Home Sweet Home

We're home! Joe got out of the hospital on Thursday, 8 days after transplant. He continues to heal at home and we will return to UCLA twice a week for doctors to monitor his medications & progress. He can get around on his own and they encourage him to walk as much as he feels like but no lifting more than 15 pounds. No driving or going to work for at least 4-6 weeks. He's actually adapting quite well to this slower routine... I was a little worried as those who know him know he does not sit still for very long. He's loving all of the calls, cards & short visits from friends & family which make him feel like he's getting back into his life again. Being gone in Florida for 5 months was tough and he is enjoying being at home and reconnecting. Thanks again to all of our friends & family who helped keep our family going throughout all of this. To our donor family we look forward to one day meeting you and sharing our love & gratitude to you for your special gift.

Love, Julie

Recovery Continues

Joe's recovery continues to be moving along well. Today they took out his nose tube and he is off all of his pain meds! He is up and walking (dragging his IV pole) and got to brush his teeth in the bathroom sink. Woo Hoo... the little things that make us happy. We got to sleep from 11-4 last night without being woken up by nurses checking IVs, monitors etc. It felt great for us both. My parents brought the kids to spend time today which we loved. Joe's parents came also which was special since they had driven the last 3 days straight to get home from their vacation to see Joe. Joe missed attending the alumni event for his Cal State Fulleton soccer team on Saturday night but received a gift from them which was a #9 (his college #) jersey from the alumni game signed by all his former teammates who were there. Friendships that have lasted 25 years... amazing! Forever thankful for the blessings that this event have brought to us.

Out of the ICU

Joe took another step in his recovery and was moved out of the ICU & into a regular room. They took out his catheter & the tube in his neck. He continues to have an IV for fluids and the drain that goes thru his nose. Joe's liver disease(PSC) is actually a disease of the bile ducts which destroys them and causes damage to the liver as well. During surgery they had to remove his old liver & the bile ducts with the hope that the disease will not come back. In doing so they had to attach his new liver to a piece of his intestine & then attach it to the stomach. This requires a little extra care in recovery and therefore the need to keep the drain that empties his stomach and allows the intestines to heal completely before he can eat & drink again. He's moving around a little more & doing his breathing exercises to keep his lungs clear. Being a transplant recipient means that they do not allow any live plants/flowers on this floor of the hospital due to the risk of infection. Cards & phone calls make him the happiest. Thanks to Janelle, neice Megan & our Nicholas St. neighborhood for the signs & posters that decorate his room. We continue to send thanks & prayers to the donor family, Toni, Dana & all of our family & friends that have made this miracle happen.

ICU Day 2

Joe had a good night. We all got some sleep :) The doctor was here this morning and said Joe continues to do very well. They took out two of his incision drains and all of the dressing that covered his incision. Man, now that's a scar. Today was busy... he got to sit up in a recliner chair for a couple of hours and a sponge bath! He continues to sleep much of the time as his body heals from his extensive surgery. It looks like his stay in the ICU will last a couple more days because there are no beds available in the regular hospital. We have been lucky to have Joe's sister Joanie with us since surgery and boy is it nice to have a family RN by your side every step of the way! She will leave tomorrow am to go back to Florida:( We look forward to Grandpa & Baboo (Joe's mom & dad) arriving home on Saturday so that we can see them. They were on a 2 week road trip to Indiana & Nebraska to visit Joe's sister Lela when all of this began. This was not easy for Baboo to miss being a retired RN herself. We continue to be thankful of all of the blessings this event has brought us and are thankful to the army of family & friends who continue to support us with all of their kindness. We love you all!!!

ICU

Joe is in the ICU at UCLA and they just took out his breathing tube...YEA! He is making great progress and feeling much more comfortable w/o the tube, and happy to be talking again. With the progress he is making they hope he can leave the ICU tomorrow and go to a regular room. He will stay in the hospital about a week. We are thrilled with his care at UCLA and are so pleased with all of the staff. Thanks to all for your support & good wishes!

Surgeon update #2

The surgeon came out at midnight to let us know that they are closing him up. The surgeon said his old liver was in horrible shape and he was happy Joe got transplanted now!! Surgery went extremely well & new liver is functioning beautifully. He should be in recovery in about 1 hour and then to ICU for 24-48 hours. We can see him in ICU. We are so thankful and happy all went well. Love to all!!

Miracle - Surgeon update #1

Just got the call from the O.R. at 10 pm pacific time. The old liver is out, the new one is in and everything is going well. 3-4 more hours to go!!!