Eric Liam DeLeon<\/strong><\/a> you are amazing!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n7:30am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have taken him back!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10:13 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, the donor is in the operating room, and we are waiting for the next step in this delicate and emotional process. Although the donor has been declared brain dead, we are awaiting cardiac death before organ retrieval can begin. This is known as donation after cardiac death (DCD), and it involves waiting until the heart stops beating before removing the organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the heart is removed, it will be carefully transported here to begin Eric\u2019s transplant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our hearts are heavy for the donor\u2019s family\u2014the strength and selflessness they are showing in the midst of unimaginable pain is beyond words. Please continue to pray for them, for the medical teams involved, and for Eric as we wait for this life-changing gift to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for walking with us through every moment. Your love, support, and prayers are holding us up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10:45am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The donor has officially been declared a cardiac death. My heart aches for this precious family who, in the midst of unimaginable loss, chose to give the gift of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their child\u2019s heart is now on its way to the hospital\u2014to Eric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s hard to put into words the weight of this moment. We are grieving for one family while holding onto hope for ours. Please continue to pray for the donor\u2019s loved ones, for the medical team, and for Eric as we prepare for this next chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This heart is more than just an organ\u2014it\u2019s a symbol of love, sacrifice, and second chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11:51am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We just got the call\u2014Dr. Reyes has officially begun the heart transplant process. He\u2019s in the OR now, carefully opening Eric up and beginning the delicate work of removing old scar tissue to prepare for what\u2019s ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once they receive confirmation that the donor heart has landed safely, they will proceed with removing Eric\u2019s heart and placing the new one into his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the moment we\u2019ve all been praying for\u2014full of hope, emotion, and the incredible gift of life through organ donation. Please continue to lift up Eric, the surgical team, and the donor\u2019s family in your thoughts and prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new heartbeat is on its way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You got this, Eric. We\u2019re with you every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7:13pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been feeling terrible that I can\u2019t respond to everyone\u2019s messages fast enough. My brain just isn\u2019t all there right now, and it gets overwhelming trying to reply because I do want each of you to know how deeply grateful I am for your prayers, love, and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honestly, I\u2019ve given up trying to keep up individually, so I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you to everyone who came to be with him this morning. Thank yo, Garcia Family, for keeping Janelle while we get through this. Thank you to those who\u2019ve come by the Spiral to sit with us and just be present. Words can\u2019t express how much that\u2019s meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The question I get the most is, \u201cHow are you doing?\u201d The truth is\u2014better than I was. I took a 15 minute nap, had a shower and some food, and for the first time, I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m going to pass out from exhaustion or like my head is going to explode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m just anxious to see him. I want to hug him, squeeze his face\u2014I just can\u2019t wait. We are so proud of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, feel free to add Eric\u2019s profile if you\u2019d like to follow his journey. I\u2019ll be sharing updates there so we don\u2019t overwhelm anyone on my personal account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you all. Truly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7:35pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve been moved to the consult room \u2014 and the doctor just came in with an update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eric is stable and he did great through the procedure. We are so proud of his strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, his chest will need to remain open for the next 2\u20133 days. This is a delicate and very critical time. The blood vessels in his chest are extremely sensitive right now, and keeping the area open is the safest option to protect his healing heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of this, we kindly ask that no one come to visit during these next few days. Our top priority is keeping him safe and giving him every chance to recover fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s official \u2014 we\u2019ve started a new chapter in Eric\u2019s journey. Thank you for continuing to walk beside us through every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10:12pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TRIGGER WARNING!
Seeing him lying there, looking so strong and peaceful, filled our hearts with gratitude. He looks absolutely amazing, even with everything he\u2019s been through. His chest is still open for medical reasons, so please be aware before watching the video\u2014it\u2019s not easy to see, but it\u2019s a part of this powerful journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are in awe of his strength, the hands of the medical team, and the prayers that continue to lift him up. Thank you for standing with us through every step. Keep those prayers coming\u2014this is just the beginning of this new chapter!<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis time feels different. So very different. I remember his first open-heart surgery. I had only known him for 7 days, and yet I loved him with my whole heart. I watched as he came out of that OR connected to a heart and lung machine\u2014the most incredible thing keeping my baby alive. It was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2220,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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