Post Op (Part 1)

When Joey was brought back upstairs around 8:30 in the morning, we were only able to see him briefly, as they asked us to leave the room for about an hour to set up all of the new equipment he needed. We decided to go grab coffee and breakfast in Georgetown while we waited. Being out in public for the first time in a week was difficult for both of us. Seeing life continue around us while we waited to see our son after surgery was such an odd feeling. Our life has been stopped, frozen in time almost, in a tiny little hospital room for so long it has started to feel like home.

When we arrived back at the hospital, we found Joey with about 12 IV lines (as a friend, who has unfortunately known what having a young child in the hospital is like too, calls them a symphony string section), intubated, with a tube also up his nose to drain his stomach, a catheter, a drain in his liver, and another drain from his abdomen. I can't even describe how difficult it is to see him like this. Our lively little boy, just laying there helpless. We are just so thankful he will not remember any of this...

The surgeon came in and explained that Joe's surgery was very difficult. He said that his liver was shrunken and in really bad condition. That his other organs were swollen, which made it challenging to get his new liver in (especially because it was a little big for his body), but they were able to do it. They were not able to reconfigure/remove his bile duct, which from what we understand, will mean taking part of his small intestine and connecting it directly to the liver. He is currently scheduled to have a follow up surgery tomorrow morning around 8am to finish that, and if the swelling has subsided enough, he will be sewn back up. Right now he has essentially a sponge stapled in the middle of his belly, relieving the pressure of his swelling organs.

So far, he has heavily fought the sedation, and has tried to even roll over (he really loves tummy time!). We wouldn't expect anything less from our little fighter. His lab results are looking good (coagulation levels, ammonia levels, enzyme levels, etc.), he has needed only one blood transfusion so far, the fluid draining from his liver and abdomen are looking good and draining at a good rate, and his swelling has subsided enough for follow on surgery tomorrow. Everyone seems to be really happy, even impressed, with how well he is doing. They have had to bump up the sedatives, to keep him from moving too much. They really want him to be able to rest, and will keep him under sedation until he is sewn back up. Hopefully that will be soon, as there is a risk of withdrawal from him being on the sedatives too long.

Overall, given the state of his liver, and some of the lab results we received during the operation, Chris and I feel much more confident that we made the correct choice going forward with the transplant.

While Joey is sedated, we were told it is a good time for us to go home and get some rest. We will need it for everything that comes with recovery once he is finished with his surgeries. It was so difficult to leave him, but his hospital room is so tight now with all of the equipment and the nurses are constantly in checking on him... we knew we wouldn't be able to get any rest there. We plan to sleep in our bed tonight, and will be back at the hospital early tomorrow morning to see him off for his next surgery.

As always, thank you so much to everyone for checking in, and sending your prayers, encouragement, and love. Please continue to do so, we are not quite in the clear yet.

All our love,

The Moschellas