Closing of a chapter...

It is official! As the stoma is now closed, so is the chapter of the past 6 years of artificial "help" in plugs, wires, tubing, pumps, bags, devices, ...!! The surgery was a great success and I am FREE!! God has led me down a long road and though the journey is far from over, it is at a time of jubilee and rejoicing!

Yesterday was a long day for waiting for the call to surgery, but the call finally came around 2:30pm and off I went. I met the surgical team in the OR and was able to share my story with the few that hadn't heard already and was even sharing some recipes! Before going down for surgery, I had written a short poem and had taped it to my colostomy bag for the OR team to read. It read as follows,....

"It's time to put it down beneath. 

My stoma is being closed up, you see.

Since my transplant, it has been good to me,

But now the time has come to be. 

Please don't weep, but rejoice,

For this for me, is a better choice."

Laughter is like medicine, I believe! And I sure wanted a surgical team feeling their best while I was under.

After surgery, I was in recovery until pain was under control with my array of allergies to so many medications. Once managed, I was back in my room upstairs for a good nights rest. Zzzzzzzz

Today has been another great day! A few walks down the hall and easing back into my normal diet has been the goal. Liquid food ("full liquid") diet has been good to me for today. Tomorrow maybe something to chew!

Another quick update

My levels have come down a little more, thank the Lord! The ultrasound of the kidneys went well. So they now have me on clear liquids and have surgery tomorrow.  I'm not going to get my hopes too high, just in case I get bumped to do an emergency.  It's hard being in the hospital when you're feeling well! There's no way they'd let me go home and come back because I needed the IV fluids.   Thank you for all the prayers and I'll keep this updated.   

No surgery, yet...

I haven't had my surgery yet!  My labs Monday showed my creatinine was too high, so they admitted me to get my flushed with fluids, fluids, and more fluids.  I was wheeled down to surgery Tuesday morning and half way down there the transport got a page.   He took the call and said something was high and was to bring me back to my room. They weren't able to do it Tuesday due to the creatinine still too high for surgery.  As of this am it's still coming down,  it's still coming down, but very slowly.  If they do the surgery with it being high, it can cause me to have kidney issues.  I don't need to have any other problems, so in the mean time we camp out here and try to wait it out here in the hospital. No promises, but maybe Friday or Saturday will be surgery.  

In Cleveland we are!

Happy New Year to all of you!! So Thankful for 2015 and looking forward to what God has planned for this year! We ended the year with a church service and fellowship and food  afterwards.  I can't think of another way I'd want it to be! Giving God the glory for what He's done and what He's going to do! BLESSED!!

We are here in Ohio at our friendly hotel (home away from home) in Westlake.  The drive wasn't bad at all.  The sun was shining and roads were totally clear, besides salt on the road. We got in Thursday evening.  I had testing and a Dr's appointment today.  Monday is jam packed with testings and appointments and pre op stuff.  On Tuesday, I'll be having the stoma reversed.  The kids are with us till a day or so after surgery then heading back home.  

Friday evening, after our Dr's appointment, we went for pizza to celebrate someone's BIRTHDAY!  Happy Birthday to my wonderful, caring, patient, and loving husband!!! Afterwards, we went to the store and he picked out some icecream to eat at the hotel. We played Phase 10, but only got to phase 5 and will finish the rest up tomorrow.   

As I was packing for the trip I started cleaning out my last drawer of medical supplies.   It felt so good.  It looks nice not having my bedroom look like a hospital supply room.  In the past several years thats what its become with my G-tube, J-tube,  Ostomy supplies, and everything for my TPN supplies.   I told Shane on the way here I get in a panic thinking I forgot to get my TPN out of the fridge to hook up or bring with me.  It feels wonderful not having to hook up anymore. 

What an intestinal transplant means to me? Being able to go to Church as a Family.  Walking hand in hand with my husband, and him not having to push me in the wheelchair. Having energy to do picnics and go site seeing as a family, and not sitting on a bench alone waiting for them to return.  Not having surprising hospital visits, and missing the kids events.  Going into shops that are small, and not worrying about a wheelchair fitting thru. Being able to be out and about more as a family, and not confined to bed.  Being able to enjoy each day! 

Some are asking about my funding page.  My funding page is on the right side, National Foundations for Transplants.  What a blessing it has been.  Thank you for so much for all who have given.  Whether its been great or small it all helps!  Also thank you for your support with the gift cards, emails, texts, calls, cards, love, and most of all prayers.  Thank you! 

I'll update next week or have Shane.  Have a great weekend!

Love,

Jamie 

I'll be home for Christmas...

