Surgery

Brandon's surgery was a success! He is already out of ICU! That is incredible. I have talked to Mallory and she said he is doing so well. The doctors are even surprised at how well he is doing. What a blessing! Thank you all... again... for all of your support and prayers!

Great news... still need prayers!!!

Friday night, Brandon got back home from having the surgery to remove the nodules on his lungs. About two hours after he was home, St. Barnes Hospital called with the best news we have heard since this whole thing started. They had a liver. He needed to get back to the hospital ASAP. Back to St. Louis they went. We knew that the liver may not be a 100% match so we were asked to keep the news within the family. We waited and waited and waited. I thought for sure I would hear something last night or in the wee hours of this morning. No word. Finally around 9:30, my Mom called me. She had talked to my Uncle Phil (Brandon's Dad). The liver was a 100% match. This was great news for us but it came at the cost of someone else's life. The donor's family is going through a very rough time. I ask that you please keep this anonymous family in your thoughts and prayers as well. Since this donor was a "full donor" other recipients in need of a kidney, lung, heart, etc. were called in to the hospital. In the mean time, the donor body was kept on a ventilator. All recipients, including Brandon, were prepped for surgery. This would allow them to take the necessities from the body all at one time. They took Brandon back around 6:15 p.m. tonight. His surgery started at 7:30. We were told that the doctors were optimistic, BUT it was possible that they could find cancer in his liver. If that happened, they would not be able to follow through with the transplant. Mallory called at 9:00 tonight... NO CANCER! Brandon is officially getting the transplant. God has really answered our prayers. We are still praying that the surgery goes well and that his body does not reject the liver. Mallory is going to call me after the transplant is complete (another 5 to 8 hours) and she has seen Brandon in ICU. I will post tomorrow night when I know more. Thank you all for your prayers... they are being answered.

Scary Nodules

We had a scare yesterday. Brandon was called back to St. Louis. The doctors were reviewing some of his previous tests (X-rays or something) and they noticed two spots on his lungs. They weren't sure what the spots were but they wanted to remove them right away. We were praying that it wasn't cancer. This morning he went in for surgery. They removed the spots. Fortunately, it wasn't cancer. All I know is that it was nodules. He is pretty sore from the surgery but is doing well otherwise.

I am enjoying my job so much. I really look forward to getting out of bed in the morning and getting to work. If you are ever in Champaign, let me know! I will give you a tour or meet you for lunch somewhere.

I attended a photography seminar with Kari this weekend. Thanks for coming Kari! The seminar was all day. I really enjoyed the first half and felt like I learned a lot. The second half was a little slower but I still learned some things. Now... I just need to get outside and practice!

Business is starting to pick up for After the Diamond. I have two weddings booked for October. October 10th AND October 17th! I am also planning the U of I tailgating event for the Research Center for October 10th. Whew... glad I have Julie to keep me sane through it all!

Last but not least, our plans are finalized for our trip to Georgia for Gio and Genny's wedding and we are getting into the finer details for our trip to Europe. We (Julie and I) are picking out our bed and breakfasts. I can't wait... scenery, culture, history... and lots of pictures to take! ;)

Okay, okay. I know. I have been terrible at blogging and keeping everyone up to date.

So... most importantly. Brandon is still on the liver transplant list. Tomorrow there is a meeting between him and the doctors to find out what criteria they are looking for in a donated liver. They are also going to talk about the option of a live donor. They didn't think this was an option but it looks like it might be. In addition, Brandon has been having a procedure done similar to dialysis. The yellow in his skin has gone down significantly from what I hear but he is still yellow. The itching has also subsided quite a bit, although not completely. I guess he is much more comfortable now. He is still working two to three days a week. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as we patiently wait on a liver.

I also started my new job on Monday. I absolutely love it. This is very different from what I was doing before and now that I am on the research side of things, I am getting a whole new perspective of the company. I love every bit of it.

More to come later...

The bad and the good...

Well, the results are in. The bad news is that Brandon has to have a liver transplant. The good news is that, they will do a liver transplant. The doctors in St. Louis had it narrowed down to two different diseases. (I can't remember the long name of either one of them). One disease would attack a new liver and there would be nothing they could do. The other disease is cureable with a transplant. Fortunately, his is the curable kind. Brandon is now on the long list of individuals waiting for a liver transplant. Fortunately, because of his age and otherwise good health, he is NEAR the top. They are hoping to get a 100% match. His bilirubin is at a 33. It should be under 10 but it can go up to 100. If it gets that high, they will put him in ICU and take the first and closest match for a liver that they can get. Until a match is found, he is trying to lead a normal life. Beside the itching and the jaundice, he feels okay. He is getting weak though as he continues to lose weight.

I am giving a speech at a Toastmasters event on Tuesday night. My speech is on donating life. I wish everyone would realize how important it is to be an organ and tissue donor. My cousin Derek passed away at such a young age but he also helped so many people simply because he was an organ/tissue donor. I am not sure how it came to be that someone in our family donated and now we are in dier need for a donor. If you haven't done so already, please join this great cause. We don't know when our time to go is, but hopefully if we go too early, we will prevent someone else from leaving this world sooner than they should. My speech on Tuesday night will hopefully spread this important message. http://www.donatelife.net/

I apologize for the delay in getting this updated. My computer back light stopped working so I couldn't see any of the information on the screen. I ordered a new computer and that is what I am using now to update my blog. I LOVE it. It is a Dell Studio in 'Spring Green'. :) This computer will be so great for photo editing! Now... I just have to start taking some more photos!!! Laura... now that I have a computer again, I will get the photos from Kaelynns baptism done by the end of next week!

To leave things on a good note, I applied for a new job at the State Farm Research Center which is located on the U of I campus in Champaign. I got the position! I couldn't be MORE EXCITED! This is a great opportunity for me. Twenty people applied for this position and I am thrilled that I was the one selected. I start part time on March 16th and I will move to full time the following week. I can't wait to get started!