Friends of Kaley Conway: It is National Save a Life Month

Monday, April 16, 2012

It is National Save a Life Month

April is National Organ Donation Awareness--Save a Life Month! Green is the "official" color!

First things first:

I have some great news! My liver levels have been fluctuating some but my last report on Friday showed everything in range and on target according to my transplant team. Also, they had me get an ultrasound of the DVT (blood clot)in my left leg last Thursday. The results were also great news! The medicine is working. The clots extended from my ankle to the very top of my thigh. With the newest ultrasound--the lower part of my leg and the upper part of my thigh are clear and blood is flowing through them! There is a section behind my knee where some blood is getting through but there is residuals from the clot. My mid thigh is still clogged and may be chronic which means blood flow would never get through again. But the veins around it have enlarged and taken over to help keep the blood flowing! I will continue the daily shots through July and recheck but the meds are working! Praise the Lord! I am seeing a cardiologist on Thursday because I have sinus tachycardia and they just want to have the heart specialists give their opinion. Update: My heart looked and sounded normal and healthy!!

I was asked to speak at St. Jude's church on Sunday. They were trying to create awareness for organ donation so I shared as my mom put it, the "cliff's notes" version of my story. They were very nice, encouraging and eager to learn more. It was my first time to actually share my story with such a huge group and I literally was shaking all over like a bowl full of jello. My mom did record me telling my story and I will post it on here in the next couple of days.

Since it is National Organ Donation month, here are a few startling but important facts:

**About 18 people on the transplant list die a day before the organ they need ever becomes available.
**At this moment, more than 113,000 people in the US alone are waiting for an organ.
**One organ donor can save up to 13 lives.
**The success rate for organ transplant is between 80-90%.
**Anyone regardless of age, race or medical history can sign up to be a donor!

2 comments:

KacyApril 18, 2012 at 8:25 PM
Two things:
1. I think I already told you I'm an organ donor. Lucky person, too. They're probably going to get all my good dancing genes. And grammar genes. Which leads me to my next point...

2. Are you aware you wrote "National Organization month" instead of National Organ Donor month? :)
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Friends of KaleyApril 19, 2012 at 10:21 AM
THANK YOU Kacy and yes I did notice after I published it. But it won't let me go back and edit.... It's always blank when I try to edit it.

And yes, very glad you are an organ donor, I will keep a watch on your eyes and make sure they stay put! :)
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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.