Am happy to report Angie and Mom had a really good night!! This hopefully will carry over to rest of day. They are watching her blood count pretty closely right now as it has dropped from the 10 area to 7’s, if it gets into 6’s it will mean a transfusion. They had warned us before surgery that there was a good chance that she would need a transfusion, so if you are considering a procedure you may want to have your own blood used. (blood drawn and stored). We didn’t have enough time also hadn’t thought about it!! Blood bank is pretty safe anymore but you never know!!! No physical therapy today account of it. That didn’t really break Angie’s heart, she worked pretty hard  at therapy yesterday.  Dr. Dunn and Dr. Borja (surgeons) stopped in. They are really pleased with her progress (“you are way ahead of the plan”). Awesome!!! Praise the LORD !!! This brightened her spirits along with telling her that they didn’t think that she would need that blood transfusion after all. (big smile). GOD IS GREAT !!!! so many prayers are being answered, keep them coming!!!! Thank you!!! She did get up and walk the halls after Dr. visit as physical therapy had already visited for day. This also helped bowels, thought maybe it was going to be another enema(not so much), everything is moving well now!!! They had backed off tube feeding(5ml) because of bloating earlier but now everything is moving again so have kicked it back up(20ml). Goal is 45ml. Dr.Dunn explained that a can of Coke is 300ml. Light came on with that explanation. Rest of day has been pretty uneventful, we like uneventful!! Rest is good. The new lances for blood sugar testing are wonderful, she is almost sleeping through them each hour.

Incision 4 days out

Last night was a little rough. Very little sleep for Angie and Mom. Cramps started about 1:00am and never subsided. Lots of bloating, pain and tears. She needs to get her bowels working. She was up walking the halls 4-5 times throughout the night. Still didn’t work. Doctors were in this morning, took her off blood thinner drip “Praise GOD” (another tube removed) and also started her on lasix to help rid of water and bloating.   They are really pleased with her recovery. Dr. ordered an enema(dang it), also stopped tube feeding until she has bowels moving again. Physical therapist was in also, all that was accomplished were tears. She is sooo bloated, in major pain and doesn’t want to get out of bed!!! She is so strong and determined!!! Gets up anyway to pee!!! Praise the LORD!!! There is movement(Life is good)!!! No enema needed. What a relief(literally) She also has lots of bile flowing from G-tube (gastric) that apparently was backed up account of no movement in bowels. Praise GOD!!! Everything is flowing good now, we just need to keep it that way. They also took her off of morphine drip this morning and replaced it with oral long lasting morphine so is now using pump only when she needs it.(first sip of water since surgery even though it is to take meds) its amazing how we take everything for granted. Praise GOD!!!  Her scar is looking really good, healing very well!! Her back is killing her!!! We are constantly massaging it for her whenever she gets up. Sorry for the rambling trying to think of everything that has gone on throughout day. (need to take notes) She is really tired along with her mother. Hope they get a nap this afternoon!!! Not so much.  The new lance for taking blood sugar readings is a GOD send. Anyone that is going in for this procedure or anything like it that need blood sugar readings, get your own lance!!!! the ones in the hospital are brutal (ACCU-CHEK by AVIVA) is the one we have, wish we had it from day one. Its been a learning experience. Big day so far!!! GOD is Great!!! Pain is back along with bloating(dang it). Ordered enema kit(oh well). It works(life is good again). It has been a really long day, no nap for anyone, hopefully lots of sleep tonight. Been an extremely tiring day with lots of positive’s. We want to THANK YOU for all your continued support and prayers!!!!

Another really good night. She was up walking the hall’s until 12:30 am. Bound and determined to get her bowels working again on her own versus the help they want to give her.Its truly amazing mom is getting more sleep than Angie, sleeping on the padded ledge by the window. She won’t let me relieve her(mother henn). They are still waking her every hour for blood sugar levels. ouch!!! sore fingers. Praise GOD!!! She is doing so well, although she doesn’t think so. We have some emotions going on but how could we not with all she has dealt with the last few days. They told us there would be up and down days. It has been a very busy day with walking the halls, getting up to use the restroom, physical therapy and just the hospital in general. They have had quite a time keeping her blood sugar regulated today. Its been any where from 89 to 159 but have been increasing food intake and this is to be expected.They plan on upping her food intake again(feeding tube) in the morning. Once they get her to 45ml a day, they will take her off insulin drip and only have to check blood sugar every 4 hours, hopefully by tomorrow evening. Physical therapy just had her walking in the hall and made her do 3 squats(small ones) that really upset everything. She has muscles talking to her that were abused during surgery and are now being stretched and not liking it. She is so strong and determined.What an inspiration she is to the people around her. Praise the LORD!!!! Doctors were just in and are very happy with her progress.

We want to thank everyone for your continued support and prayers!!!

