Today is GIVING TUESDAY, and is post-transplant day 2. The sunrise was gorgeous on this tranquil morning. 

First, a bit about Giving Tuesday. This is a national day of giving, when generosity is encouraged and many individuals and companies donate annually to nonprofit organizations.

We are humbly asking that you would consider donating to Dylan’s COTA campaign for Giving Tuesday this year. 

You can donate by clicking the GIVE button right on this page to pay by credit card. You can mail checks to COTA at 2501 West COTA Drive Bloomington, Indiana 47403. To ask about other types of payment, or to receive help processing your gift in any way, please call 800.366.2682 or email COTA@cota.org. This is a fantastic organization that has partnered with Dylan to assist with a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.

💚💚💚

Dylan continues to do well. She’s more alert than yesterday, but still pretty sleepy. She has a little button she can push to give herself more pain medication, which she is using an appropriate amount. Her back feels sore, but her pain seems reasonably well controlled.

Her various lab results are looking pretty good. The numbers are moving mostly in the right direction, demonstrating that her new liver is doing what it is supposed to.

One of today’s goals is to add some nutrients to her IV drips. This is an important first step in what will be a long process of learning how to balance her nutrient intake and insulin and blood glucose levels.

Another goal, and the one Dylan cares most about right now, is to take some medication by mouth. Dylan really dislikes the NJ tube (aka feeding tube). The doctors had to make a new connection in her gut when they removed most of her stomach, and it’s a wound that must be treated delicately. The NJ tube goes into her nose and travels past the new connection to safely deliver contents into the part of the intestine below it. Right now, she can test out tiny amounts of fluid by mouth, like swallowing medication. But if she tries to drink too much fluid, it will go into her stomach and put excess pressure on that new connection. That’s too risky right now while the connection is starting to heal. Later this week, she will have an x-ray video done to verify that she is swallowing safely and the contents are going where they are supposed to. She keeps asking for a big glass of juice and it’s going to be really hard for her to wait.

Finally, she will work on mobility today. The physical therapist just came and got her into the recliner chair!!! To decrease infection risk, they also removed her bladder catheter and some more of her intravenous/arterial lines today.

We’ve heard lots of comments from staff about how well she is recovering, and we agree with them about how great she looks. We’re confident she can crush her goals today, just like she did yesterday.

We are beyond grateful for your all support on this beautiful Giving Tuesday! Thank you!