in the night to help ease the pain. The next morning we went on a hunt to find a good back massager, heat pads, icy-hot.....what ever we thought would do the trick. The back massager provided temporary relief, but i think its just one of those things that can only heal with time. Today it seems to be a little better with the aid of a muscle relaxer prescription called in by her transplant coordinator.

Mom's liver and lab work numbers drawn from her blood continue to show great improvement. She was taken off 1 of her 3 immune suppressant, or anti-rejection, medications yesterday which is a great sign the liver is working well. She continues to have a hard time eating, leaving her severely malnourished and a little dehydrated which is causing her to be very weak. Today she has been drinking much more fluids and has been drinking Ensure which is packed with the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals her body needs. This is nothing to be alarmed by, it is rather normal for someone who has not eaten much solid foods in 8 days. She is just ready to get her strength back so she cane come home! But her pain has been almost non existent (so she says), which is great. Her bowels have started to wake up so as soon as she starts to eat and get that energy back we think she can come home....we hope tomorrow!

Jenny left VA today to go back to August where she can be with her family. We can not thank her enough for the time and energy she has put in to helping our family.

Hope everyone is doing well as you continue to pay for speedy recoveries for Mom and Ashley!

More to come.

Bryan

Ashley is home!

Today brings good news....Ashley was able to come home from the hospital today!! She was discharged this morning and is resting in the hotel room. From one bed to another! Its too bad the hotel bed is not adjustable... makes getting in and out a little difficult! All in all she is doing great. A little more sore today, but I think that is just because she has been moving around a lot more, and has been sitting/laying in positions she has not been in while at the hospital. She is very excited to be back with Chloe (her dog) and in the hotel. A change of scenery certainly can raise the spirits and help the body heal faster.

Mom is still doing great. She had a CT Scan yesterday to check on her liver and other organs, and everything checked out perfect! Her blood work continues to show progress every day, proving her new liver is getting stronger. She still remains in a little discomfort, but that can be expected. As we sit here almost a week out of surgery, I am amazed at how well she is doing. While it is taking a bit of time for some of her other organs to wake up and start working at 100%, her liver has been functioning wonderfully. And that of course is of the utmost importance.

One home, one to go!

Mom has shown great interest in making a post on the blog very soon, so stay tuned for that!

Special Thanks

We would like to give a special thanks Jenny Wright. Jenny is Ashley's long time friend (BFF if you will) dating back to grade school. She has been there for Ashley through thick and thin over the years and for her to be here during this time shows her true love for the friendship they share. It takes a special person to pick up everything and be miles away from her family for 7-10 days, and for that the Hunt family is grateful. She brings a women's balance into care taking that Dad and I can not provide. Thanks, Jenny. From all of us.

Monday Update - Day 4

Mom and Ashley continue to do great and are still on a clear road to recovery. The weekend came and went before we knew it. Much progress was made, but with each hurdle passed brings on new challenges.

Ashley's pain has subsided considerably the last 36 hours, which is a great sign that everything is healing nicely. She has been in some discomfort, but nothing out of the ordinary for mid section surgery. I feel if she can just get over this one hump, she will feel like a million bucks and be on her way out of here. The Dr actually said she could go home as early as tonight, but I think she (and we) would feel better if she could stay another day just to make sure she does everything she needs to do before she is discharged.

Mom has continued to progress wonderfully. Yesterday she was taken off all her IVs and was free of her "walking pole." Late last night we had a slight set back. Mom got sick in the middle of the night and again early this morning. This was just simply do to the bowels not quiet working yet. Everyone has said that often times the first day or two after surgery goes so smoothly, but because some some of the organs haven't quite "woken up" yet, it can be uncomfortable a few days later. Albeit a set back, the Doctors said it was normal and is nothing to worry about. Mom is still in high spirits, which is always good. We were told there would be many steps forward and a few steps back in the journey to recovery, and we are lucky this has been our only step back so far.

Yesterday, Jenny washed Mom and Ashley's hair in the shower and it instantly made them feel better. Recovery is not only physically challenging, but also mentally challenging. Sometimes its just the littlest things that can bring on a whole new feeling and emotion.

Monday at the hospital is certainly much busier then the weekend. Many more nurses and Doctors coming in and out of the rooms, and a lot of student RNs running around, but they are all very nice and helpful. While weekdays on the recovery floor are a little noisier, you certainly get faster service.

