Thursday, April 9, 2009

She got the call!

UPDATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON: This was posted by Jeri's step-daughter Kristen today. "I just saw Jeri, she was doing good. Bekkie & I got to see her walk down the hall, it was pretty amazing considering she did it WITHOUT oxygen. We almost cried. But the doctors came in & said she was a "paper tiger", all her liver numbers are perfect & her lungs are awesome. She's doing really well, just in pain, but we just left because the pain service was in there trying to take the edge off. So, all is excellent. She looks amazing." I'm so happy for and proud of Jeri. Is this awesome news or what? Keep those thoughts and prayers coming!

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UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING: Again, I'm going to copy and paste from Jeri's caringbridge site. The last entry was written by her hubby at 7:30 pacific time last night. It sounds really good!!! Keep the prayers coming. Here is what Doug had to say..."She sat in a chair for over an hour earlier, next step walking around ICU after she rests for a couple of hours. She is still in tons of pain, mostly back pain caused by drain tubes. Dr Hoops says he would like to pull them tommorow. Also doing another bronch in the morning. All the staff in ICU are amazed how well Jeri looks and her recovery up to this point. She has a slight fever, hoping just post op fever.Nurse says probably just secreations in lungs, from not being fully inflated yet. Told Jeri to do her breathing exercise every half hour."

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UPDATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Here is the update from Jeri's caringbridge site... Doug wrote "Came back from ICU again, talked to two Lung Docs they said jeri's vitals are strong and stable. ICU nurse said they hope they can get her up and start walking this evening, all I can say is " WOW" so soon.I am so excited for her, her first steps without yukylngs in a very long time. She was a little more alert this time around." I'm SO stoked!

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UPDATE FRIDAY MORNING: Well, I didn't go to sleep until 4:00 am, and I've had my phone by my bed all night. I heard from Doug at 6:30 (eastern time) this morning and again just a few minutes ago. Everything seems to have gone well. Early this morning, he told me that the lungs were in, liver was in, and all they had to do was reconnect the bile duct and artery to the liver, and then close up incisions. Just now he told me that he is getting ready to go up to post-op to see what's going on, because he hasn't heard from the docs in awhile. The last he talked to the surgeons, they said that the organs were working beautifully!! YAY! I'll update when I know more!! Praise God!!!!!!

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UPDATE: The organs were good, so Jeri went into surgery about 4:00 pm pacific time. The surgery will probably take 10 to 15 hours! I'll update as I know more. Please keep those prayers coming.

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My dear friend Jeri just got the call! Yep, she's going in for a double lung and liver transplant!!! She was just listed on Monday!!!!! For those of you on CF2chat, you may remember her.


I am so excited. I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Jeri a couple of years ago when she and her husband Doug came to North Carolina to visit the race shops. They are big Nascar fans! This will be the first double lung/liver transplant that her center has done. Her lung transplant surgeon, who is now the head surgeon at her hospital in California, assisted my transplant surgeon at Duke during my surgery over 7 years ago. He is a really great surgeon, so I know she is in great hands!

Please keep Jeri in your thoughts and prayers today. Pray that the lungs and liver will be viable and in perfect shape to be transplanted, and pray for the wisdom of her surgeons. I will update as I hear more.

YAY Jeri!!!!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful news! I will keep her and her family in my thoughts/prayers, as well as her donor & family.

Marjolein said...

The best news Christy!
Thank you so much for sharing

Keeping Jeri, Doug and the rest of the family in my thoughts and keeping my fingers crossed

Christy said...

Yes thank you for that reminder Cindy. I sometimes forget since I had living transplants that for most transplants, someone has to die in order for someone else to receive organs. So I'll definitely be keeping the donor family in my prayers as well. Out of tragedy comes a new life!

Natalia Ritchie said...

That's SO cool!

Amanda said...

YAY JERI!

Keeping her in my prayers double time.

Amanda

Anonymous said...

That is awesome!!! I will be praying for her..keep us posted:)

Kellee said...

That is so wonderful!!!
She will be in my prayers!
Also thank you so so much for the kind comments =D...they make it worth the "crazy stalker" moments lol.

OceanDesert said...

GREAT!!! Do you know which center in CA?

Christy said...

Sara,
It's UCSF!

Leah said...

Christy,
Thanks so much for letting us know! I didn't even know Jeri was listed! Yes, Dr. Hoopes is an OUTSTANDING surgeon! He will always be my hero :) Let us know if/when you hear updates. Jeri, her family and the donor family will be in my prayers.

Hope said...

That's great!! I'm praying for her!

Heidi said...

What wonderful news! AND FAST! That is so great. Keep us posted.

Aspiemom said...

That's great news, Christy!

One of my favorite vacations was visiting Hendricks - of course we had to visit Joe Gibbs for my son, but I'm a Hendricks fan.

Amy Glessner-Arnold said...

Christy, Hoopes was my assistant TX surgeon too. I knew he went to CA somewhere.I will pray Jeri does well.

Somer Love said...

Wow!! Listed on Mon... Thats incredible!!!

PS My word verification for this comment is CYSTORSH

Probably short for Cystership :)

Unknown said...

Hi Christy,
I've never been over to visit until today. I just wanted to say hello.

Wow, what a story you have - and your attitude is awesome.

I'll pray this morning for your friend who is getting a transplant. Having had one yourself, you'll know just how to pray huh? My daughter who died at 6 would have needed a heart/double lung transplant - I know how scary the thought of it is, but didn't ever experienced it with her.

You have a beautiful family Christy. It's very nice to meet you.
Lynnette :)
Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground

Heidi said...

Christy, I'm such a dummy! I know Jeri! DUH! It clicked last night. WE used to chat all the time when I lived in the bay area because she lives in a tiny town where my grandparents used to live. We didn't ever end up meeting, she went to UCSF and I decided on Stanford for care when I lived there. Praying for her.

Christy said...

LOL Heidi, Maybe I should have said Yuckylngs. You probably would have known who I was talking about then. :)

Unknown said...

Praise the Lord!!!

Cara said...

HOORAY!

Aubrey said...

OMGoodness! I just read this and my tummy was all aflutter! That is fantastic news!

Jeri Dubois said...

I have just read all the comments and you are all very sweet. Thank you for all of your kind words and prayer. I am doing very well. I was actually told by liver today i don't need to see them for 6 weeks. Still seeing lung every week of course. It is amazing to breath.