Kayli is getting a new Liver!

It's 2:14 in the morning on January 3rd. We are starting the new year, the new decade...with a miracle. Kayli is getting a new liver, and a new lease on life. We now pray that the surgery continues without a hitch and that she has a speedy and full, uncomplicated recovery.

Mark & I arrived at the Blood Drive being held in Kayli's honor today ready to give blood shortly after 11:35am. We had appointments at noon, but were encouraging the donation technicians to take donations from the many walk-up donors that had arrived. No sooner had we said hello to everyone there, I turned around to find Mark on his phone, mouthing the words to me "We have to GO". At 11:42 he received the call that there was a possible liver match for Kayli, the transplant surgery was being tentatively scheduled for 7pm, and we were to go to the hospital and check in through the e.r. We quickly said goodbye to everyone, and with tears of joy streaming headed to the car, ensuring that Emily could stay with Granny who was there to donate blood. We ran to the house, quickly packed a bag for Kayli, and headed to the hospital.

During the drive down to the medical center, we discussed the possibilities of what was about to happen. We all reminded ourselves that the team had told us during our 2nd hospital visit that it was entirely possible that we could be called down several times for possible matches, be completely worked up and sent home. We all quickly agreed that was a huge possibility. Kayli said she didn't know whether to be happy or scared, I told her it was ok to be both.

We arrived to the hospital, checked in at the er, and they told us where to go next to a room on the 9th floor. When getting to the 9th floor, the waiting room was filled with people, and we were told to have a seat amongst the crowd as there was still a patient in the room we were going to. The 3 of us were really just thinking we wanted to get the show on the road so we would know if this was really going to happen or not. Our impression at that point was that this was just a possible match and a work-up would need to be done. It was probably about an hour wait, then we were finally put into a room.

After that point things seemed to move very quickly. And it was not long before we found that we were not being fitted for a match...this WAS a match and this WAS happening. We all remained pretty much in shock. Granny, Grampa George, Uncle Robert, & Aunt Claudia arrived for support, and not long after Uncle Daniel, Aunt Sunny, Greg, & Carly arrived as well. We all visited for a bit, Kayli then went for a chest x-ray, an ekg was performed, and we knew we were underway. We were informed that she may possibly be taken back around 6.
Around 6pm, Dr Mieles, the transplant surgeon came and talked to us about the risks and possible complications and we signed the consent and were on our way. They took her down shortly after 7. Mark & I were able to accompany her into the pre-op holding area to meet the anesthesiologists and OR nurse. We gave quick hugs and kisses and I love yous, and they wheeled her away with tears in her eyes, and Mark's. Mark and I then joined our family in the surgery waiting area, where my long time friend Brandy and her sister Toni brought everyone Taco Bell burritos and tacos! YUM!

Mike, who is a prat of the transplant team, has been keeping us informed and educated throughout the entire process. He called at 10:04 to let us know they had just started the surgery, and we were to expect a 7-9 hour surgery. He called again shortly after midnight to let us know that things were going extremely well and he would be updating us again in about 3 hours. It's currently 2:45 and I am anxious to hear an update.
We are currently being kept company by Granny, Aunt Claudia, Uncle Daniel, and our dear friends Robin & Rachel Adamo. Rachel has done an excellent job of keeping me entertained and engaged in conversation, smiling and laughing.
I am wondering what this will bring. What a whirlwind way to start the New Year. It's completely a miracle, but admittedly we are all still in shock that it has happened so quickly. Not that our lives hadn't been changed dramatically to begin with, but this changes so many plans Kayli and I had made to start off the new year and cope with what we were dealing with. I am so thankful for the Blessings and miracle which has been given us. I am so thankful that Kayli was able to enjoy Thanksgiving, her 15th birthday, Christmas, New Years, and time with her wonderful friend Ryan before this all came about. Our New Years wish has come true, and it still seems so surreal at the moment. But what a miracle that the call came at the moment it did, during a very important event designed to honor Kayli and her wishes to help others.

We continue to be grateful and appreciative of all the prayers and love and thoughts, and we are so thankful for all of the prayer warriors out there thinking and praying for us.