How can we put into words what is going on? How can we thank you enough for your prayers!
Here are some poorly written excerpts from my journal entries…
April 1, 2008
-Don received a call. His little sister – Laura Rock, age 32 is in ICU…in Detroit. She’s not responding. Her liver is critically damaged. Doctors say to call the family. Don’s parents are 4 hours away, his eldest sister Shelly and family are in TN and his other sister Patti is alone with Laura.
-There are currently no hospitals willing to take her.
-Friends and family immediately began interceding on Laura’s behalf.
-Our AIM family…jumped into action and took care of planning all our traveling details etc…
This week at AIM…begins training for the Ambassador and Real Life leaders. Don was to be involved in this training…and really looking forward to it.
April 2, 2008
-Up at 3:30 a.m. and on the road to the airport.
-10:00 a.m. Finally, we can hug mom and dad Rock, Patti…and tell Laura we love her. She remains in a coma like state. We continue to pray.
-An answered prayer! A spot opens at Henry Ford here in Detroit, MI…they are moving her.
-We continue to ride the emotional rollercoaster. Good news, bad news…more bad news…contradicting news…and yet – we hope and pray. God – heal her! Please…make her liver regenerate on its own and now!
-Don’s sister Shelly and husband, Joel Walker arrive from TN.
-There are additional complications…the have placed a “tap” on her head to relieve pressure. Shortly following, the need to drill another hole. Her beautiful hair is shaved. But came through it all very well.
-It’s caught up with mom Rock. She’s aged 10 years right in front of us…her color is gone.
April 3, 2008
-Laura NEEDS a liver…but for her to live…that means someone else has died. There is life in death. In any other circumstance, one of us would be able to give part of ours…but that would take weeks. Laura does not have weeks.
Here’s a summary of the Transplant Process First the evaluation. Praise God, she meets the criteria! And… she’s is in the number one category for a transplant. However that just confirms how critical this is. Second the transplant. From 1-10 on the difficulty scale of surgeries…it’s an 8. There are many possibilities of complications. But survival rate is 60-80% for someone like Laura. The surgery will last between 6 and 12 hours. We wait…for a liver, for her to be stable enough…We wait, for a miracle! Recovery. If all goes well…she will remain in the hospital for about 3 weeks. Powerful anti-reaction drugs called immunosuppressants are given to try to prevent the body’s natural reaction to reject the new organ. Laura and family will be instructed on follow-up care and medications. A prescribed rehabilitation program that includes exercise and a special diet will continue at home…she will live with Don’s parents. In general, the recovery process takes about six months. Her monthly meds that she will be required to take for the remained of her life…will cost $16,000 a month. Her life style will need to dramatically change. If at any time she quits taking her meds…her liver will fail. Support This is crucial… 33% of individuals in her situation will relapse. She will need a healthy support system. | |
-It’s 11:32 a.m. This morning’s news is confusing and disheartening. Are they possibly saying that her kidneys are failing too? So we wait… There’s more signing of papers…more tubes, there’s talk of putting her “brain into a coma”, there’s a possibility of brain damage…says one doctor but not another, and yet…we have hope. Dr. Kim says…it could still grow back! If this is the case…she won’t need a transplant or $16,000 of monthly meds.
More later.
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