Saturday, April 18, 2009

Let's Try This Again

Olivia has recovered very well since her Wed biopsy & procedures. She is back to eating full strength formula & on all her oral meds. The pediatric service wants to send her home alter this afternoon. She had some labs drawn earlier this AM, as long as they come back within her expected levels, she will be good to go :)

We got another chance to talk to Dr. Lopez -- The Liver Specialist -- yesterday afternoon. We all came away feeling quite positive about Olivia's situation. He stressed nutrition & vitamin suplementation as the keys to keeping her growing and keeping her liver as healthy as it can be. He also repeatedly stated that keeping her heart healthy and getting it repaired would be The Single Biggest Factor affecting her liver and providing a longterm positive outcome for her disease process.

Back to work, more later whe or after she gets home.
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8 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 18, 2009 at 9:33 AM

    So from what I'm reading ... the bad news is that things are bad, but the good news is that it's all manageable. The nutrition and vitamin supplementation was what I had read about being the cornerstone to life with "Big Al" ...

    From the other reading I've done, it seems your doctors are following the protocols of other doctors dealing with Tetralogy of Fallot ... Deal with the heart one step at a time over the course of the next few years ... allowing things to complete their development and grow to provide the keys as to what next and when.

    The really good thing is the doctors are positive and not in panic mode. As an onlooker, it's definitely reassuring.

    So, with care and luck, she won't have to try this liver surgery stuff again :)

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  2. MandiApril 18, 2009 at 9:38 AM

    Welcome home, Olivia.

    hugs
    Mandi

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  3. UnknownApril 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    Welcome home Lil Peanut. Although there may be some issues to deal with, at least it sounds as though they can be dealt with which is a sure positive.

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  4. karpuzbabyApril 18, 2009 at 1:39 PM

    and through it all, she still manages to be so cute! uggghh, long road ahead... so what's the story now? does she go on a list for a transplant?

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  5. Ben & Sara HuelsbergenApril 18, 2009 at 5:58 PM

    Linda - Dr. Lopez was happy with her liver function. From the sounds of it, as long as we can keep her heart healthy her liver will do well. According to him only a small portion of infants need liver transplants.

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  6. RachelApril 18, 2009 at 6:05 PM

    WELCOME BACK Olivia!! What can we do to help your family Ben? Hopefully you can all get back to "normal" now.

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  7. UnknownApril 18, 2009 at 7:21 PM

    Now that is good news. The kind we all like to hear.

    So, it sounds like the jaundice and liver enzymes being off stem from the oxygenation and heart function levels. Makes sense I suppose.

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  8. UnknownApril 20, 2009 at 9:11 PM

    Welcome back home little diva!

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