So sorry you guys, I am well OVERDUE for an update!!! (Much like with our bills) LOL! Last I blogged Casey had just had his 2nd liver transplant and all the doctors were ooo'ing and ahhhh'ing about how well Casey looked right after surgery and how quickly he recovered! It was like no big thang to him...that's how he rolls! Been there...done that! We both knew what to expect and we both knew that everything would be alright! Dr. C, his surgeon, is an awesome doctor and I put all my faith and trust in him.
Casey has been doing very well, as far as recovering from the transplant. Since this was not his first rodeo, this cowboy rode this out like a champ! He had to go to Liver Clinic twice a week and will be released this Friday! Being released means that he won't have to go back to the Liver Clinic until his one year anniversary!! Hopefully his new 16 year old liver will be a very promising liver and we will be able to get back to a normal life again and take up where we left off on starting our own family!! He had to have two chemotherapy sessions as a precaution in case there were still microscopic cancer cells in his blood stream. During his recent visist with his Oncologist, we found out that he will need two additional sessions due to bloodwork still showing there are cancer proteins in his body. :o( The actual process of chemotherapy is not the bad thing...its the side effects! He feels so fatigued, his joints ache, and he becomes nauseated. Not to mention, his hair falls out and he breaks out all over his upper body. But better safe than sorry! :-)
Because of Casey's ongoing dose of immuno-suppressive medications and his two rounds of chemotherapy before and after surgery, his Mercedes Benz shaped incision is not healing very quickly. :-( (That is as close as we will ever come to a Mercedes Benz Emblem! LOL!) Since his incision was not healing quick enough, they had to apply a Wound VAC to it. This is very interesting...for those of you who have never heard of a Wound VAC, google it. It blew my mind! It is a device that uses negative pressure to promote healing in the open area. It is used by forming an airtight seal over the area and "sucking" all the drainage out and pulling new tissue to the top. He basically has a tube sticking out of him in the incision area which is conncected to the actual Wound VAC which he carries around in a pouch...much like the satchel that Alan carries in the Hangover! LOL! It is working slowly but surely. He has to get the packing and tubing removed and replaced twice a week. It is such an expensive hassle driving to and from Baylor- Dallas! If I ever see another hospital again...it will be too soon!!! During Casey's healing process, liver clinics, wound clinics, chemo therapy...I had the additional worry of my brother and sister being in the hospital! My sister donated a much needed kidney to my brother!!! Both brother and sister are doing fine...but had their share of complications! But that's a totally different blog! ;o)
