Friends of Kaley Conway: Friday12/16/11

Friday, December 16, 2011

Friday12/16/11

Wow! I thought I would be home already I am still in the hospital being monitored closely. What an intense past few weeks it has been! I went from strep throat at the doctor's office to being on dialysis and the liver transplant list within a matter of weeks. The antibiotics for the strep are what caused the severe liver damage but that's a post for another time if you havent heard the story. (See the brief version on the left hand side of blog).

My recovery has been very good so far. I have occupational, physical, and respiratory therapy. Those are all helping. I am very determined to be getting home and starting life with my new liver! Although it will be a very up and down road, I am ready for the challenge. I am taking care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am SO blessed with my friends and family that I have helping me along the way. Any prayers and kind words mean a lot. Thank goodness God is in control since He knows what he's doing. All off my nurses, techs, and doctors have been wonderful as well--I can't say that enough!

9 days until Christmas! I hope to be spending it in my own home!

Kaley

++For all of my teacher friends, enjoy your holiday break!

Best Christmas gift I could imagine: nativity from precious Reese Holt. Love that boy!

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Contribution Information and Background

If you wish to make a financial contribution towards Kaley's recovery online, please utilize the PayPal DONATE button below. If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to Kaley Conway and email friendsofkaleyconway@gmail.com for the mailing address.

*Calls, texts and emails are all welcome. People may visit for short periods of time in very small numbers. Since Kaley's immune system is so weak and will continue to be, please do not visit if you have been, feel, think you might be or have ANY symptoms of being sick.

A very condensed version of Kaley's story:

On Monday, November 21st, Kaley was rushed to the emergency room at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital where her medical team found her to be in acute liver and kidney failure with her right lung partially deflated. Arrangements were quickly made to transport her by ambulance to St. Paul’s/UT Southwestern ICU. Upon admission to the ICU, a team of specialists determined that she would need a liver transplant in order to survive and that the liver would have to become available on an emergent basis. They began the task of getting her body healthy enough to be placed on the national liver transplant list. During this time, the medical team confirmed her diagnosis to be medication-induced liver failure, caused by Augmentin, a common antibiotic prescribed for strep throat. The next couple of days included a multitude of critical procedures, including continuous kidney dialysis, pulmonary treatments for her lungs, and stabilizing an acute infection in the kidneys and lungs. Kaley was placed on the national liver transplant recipient list on Thanksgiving day. She entered the list at the top, meaning most critical. In less than 24 hours after being listed, they received a telephone call from the UTSW Transplant Coordinator that they had located a liver, which was a perfect match and in great condition. On Saturday, November 26th, at 8:17 a.m., Kaley was taken to the operating room to receive her new liver. The surgery took 11 hours, and the medical team determined that they would preform a 2nd look-see procedure 2 days later. At the completion of the first surgery, they loosely closed her and took her to the ICU. On Tuesday, November 29th, Kaley had her 2nd and final surgery which took about 3 hours.