Ashley is in recovery but we just talked with Dr Freeman and he removed the stent! She did well during the procedure also no need for any follow up ERCPs at this point.
Thank you for praying!
Month: September 2018
Quick Ashley update
Ashley has not been feeling well this past week so we are in the process of doing some tests to determine if she has some type of infection or possible side effect to one of her anti rejection medications. Ashley also has her follow up ERCP tomorrow morning 8:15 central to evaluate if the stents placed after surgery can be removed or need upsized.
We would be so grateful if you could pray with us for an easy- routine ERCP tomorrow and clarity for her team as they sort out possible reasons for how she is currently feeling.
We remain hopeful and so grateful for all the progress she has made – and thankful she is under such excellence care.
Thank you all!
Gwen ~for team Traf
Ashley is staple free!
Painless and easy removal of all the staples. As Ashley says, ” I am bling free😊💃🕺”
Also no need for additional IV hydration, and labs from this am show continued improvement in everything liver!
Thank you for praying!
Time for a little update😊
Hello there friends,
Team Traf is all settled into the respite we like to call our home away from home and it’s a beautiful sunny almost fall like morning here in Minnesota. Ashley continues to make good progress in her recovery and… we even had a much needed 6 hour stretch of sleep last night for the first time since surgery! So now with a rested brain- it is time to update you all and share some of the remarkable answers to prayer along with a few requests for the next couple days.
With grateful hearts we want to thank you for praying and praise God together for these answers to prayer ~
Ashley’s recovery has been remarkable- beyond any expectations. We had been prepared and told to anticipate “bumps in the road post transplant ” and that has been our norm in the past. We are just so thankful she has been able to be recover at home here in Minnesota for two whole weeks since discharge. No emergency room visits or return to inpatient stays- as much as we love our peeps on 7a;)
Her liver lab values are settling into the normal range – yes that’s right – normal! Significant also because it is a good indication of a successful transplant.
She has healed enough to have the mobility and pain management to get herself in and out of bed without my help the last couple of days – this is so huge at this stage of recovery. She has had no issue with infection- and her incision continues to heal without any complications. She has been able to taper her pain medications to every 6 hours in keeping with her surgeon’s schedule -and made it possible for us to have the 6hr stretch of sleep last night!
We are so profoundly grateful for the transplant team here at the University of Minnesota Health. The care and commitment to the transplant patients throughout the whole process is exceptional. We keep saying to each other,”Can you believe we are back in Minnesota and at the U ?!” How graciously God orchestrated every detail that brought us back here and has provided healing in this place once again. What a lavish gift.
Prayer requests ~
Ashley has an appointment today at 3:00 to have all 48 remaining staples removed. She has a little anxiety about the process- (honestly can’t blame her) and a few staples that seem to have, “settled in a bit.” She also has some sutures where her drain was located that may also be removed today. Prayer for easy, painless removal.
The main post transplant issue has been finding the proper dose for her anti rejection medication that will maintain a therapeutic range to prevent rejection. She has labs drawn with home health care (amazing nurse- another praise) twice a week to measure this level. They had to increase the dose several times and now to include taking this dose 3x a day with a plan to work back to 2x a day if her levels improve. This tweaking is normal this close to transplant and is closely monitored. Her risk of rejection is most significant the first three months post transplant. So prayer for meds to protect her from rejection and wisdom in the tweaking.
She has been pretty dehydrated the last several days and will most likely get some IV hydration today at clinic. We realized she was still taking a diuretic even after she lost the extra fluid fluid post surgery (40lbs worth) – we were literally draining off everything she was drinking! So prayer for her energy to improve as she gets hydrated hopefully today and an easy -first try stick for IV.
Along with hydration her surgeon has prescribed something to increase Ashley’s appetite. She is struggling with getting enough calories in each day. This is also normal after a liver transplant during the initial recovery and was true of both my kids last transplant. But we would appreciate prayer for her appetite to increase- I have a running list of her favs to cook and on the ready!
And finally one last thought and something from New Morning Mercies devotional ~
“Life in this fallen world is hard. That’s why you need a community of love.” – Paul Tripp
Thank you for being that intentional community for us – the sweetness of your presence in prayer for team Traf is tangible grace this side of heaven.
“Every time I (we) think of you I (we)give thanks to our God.” Philippians 1:3
We love and appreciate all of you!
Gwen – for Team Traf
Keeping Up with the Trafs 