Hey, bro' -
This had to be the one day I was not on the board earlier to see your message. I'm not a big praying type but I'll float one tonite for you and Michele. I'll also ask around via wife and daughter (both RNs) and see if they have any guidance....but it sounds like you have top drawer docs. Keep us informed on how the testing goes for the living donor.
Jerry

 

charlie,

i was at temple with Dr Black for 11years, he is an excellent choice. I don't know the 2, but if they are good enough for martin black i would stick with them.

 

Charlie,

I have a good friend who's an anesthesiolgist as Hohns Hopkins and has worked on many liver transplants. He's said to me many times that when you need complicated surgery, find the physician with the most experience. It sounds like Michele will be in very good hands and I am optimistic that all will work out for the best.

Rick

 

I am all to aware of the anxiety you must feel, having had dealt with serious illness in my family. Have faith in the doctors, the medicine and most of all your wife. Your wife and family will be in our hearts and prayers. Please keep us updated we are all waiting to hear of her full recovery.

 

Wow! I wish you and you family good luck!!!! Be strong!

 

UPDATE: 3/2

Well her cousin flies in today from California to have the final 3 tests to confirm she will be able to donate half her liver to my wife. The tests will be at H.U.P. It's going to be a stressful week waiting, I will keep everyone posted on the progress. If she is a match surgery will be scheduled for the end of the month.

 

Charlie ,Trish and I will say a prayer.We have fond memories of your wife from 2 years ago at new hope.Please dont hesitate to pm me with any questions/concearns related to her unusual condition.Sometimes the barrage of info can be confusing,and often the issues are lost for lack of time on the docs side of things.

 

Thanks John, it's nice to see your around. at H.U.P. they have a great translplant team and are just a phone call away if there are any question or concerns. We are very pleased with the care. My wife being the intellectual type prob can be an expert on P.S.C. and transplant procedures . I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. If we have any concerns or questioons be sure we will pick your brain and also mdb. It's nice having two Doctors in our club

 

Update: 3/11/02

We received the news we were waiting for all week. My wife's cousin Kristen is a perfect match

She endured testing all last week which included a MRI to determine the size of her liver was big enough to be split. An angiogram to determine if her arteries were placed properly and that her bile ducts were also placed properly for the procedure of splitting the liver. Then on Friday she underwent a liver biopsy to make sure there was nothing wrong with her liver.

It was a long week for our family and Kristen but so far all is working out perfectly.

The date for the operation is tentatively for the 21st of this month. 10 days away!

Please continue to pray for them this surgery is going to be hard on both of them but if all goes as expected my wife will be back to normal in a few months and Kristen should be back in shape in a few weeks. This is hard to believe b/c my wife has been sick for so long we forgot what it was like to be healthy and live life without this illness hanging over our head.

Thanks again for everyone's well wishes and prayers so far it's working out.

Here is a pic of Kristen(left) and my wife Michele (right)

 

Charlie:

Words can not express. . .

Anna and I wish you and your family the best and your wife and Kristen will certainly be in our prayers.