I cannot begin to imagine what Karen and Amanda went through. This is my perspective and what Jessica and I went through on the day of their surgeries.

 

   

Sunday night we went to the Cleveland clinic so Karen and Amanda could be admitted. After final testing and putting in IVs, they were ready. Now a long night ahead for all of us.

Jessica and I returned home and tried to get some sleep. We woke up early and arrived at the clinic around 6 the next morning. First we walked down to surgery with Karen and said our tearful goodbyes while trying to be strong. Then we had to race up to Amanda’s room, scared we wouldn’t make it before it was her turn to head down. Thankfully, we made it in plenty of time. Jessica even had enough time to braid her hair.

 

We then walked Amanda down to surgery. Again, with the tearful goodbyes and trying to be strong. Not an easy thing to do: putting the people you love in the hands of someone else.

Jessica and I checked in at the desk and we both received pagers that would give us updates throughout the day. It’s great to know things are going well, but our hearts would sink every time that pager would beep. Thank god we had family around us that day. Such a long day of worrying and praying.

Finally, at about 3:15 p.m., my pager went off. After 21 years it came to this. Not sure why, maybe happiness or relief, but when I read this it brought tears to my eyes.

 

   

About a half hour later we got news that Karen was out of surgery and we should go meet with the doctor. Again, Jessica and I raced over to meet the surgeon and thankfully he told us everything went great. That was over eight hours after she left us that morning.

We were now anxiously waiting to see Karen and also still waiting for Amanda’s surgery to finish. The next message I received was at about 5:40 p.m. and was a huge relief.

 

  

A little while later we were able to talk with Amanda’s surgeon and found out that everything went according to plan. Nearly 11 hours after we last saw her she was out of surgery and recovering in the ICU.

We were able to visit both of them that night and I can’t imagine the pain and discomfort they were in, wishing I could take it away. It was very hard seeing them that way. Karen in quite a bit of pain and Amanda still so sedated that she wasn’t even awake.

The next day we returned to the hospital to visit. One day in the ICU and Amanda already had her phone. Apparently she was snapchatting pictures of herself.

 

Later on, Karen was able to visit Amanda for the first time after surgery. Jessica was in the right place at the right time and was able to take this picture. Easily my favorite picture of all time. Mother/daughter. Donor/recipient.

 

The following weekend Amanda had a special visitor which lifted her spirits some after being cooped up for so long in the hospital.

 

I thank Jessica for being as strong as she was and being with me through all of this. I could not have done it alone.

I thank all the surgeons, nurses, pre- and post-transplant teams and staff at the Cleveland Clinic. It is amazing what they can do. This was the worst and best day of my life. All the emotions, waiting, praying. It is a lot to deal with and I thank my family for all the support they showed and continue to show. We could not have gotten through this without you.

Thank you for reading and for all the continued prayers and support from all of our friends and family.

Mike