Angie had  a really good night!!! Blood sugar staying in the (80 – 120) range, which is great news. A constant game of balance between insulin and feeding. In the process of increasing tube feeding. Currently at 30ml a day and wanting to get it to 50ml. Once that is reached she will do insulin injections and get off insulin pump (another tube removed).This is about a week out they are estimating. Praise GOD!!!!! She is becoming more and more alert. Foley catheter was removed this morning(another tube removed) Praise GOD!!!! . This afternoon sitting in potty chair trying to pee, ya right (that didn’t work after 40 minutes)., back into bed with everything upset. Surgeon came in shortly after and is very pleased with progress but stated we need to get her up, walking and she needs to drain her bladder or they will have to use catheter again. Look out Angie is on a mission, no sooner than doctor left she hit her pain medicine pump and said “I’m ready to walk,lets go”. Walked straight to the bathroom and did her business. Awesome!!!!Praise the LORD!!!! Don’t know how anyone uses those potty chairs anyway. She still has some infection from all the pancreas stinting(imagine that she only had 75+ of them) so they will continue antibiotics for approximately another week. She has had off and on cramping in abdomen but that is to be expected. Doing respiratory therapy and it is still hard to take a deep breath but getting better. Inspirometer(breathing capicity instrument) is   1300 Dr. would like 1500. She will be there shortly. Insulin is at 0.5cc. She is now headed for the hall with her tree(unbelievable). Pic will be posted first walk!!!

They took the NG tube out of angies nose and moved her out of immediate care :).  Yeah!!!

Angie sat up and stood up!!!!!!!  About 2:00 mtn time the physical therapist came in and Angie sat up on the side of her bed and then stood up and took a couple baby steps!!  She’s is doing so good and we are all so proud of her.  Praise god, he is awesome, our prayers are being answered,  thank you everyone who has had her in their prayers, but we still need all we can get 🙂 .  Her blood sugars are staying steady and she is asleep resting again.  We’ll update again in a bit.

Thank you everybody,

Mom and Greg

Hi Everybody,  it’s day two and Angie is still doing awesome.  She’s still is in a significant amount of pain from the surgery but that’s to be expected.  Yesterday her pain was down to a 5 out of 10,  which is awesome its been a long time since we’v e heard that number.  She is so strong, it is always amazing to see, she is so inspirational.  She is more aware today and talking and even watching tv a little, she’s been resting well and last night was a good night.  They are talking about taking out her NG tube in her nose today which would be fantastic.  Her nausea is getting better as well. Our mile stone will be sitting up in the chair, Oww !!!  Her incision site looks good no infection or redness, she’ll be able to move to the transplant floor today, God willing, keep the prayers coming!!!!!

Mom and Greg

Good Morning Everyone,

Angie is resting well at the moment, long night though trying to get her pain and nausea controlled.  She is such a trooper, she is the strongest person I know, and I love her so much, we all do.  They will begin the feeding tube today.  The physical therapist came in this morning and was gonna have Angie try to sit up, but they had to move her to another bed so that ended up being enough physical therapy for the day.  She went straight to immediate care last night so she didn’t end up having to go to the ICU.  She got to her room about 10pm.  She has been battling nausea all night but her pain seems to be mostly from surgery.   Nasal Gasrict tube is now looking better no more blood which was concerning through out the night, infection will keep her on antibiotics, after all the ercp’s not to unusual.  Shes still resting comfortabley its about 1:40 minnesota time.  Her blood sugar was 108 and is staying stable, after it got up to 207 last night (which is kinda scary) it has been a lot more stable.

Thank you everybody,  keep praying 🙂

We love you,

Greg and Beth

Hello all,

Angie’s is doing really well so far, the first incision was made ad 8:35am, they removed the pancreas and spleen  after about 2 hours (which was awesome), and took the pancreas to the lab to start the process of extracting of the islet cells.  At about 12pm the reconstruction was complete and the was very little blood loss which is good.  At 4:30pm the began introducing the islet cells into the liver and closing things up.  So far so good, the doctors here are amazing and have kept us well informed the entire time.

The Surgeon just came out and said EVERYTHING WENT GREAT!!!  We are so happy, we still have a long road ahead but what a relief.  They managed to get 197,000 islet cells and divided by her body weight its 6321.  We’ll be in recovery for three hours and then transition to icu if she is too sleepy, otherwise she’ll go to  immediate care , we will be able to see her tonight in the next couple hours hopefully :).

Praise the lord and keep praying 🙂

Thank everybody

Hi everybody,

Well today is the big day, we got to the hospital (University of Minnesota, Fairview) at 5:45 am central time to get prepped for surgery.  Angie is in really good spirits and looking forward to a new beginning.  No more pain and being able to eat regularly again.  We are all excited :), its hard to believe its finally here.  Everyone please keep Angie in your prayers, she loves the support.  I will update again later in the day.

Greg