I have a new liver!!!

Ian got his special call for a new liver on December 16,2008. It is his "Liver Day". We are so grateful for the donor family, for doctors and nurses and medical staff and all who have prayed and helped us in any way.

Ian started surgery on December 17, 2008 at 11am and came out doing well at 8pm. Doctors are pleased with how things went and are progressing. His labs are showing good signs of improvement and he has them drawn about every 4 to 6 hours at this point. His is able to have sips of water. He is wearing "hospital pants" aka a diaper which we are pretty sure he is not going to like being in a diaper again.

One of the big hurdles for Ian to cross is to be able to come off medicine that is helping his blood to vessels to be nice and wide and big for blood flow. That will be key. He is already off his breathing tube which is a biggie in terms of being able to move him and him to move.

Brett is being the primary care giver right now as Livia needs to be close to me for feeding purposes and she is not allowed in the PICU room. We are shifting in and out so that the other can eat, etc. One of us will be with him at all times and he didn't even like it when brett closed the door to the bathroom that was in his tiny room.

Ian's TV is operating quite up to speed which isn't too big a deal right now as Ian is sleeping a lot but will be major when he is more with it and wants to see Thomas the Train--particularly the "gordon with the jelly" epsiode currently in the DVD player. (I thankfully kept his travel bag packed with Thomas DVDs and books to just grab when we got this call--phew!) We have told the nurses that Thomas the Train is the big thing for Ian so to use it to motivate him, etc. I was playing our made up guessing game of "I'm thinking of an engine" where I give clues to him about an engine that he has to guess this morning and Ian was aware enough to play. His nurse on duty today knows Thomas really well to play with him too so that was wonderful! I brought a few of his engines with us but am bring the rest the engines when I go back tomorrow.

I'm posting to my own blog and Brett is posting to his as well so check those sites for more info.

Thank you to all--nurses, doctors, donor family, family and friends, anyone who has helped in any way!!!! God bless each of you.