It's been busy since my last update and lots to catch you up on.  I had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  The food was all yummy and  very tasty.  I definitely ate my share and more.  But more than my stomach being full, my heart was bursting with gratitude for all the many blessings from God!!!  I have so much to be Thankful for!  I know I say it a lot on here, but I am beyond blessed!  This is nothing I've done, but God and all your prayers. To God be all the glory! 

We've made a few trips back and forth to Cleveland since my last post. Shane and I took off the Sunday before Thanksgiving when we had the bad snow storm that weekend. Not good!  We counted over 15 vehicles in ditches between Princeton and Morris.  Some people were still in the car waiting for a police officer to arrive but alright, other cars were sitting empty from what looked like a few hours prior.  After counting the 15th one, we watched from the opposite side of the interstate a car slide into the ditch and roll 2-3 times.  I was done after seeing that happen right before my eyes. I just cried and prayed and was ready to go back home.  Thankfully God protected us and the roads were clear from that point on and we were able to make it safely to Cleveland.  We returned back for another scope, biopsy, and doctors appointment the second week of December.  After the appointment we stayed for a dinner that they were serving to the liver and intestinal transplant patients.  We stayed over, and the next morning went to Life Banc,  an organ procurement center.  There I shared my story with the staff. There was probably 40-50 staff and not many dry eyes by the time I wrapped it up.  It was extra special having Shane and the children sitting in the front. As we were leaving this lady came running after us as we were backing up. She introduced herself and said,  "I'm Julie, the one who called you the day we had a match for you."  She was someone I hadn't met through my process and was it neat to finally meet her.  We made one more trip this past Tuesday for a scope, biopsy, and appointment.  We took thte kids with, because if I had to stay there we wanted to all be together for Christmas.  Turns out all was well and we were able to come home, just in time for Christmas.  We made it there at 1:30 am. We got to bed around 2 am, got up at 5 am and out the door and on the road by 6 am. I had labs at 7 am and then a scope and biopsy. Afterwards, a doctors appointment, a liter of fluid, a nap at the hotel and a text later that afternoon saying all is well, head home.  So, back on the road once again, but happy to be heading home.

I have still been having issues with a high creatinine and having to do IV fluids to help flush my kidneys.  For this reason I will be having my stoma reversed or taken down. They feel that it will help my creatinine level and allow me to absorb more.  They were looking at doing this in December, but I just couldn't put my family thru that around Christmas time.  I wanted to enjoy not having to be in the hospital or sick.  They were okay with that,  so we are juggling around the doctors schedules for a date. Not positive, but maybe looking at the 3rd week of January.  Excited to get the last thing finished and behind me, but not looking forward to another surgery & being gone around 2 weeks or so, but I know it needs done.  Other than that,  things continue to be going well besides the migraines, but hard to complain when looking back how my health was a year ago.   I am getting ready to go on my 7 months post transplant!  Thank the Lord for my Miracle!  Christmas was a little rough at times for me as I thought of my Donors Family grieving, my heart hurt for them.  My heart ached for them knowing they were missing one around the table or sitting in the living room. The first year without their loved one. All I knew to do was pray for them.  Yes, I  sent a letter and a few cards to them within the past 3 months.  I was really hoping to hear from the family by now, but it hasn't happened.  The way the process works is, I send my card unsealed to LifeBanc, they contact the family each time I send a card, the family decides yes or no to having it forwarded to them. They thankfully have said yes every time.  Then the process is the same if they send a card to me.   Live each day as a gift from God.

The children are doing good!! They are keeping busy with school.  They have been a wonderful help around the house with things. I think Matthew keeps growing about every couple weeks.  I'm so thankful for the 3 precious blessings God has given to us.  They each are a blessing in their own unique way. They all love God and have tender hearts.  I pray as they get older, that continues.  For Sunday School they did Random Acts of Kindness throughout the year.  I have tried putting that in them prior to the RAKS being done.  I just want them to be sensitive to others needs and help brighten others days regardless if they are rewarded for it or not.  We live in a self centered society and I want my children learning to give.  And that it doesn't have to be of finances, but maybe their time, or some of their abilities.  It pushed them to come out of their shells and let Gods love shine through them.  Our church choir did a Christmas musical and the girls were in it.  The songs were beautiful and the presence of the Lord was there!  I love our children and am so glad we are able to build memories with them. Time is flying by and they are growing fast.  

