Update of the day

I got some info from my Dr.'s office. He has to write and send a letter saying why I medically need this transplant. Then the transplant nurse will call with 2 days to schedule my evaluation appointment in Pitts. I so excited!!!!!!!!!!!! 

From Sue!

To get started!

I just want to give a little background on my condition. In Feb. of 07, I had 38 out of 40 feet of my small intestine removed. An adhesion from a 20 year old c-section begain to grow. It got tangled in my small intestine an choked it off. The intestine died and began to have gangrene set in. The surgeon who was one of the best in the country, was only able to save 2 feet. I am TPN dependant. TPN is feeding tube food. This will kill the liver over the years.They think it will shorten my life by about 10 years. So due to being TPN dependent, I am a canadate for a small intestine transplant.  My insurance has approved the hospital, univ. of Pitts., and now we are waiting for the financial portion to be approved (It costs a million dollars). They think I should get a call by Friday April 24th. I have no idea how long the wait is to get an apptointment with Dr. Keream in Pitts. I've had every test you can think of over the last 2 months. I even had a bone marrow biopsy this week. Don't sign up for this if your are bored and think it might be fun! This is not in the fun column. It is short-lived but on hte extremely painful side!

Small intestine transplants are not common. They have been done for a long time be only about 150 are done per year. U of Pitts only does about 1/2 of those. This is unlike say a kidney that they do about 40,000 per year. So needless to say the list is quit long. For the small intestine list is very short and you pretty much get the small intestine as soon as you get a match. You have to have a tissue type match and a blood type match. You have to have live doner just like for a heart transplant. So I basically have to wait for someone to die that is a doner and a match!!!!!!!!! Like the Dr. said I'm going ast a good time with graduations and proms and such! Transplant humor is a loittle morbid!

I've been thinking of al the things I could be missing if I leave soon. Trevor's 8th grade promo.,Brad's mission shopping stuff and his farwell, getting ready for girls camp, scout camp,summer vacation, Mother's Day, my birthday, Father's Day, 4th of July and our anniversary,etc.

I'm very excited but I'm not cool about leaving my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to try to get a web cam to be able to see and let my kids see me every day if they need.

I'm worried about Bob and the kids. Bob works 7 days a week so Kara and Brad will have to take over at home. Brad may have the best mission ahead of him and appreciate it more than anyone who got to go out easier than he did. He may never know how much he is appreciated here and all he does for his family!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd hate to think I was the reason he isn't going yet too. I know the Lord knows the big picture in this situation and He doesn't do things that are mean and discouraging. Satan knows how to do that and WELL!!!!!!!!!! There is a reason for this! I just pray Brad keeps that in mind. He is so GOOD! I admire that man! He is an awesome role model for my other kids. Heck - for anyones kids! I love him!

I hope to hear from the transport nurse Thrusday or Friday. I will let you know as soon as I find anything out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is exciting to know that I have the possiblity of becoming more normal