A lot of Mom and Ashley's neighbors on the "west wing" recover floor are transplant patients, most of whom seem to be recipients. We can all be so grateful they were given the opportunity to receive a donated organ that very well could have saved their life. I have learned over the months that the organ transplant recipients/donor community is a very close group. Everyone shares the same bond of being given a second chance at life, and I can only imagine how that feels. The transplant recipient community is very small, but we can do our part to help make it as big as it deserves to be by being an organ donor.

Movin' Right Along

Jenny here. What an adventure this has been. As I've told many of you, these have been some of the most raw, emotional and miraculous few days I've ever experienced. These two ladies are pretty amazing and I'm so proud to know them. They have always been close, but the power of the bond they now share is immeasurable. Martha looks better than she's looked in quite some time. The yellow tint that comes with liver disease is all but gone, which is clearly indicative of Ashley's liver at work. Amazing.

Many have asked for an update. Everything is going according to schedule. Anyone who has had surgery knows that the process includes good and bad days. While times have been mostly good, there have been some (albeit normal) rough patches. Any prayers for strength during these times would be greatly appreciated. Both Ash and Martha are getting up a walking a ton and neither complain. Ashley totally hates the constant naps, as we all know she doesn't really ever even sit still! We have reassured her that re-growing a liver is hard work, and napping in this case is probably a good idea!

As the adrenaline of the past couple of days wears away, the soreness and exhaustion becomes more apparent but is, for Ash and Martha, manageable, and they're doing it with grace. Many of us would be lucky to have half of their strength and ease in this situation.

Everyone here is wonderful . The team of doctors, nurses and assistants are patient, kind and willing to answer many, many questions (trust me, I'm doing a lot of the asking). They have said time and time again that both Martha and Ashley are doing amazingly well and they couldn't be more pleased. I've even heard it said that this case is near perfection. Would we expect any less from the Hunt ladies?

The picture above was taken yesterday on one of the many visits between the two hospital rooms. Sorry for the poor quality. They don't install proper studio lighting in the hospital rooms these days!

One last thing. Many of you have inquired about where to send flowers, cards and gifts. Martha and Ashley each have roommates, so space is very limited. University Hospital has a great eCard service. If you follow the link, you can choose a card, send it and the nurses will get them to us. Both of them would love that! If you're interested, here's the link: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/e-cards/choose/home.cfm
Once everyone is at the lake, we'll post that address here, and they'll be able to receive care packages of all sizes.

Thanks so much for all of the thoughts and prayers. They are appreciated and don't go unnoticed.

Much love from Virgina!

The Day After

Well, we are just over 24 hours post operation and both Mom and Ashley are doing wonderful. Much better then expected, actually! Surgery was completed around 12:30pm yesterday for Ashley, and was quickly followed up with mom's completion about an hour after.

Dr. Schmitt and team immediately began seeing benefits of Ashley's liver working its magic in Mom. Dr. Schmitt actually told us that this was the "most successful live liver transplant surgery that had ever done here at UVA." They have never had a liver be so responsive so quickly and fit so perfectly with zero complication's. I wondered if they told everyone that, but i honestly believe him. Mom looks so good, its really remarkable. Some of her jaundice coloring has started to deteriorate and her eyes have started to clear up. I was told her MELD score was 18 before surgery. This morning it was at 13, which is a dramatic drop in 24 hours, and we can only expect it to drop further as her new liver continues to adapt to her body. They have started removing some of her tubes and IV lines, slowly working her way off some of the monitors so they can get her out of ICU and into a room. They hope to move her tonight, if not first thing tomorrow morning! She is very alert and talkative today. She is a pro at surgery, so I expected nothing less.

Ashley has been doing wonderful and has been incredibly strong through out the entire procedure. As expected she is tired. Sleep is hard to come by with Drs coming in every 30 minutes to check on things. Not to mention the cleaning crew cleaning the bed space next to us. I don’t think they could be any louder. But i guess it comes with the territory. This morning Ashley had the chance to walk over and see Mom for the first time since they were separated yesterday morning before surgery. That was a warm and loving embrace. They were both very excited and relieved to see each other. After the visit she got some short periods of sleep then got up and walked again. All very good signs. Couple that with being able to drink liquids and eat some jello, I would say she is well on her way to a speedy recovery!