Some have asked about my comment section.  You can not leave a comment on the blog, but I do have email.   My email is j-pennington@live.com    

I also had some ask if I'll be staying in the hospital the time we are there for the surgery in January.   I will be in for 4 days or so, but before and after we will be staying in the hotel we usually do.  The funding page is on my blog, for those of you who have asked about donating to it. It will be up as long as I'm kicking and breathing.  There will always be expenses between trips back and forth to Ohio, hotels, hospital bills, medications, and the list goes on...    God has been so good to us and blessed us time and time again whether its been a big or small donation-its all a huge blessing!  

I hope to update this by next week, but in the mean time I'll leave you with a quote I read at the end of my speech 

Life is like a camera 

You focus on what's important

Capture the good times

Develope from the negative 

And if things don't work out take another shot

No longer residing in Ohio :)

Wow!!! So much to catch up on!  Forgive me if I miss something, but so much has gone on.   I got the green light to go back home to Princeton in September.  We had lots of packing, and more packing and loading up of vehicles.  We weren't able to get everything in the two vehicles so we left some in Cleveland knowing we would be back in two weeks.  We were definitely loaded down no doubt!  We headed home September 11 after I finished a Dr. appointment.   

The trip went well besides me driving thru Chicago area.   Not my cup of tea people.  Thankfully, I have a very patient husband who was able to guide me on the phone.  The girls rode with me and still laugh about me talking about driving in Chicago.  It's not for this girl. Ha!  

Anyway...when I pulled into Princeton it felt GREAT TO BE HOME!  The following day I tried to surprise all I could by riding in the back of my Pastor and wife's Polaris.  It was all decorated up and I held a sign saying "A miracle is home from Cleveland Clinic".  It was so fun to see the shock in so many faces. Some were shocked, some just gave a little wave then recognized it was me and gave a really big wave then, some cried, and many had big smiles on their faces.  I had people yelling back or coming up to me and saying welcome home.  It was so much fun! What a neat way to let everyone know....I'm back home!   

I am so blessed! It was only 4 months post transplant and I was able to be home.   It felt good to be in my own bed, my own kitchen cooking, getting clothes out of my closet, use my own towels, have my ceiling fan running in my bedroom, cook in my kitchen, and sit at my dinning room table.  Feels good to eat at the local restaurants. Thank you for those of you who have blessed us with gift cards to eat out at some of them.  I've missed seeing family and friends while gone and being able to be back with them.  I've enjoyed being able to be in our church.  So thankful for a church to go to in Ohio and for them taking us under their wing, but nothing like being home again.  I stand in awe of God's goodness to me. 

I was able to come home if I promised my Dr's I would return every two weeks.  Quick trips, but well worth it to be able to home and not the hotel this whole time.  Things for the most part are going well. I still am fighting some little things going on like the headaches.  My labs about 2 1/2 weeks ago showed by Creatine and BUN were elevated enough they were concerned about it.  So, while waiting in a lobby to pass time before my Dr appointment with them I received a call saying I needed to be admitted as observation to get fluids. I had 4 bags of sodium bicarbonate and at least 2 bags of normal saline in less than 24 hours. I was discharged from the hospital, but has to stay local till Wednesday and then I could go home after my appointment.  By Wednesday I had 10 pounds of fluid on me! My face to my feet were swollen.  Even my eyelids.  I got home and since then I've had to do more fluids due to the creatine going up.   They gave me 2 kinds of IV medications to get rid of fluid which did help in just a few hours I lost all the fluid in my face and feet and the 10 pounds.   By Friday my labs were done again and I needed a bag and half of IV fluid to bring down the creatine again. They    asked if I'd have it rechecked on Saturday morning again to be on the safe side.  I got a phone call mid morning with news that my creatine only went down one point and that we needed to come to Cleveland to be admitted.  They wanted to make sure there was no rejection going on and try to flush me with more IV fluid.   When I got the call, I was in the middle of preparing food for an 8th grade graduation party for Kelsey.  I was having a family party for her at noon.   I explained what I was doing and asked if I could head for Ohio afterwards.   Thankfully they said yes that would be fine, but if needed I was ready to pack and head right then.  So, I packed very quickly and headed off to do her party.  Our car was packed so by 3ish we were on the road for Ohio.  My Physican Assistant called me that evening saying they had a bed held for me on transplant floor.  By 11:30 pm we arrived and around 2:30 am they had finished and was able to sleep for a lil bit. My biopsy Sunday came back as inflammation, but NO rejection! Praise the Lord!   Music to my ears!    

I was able to meet a sweet young lady who is looking at having to go on the transplant list.  I was able to share some of my story with her.  Looking at her in bed reminded me of myself the past several years and my heart hurt for her.  I pray I was able to be a blessing to her.  

