Check out these amazing pictures and Jenna’s post from today. It answers some questions. Transplant is a complex thing in every aspect. The fast that Shelby’s body will regenerate and Alex’s body will work with the new liver (with some help) is a wonderous thing. If you have questions, ask them here. Between Jenna, me, and our “resources,” (other people we know. We are smart women but sometimes we need help) we will answer what we can.
Jenna is thinking that their stay away from home may be extended another month. Your generous donations helped pay for lodging for this month. Can you help again? Any donation to COTA for Team Alex A will help the family stay together through this time.
Alex and Shelby’s matching liver buddy scars! (He’s got a lot of gunk on his belly we need to slowly work on washing off when it’s less sore)
I’m bored to death so I thought I would explain some of the issues Alex has had for my non medical people since we’ve had some issues.
The ongoing issue of his ileus is a paralyzed bowel. Bowels don’t like to be touched and his were touched A LOT. They fill up with gas because they’re not moving and his belly becomes distended, this is why they couldn’t close him on Monday. It is also made worse by the narcotics he was on for pain control. There isn’t a whole lot to do to heal it other than time and using the large NG tube to keep his stomach empty, and using suppositories/enemas to keep things moving from below.
Rejection is a known risk of any transplant, because you’re putting a foreign object into the body. In rejection the body goes into overdrive and attacks the liver. It’s treated with steroids to stop the immune system from attacking it. Alex will take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life. The main side effect of this is he will always be immunosuppressed and more at risk for infection. Infections in immunocompromised people are both easier to catch and more severe, so we will always work hard to protect him.