I have to say, I didn’t know what to expect going into this surgery. I had faith the procedure would be nothing but a total success, but I didn’t know what to expect as far as recovery. I mean, an every day human being and his team of surgeons took a perfectly good organ from a perfectly healthy young adult and placed it into the strongest person i have ever met and made it work instantly! That to me is just completely unimaginable. It is amazing what these surgeons can do. They really are miracle workers. And what makes it great is if you tell them that their response is always "well, its just all in a days work". They do what they do because they love to save lives. I was surprised to see how often the team come around to check up on Ash and Mom, but i have figure those moments are what they work for. I cant imagine there is a better feeling then to see and talk to the families they perform these miracle for. What a rewarding profession.

My rant for the day: I had the opportunity to see the annual salary our head surgeon made for 2009. I wasn’t being nosy looking for it, but I came across it as I was looking up his medical profession history (an amazing list of accomplishments for such a young Dr). Now, I am an avid sports fan, and understand the economics behind professional sports that allow teams to pay their prized athletes the multi-million dollar contracts the receive. But when a bench warmer who often times doesn’t get to see the playing field makes 3 times as much as our Drs do, it just strikes a nerve. Here is a man who has assembled a team of life savors who perform their jobs perfectly every time they "take to the operating table." While they still make a comfortable living that I would like to experience one day, to me, if anyone should be making top dollar, it should be these people. They bat for 1.000, they score 100 points each game, they throw 5 TDs and complete 40 out of 40 passes, and they pitch perfect games every time they take the field.

To read a quick Bio on our head surgeon, Dr Timothy Schmitt, click the link below.
http://uvahealth.com/doctors/physicians/541

Success!!!

Mom's surgery is now complete and was a complete success! Dr Schmitt (head surgeon) said the surgery went flawless with no complications what so ever. Her body is taking to the new liver very well and Dr Schmitt can already see the benefits of the new liver working. What an amazing surgery and an even amazing team of Dr's. We can not say enough about UVA Medical.

Mom will be taken to ICU soon where she will spend the next 24 to 48 hours having her vitals closely monitored while her body adapts to the new liver. She will also be on a heavy dose of immune suppressant drugs to help keep the body from rejecting the new organ, so the time in ICU will be important.

Thanks everyone for the continued prayers and support. What an amazing time for Mom and Ashley, two extremely amazing human beings.

1 Down, 1 To Go

We just got word that Ashley's surgery has been completed successfully! What a relief. The Surgeon said she did great, her liver looked great, and the surgery went perfectly. She is now in ICU and will be there for a few hours so the Dr's can closely monitor her vitals as she comes out of anaesthesia. We expect her to be in her private room in the next 2 to 3 hours.

They are now working on getting Ashley's liver into Mom. Again, the next few hours will be extremely critical but we have confidence in our surgeons. We expect to hear more good news in a few more hours!

4am Start

The day came early with a 4am wake up call to get us up and moving. No breakfast for anyone in the room, wouldn't seem fair to eat in front of Mom and Ashley. No coffee either. That was hard. We got to the hospital about 5:20am, checked in and just as we got settled in the waiting room they were taking mom and Ashley away. Our "usher" took Mom and Ashley (as well as myself and Dad) up to the surgery pre op floor where they got Mom and Ash all dressed up and hooked up to IVs. The gowns they wore we pumped full of hot air to keep them warm. Mom loved this. We sat around for about an hour before they were taken away to surgery. During that time we just talked and tried to make light of the situation by joking about the Drs and nurses who would walk by. Don't worry, nothing bad was said....wouldn't want to have anyone over hear us and "get revenge" on the operating table. Karma is not always kind! In all seriousness, we could not have asked for more caring, loving Drs and nurses. For the past 3 days they have been nothing but accommodating. Our team of surgeons have really made us feel at home with the personal and attentive care they have given our family. We can only expect the treatment on the operating table will be nothing short of top notch.

It is now 8:45 and Mom and Ashley are currently in surgery. We were told we would get updates about every 2 hours which is comforting.

Until then....

Here We Go

After a wonderful dinner at my VBF's home, we are back at the hotel (which is great by the way) getting ready to get up at 4 to do the lovely antiseptic shower that we have to do again in the AM and then I am sure they will do it all again in the hospital! Oh well - don't want any of those pesky little germs! We are good to go and just don't want to wake up in the middle and tell them it hurts...am sure the nurses will get enough of that down the road!

Thanks to everyone for all the love and prayers..we feel surrounded by it all! I feel like the luckiest person in the world at this point and so proud to have such a "giving" daughter and loving and caring husband and son.