I'm back home again now and they are keeping a close eye on my labs.  If my creatine is still misbehaving on Monday, I'll be having to go back to Cleveland for another checkup, but if all is stable...I can wait another 2 weeks.  That would be wonderful!  Yesterday was my 5 month anniversary for my transplant. I'm so grateful that everything is going so well.  Yes, there's bumps along the way, but nothing like the bumps I've faced the past several year.  I feel so much better and I am so blessed! I am enjoying life and all that it brings.  

A big thank you for those who have donated to my fund through the website or by mail.  What a blessing with us having to make trips there every 2 weeks and the expense of hotel cost also.  It starts to add up quickly.  So thank you so much!!! Also thank you for all your continued prayers, cards, and emails.   It is all very much appreciated!  

The kids are so glad to be home and back into their own surroundings and routines.  School is going pretty good for them.  Kelsey is in 9th grade, Kailey is in 6th grade, and Mr. Matthew is in 5th grade.  Seems like just yesterday they were in preschool...what happened?  They are each unique and special in their own way.  What blessings they are to us! We are enjoying being a family and doing things together.  Building memories.   

Tomorrow is a special day for us.  We said I do...19 years ago! A commitment to each other for a lifetime.  To love each other in the good times and the bad, sickness and in health, rich or poor.   God has been so good to us!   He's brought us thru the mountain tops and valleys.  There's been hard times but together we have made it through with God's help.  So thankful for my husband!   He's been by my side thru the thick and thin.  In the day and age we are living in when a spouse is very ill for a lengthy time the marriage doesn't make it a lot of times.  So glad honey, that we are enjoying this amazing journey together.   I wouldn't want it with any but you! 19 years ago walking down the isle hand in hand as Mr. And Mrs. Pennington.  I love you more than I did that day.  

Here's a few pictures for you all enjoy.    

My first hamburger and zucchini.  DELICIOUS 

Cheesecake Factory....YUMMY

LIFE BANC 

I'm home!!!

KIDS, and TOMATOES, and STEAK...oh my!!!

It's not lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!  Lots to update you on though.  First thing, my heart is full and dancing with my 3 precious kiddos being back here with us. All 3 of them have grown.  Their voices are music to my ears.  Lots of hugs and kisses, giggles and laughter, picnic, cookie making, hamburger eating, walking in the park, grocery shopping, going together as a family to church, ice cream cones, watching the sunset at the lake, prayer time, and the list continues to go on.   We are doing things as a FAMILY and it feels so wonderful.  It's so nice to be a part of the outings and do things not watching from the side lines or staying back because I'm too sick.  

The kids have started school  and are working hard.  I have full appointments still on Mondays so they don't do their offical school those days.  They keep themselves busy with reading  a book on a President or a State and then do a report on it.  We move through 4 different buildings, so if they did their actual school, by the time they got set up and logged in, it's time to move on to the next place.

Things are going well with me.  No signs of rejection, praise the Lord!  I still have rough days like fighting bad headaches from the prograff ( anti-rejection) medication.  Still with the things I am having issues with it's better than how things were before.  Thank the Lord!  I've been able to add more foods to my list to eat.  I've had a few tomatoe sandwiches which were yummy. I've also been able to add a few more fresh fruits to it also.  And a drum roll please....a juicy delicious New York Strip.  I savored every bite, with not one piece left behind.  I didn't feel nauseated nor did I get sick!!  Thank you LORD!!!

As of right now I'm still doing labs, scope and biopsy, and Dr. appointments every Monday.  That means up at 5 am and on the road by 6 get there for labs at 7 and end the day usually around 4-5 pm.  The kids experienced their first BIG day like that last week and handled it very well.   

Hard to believe it's already been 2 months and getting ready to go on my 3 month aninversary!  So blessed for every miracle God has given to me.  Without HIM and your prayers I wouldn't be this far!  I am greatful for your prayers, love and support.  A BIG thank you for each of you who have helped support us financially.  Each of you who have given through the funding page that's on my blog here on the right side or sent it in a card.  I understand times are tough so not everyne is able to help that way.  Whether it was great or small, I promise it's a huge blessing to us with us having a house and hotel to pay for along with a lot of added expenses.  Also thanks to those who have brightened my day with cards and letters.  It's one of the highlights in my the day to go down to the desk and get mail. To open and read a card and it not be a bill or something medical.  Just little things that make my day.  

I've been able to meet a few sweet fellow intestinal transplants patients and get their info to keep in touch with them.  Also got to catch up with my sweet roommate who had a liver transplant.  Our families went and had icecream together after her appointent.  So thankful that God has allowed  all our paths to cross and meet others.  I pray I can be a blessing to those around me.  

May you have a wonderful week!!

With love-

Jamie