1st Drama over

Ashley said it all except that I had an EGD not ERCP..minor difference to a non doctor...ERCP goes into the bile ducts and liver - the EGD goes other "interesting" places.The interesting place was not so interesting after all thank goodness,no biopsy needed either, so we are NOW good to go again after the little hick - up. I was confident that all would be fine except for moments of thinking I would have to be deciding whether to have a different unplanned surgery here or in Atlanta forcing all this planning to be put in some sort of holding pattern...fortunately that decision didn't have to be made and the rest of the day holds dinner (lite for Ashley and me) with VBF and family with lots of laughs. Ashley seems relaxed - "seems" being the key word, but she and Bryan (and Chloe) have enjoyed exploring Charlottesville together and I am sure talking about the upcoming event. Thinking of everyone and feeling the love and prayers! Thanks for those! And thanks to Bryan for keeping everyone updated...sure saves Ed some added stress!

Less than 24 hours!

It's Ashley...

Whew, the last 24 hours have been crazy. Mom had to have a routine CT scan, and they mentioned while looking around that she may have swallowed a quarter at some point in her life. Something was showing up, and they were sure it was metal! So, she left wondering what it could possibly be...a quarter? A tool from a previous surgery? Um...weird.

Later in the evening, the nurse called and wanted to do an ERCP to take a look. An ERCP is where they basically stick a camera down your throat to look around down there. Apparently it was not metal, it was some sort of "thickening" on the small intestine. (The nervousness began now...) About an hour later, the doctor called and wanted to do an ERCP and a biopsy. They also said that just because her blood work had come back normal, that didn't really mean anything. You can find out your tumor marker levels via blood work, and hers have been normal. (More nervousness...)

So, after a tense night and lots of prayers, we headed to the hospital for the ERCP. She went back, they put her in twilight, and we waited. (A plus for going under the knife tomorrow will be that I don't have to wait around...waiting...now THAT takes courage!!) About an hour or so later, our transplant surgeon came around the corner and said, "It's fine. It's totally normal. Everything is regular." Those were the best words I'd ever heard! So, I proceeded to burst into tears...I didn't hear much of what he told dad and Bryan. I think he said that it was totally normal considering her gallbladder cancer history, etc.....it appeared to be some sort of fold in her small intestine.

So, here we are...relieved. I don't feel like I have to worry anymore.
Onward and upward!

Mom is groggy, but eating a good meal at Ruby Tuesday. Tonight will be spent at dinner with her best friend from childhood and her family. Jenny also gets in town to be my "personal assistant."

We will find out the surgery times later today. Right now we think it will be early.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers!

-ashley

The glitch has been resolved, everything came back normal and we are back on track for surgery tomorrow morning. Thanks for the continued prayers and loving support. More to come later.

Always a Glitch

Seems I will have to have another unexpected test tomorrow...ERCP in the AM with biopsy ... see what happens with that and go from there..."the best laid plans" as they say...keep us in your prayers!

Less than 48 hours...

It's Ashley this time.

Today we had our pre-op appointments. We went to the transplant clinic and met again with the doctors, nurses and transplant coordinators. They are all so nice and helpful. My transplant coordinator gave me final details, and informed me that a man by the name of Walter will call me tomorrow for a report time for surgery. It seems awfully secretive!

I had bloodwork, vitals, paperwork, and meetings...it looks like everything is good to go! We will probably have to report to UVA at 6 am on Thursday. According to my (overly) optimistic surgeon, I can go home in two to three days. According to my wonderful transplant nurse we will shoot for Tuesday or Wednesday for me to get out of the hospital.

Two fairly exciting things happened today:

1. We were leaving the transplant offices, and a lady stopped me and said, "Are you getting ready for a transplant?" So, I told her, and she said, "Oh, you will love it here. My husband is three months post liver transplant and is doing very well!" We talked to them for a few minutes, and she raved about the team of doctors at UVA. She said, "I could tell by your eyes that you were about to undergo the procedure. We looked that same way about three months ago." (This just made me wonder if my eyes were extra wide today...)

2. After the appointments, Bryan and I went over to Mellow to get some pizza. As we were waiting, our entire surgical team walked by and sat down near us. I guess they need to eat as well. I'm glad neither one of us were drinking a beer. In that same hour, we also saw the RN, and a girl who went to High School with Bryan.

Now the wait begins! Thursday will be here before we know it! See you all on the other side!