Correction on Yesterday's post. The surgery on Sunday was believed to be in order to correct a bile leak. However, on entry they discovered infection instead. So, Victor continues to fight infection. They also did not open him completely, but entered laprascopically -- much easier for him. They did do a liver biopsy yesterday. The liver is still very healthy with no signs of rejection. Praise God!

Phylis

Learn how you can become an organ donor: www.JCCelgin.org/donor

It's interesting that as I feel better, life seems to move faster and faster. We had a busy weekend. The usual Friday night music practice and full church activities on Sunday morning. Then, Sunday night we hosted an audition for the third season of Inspiration Sensation. Above, our praise team sings the opening worship numbers. It was exciting to greet friends we hadn't seen in awhile like Rene Bradley and the Rev. Dan Willis as well as meet new ones. The contestants were great. You won't want to miss the first showing on March 11, TLN (comcast) at 8:00 P.M.

Victor had another surgical procedure yesterday to correct yet another bile leak. He is again recovering from fresh surgery. Today they were to do a biopsy on the liver to check for any additional problems. We haven't heard from Marta with the results of that yet. Sunday morning the message brought yet another reminder that God has all things in his hands. Thanks again for your consistent prayers for both of us.

I'm still doing well. After an active weekend, I was sore and tired today. I spent most of the day resting. (This has been my most strenuous activity!) Once again, thanks for your prayer and support.

Phylis Huerta
www.JCCelgin.org

Last night I went with Rodney and Victor's mom, Juana to the hospital. We were greatly heartened by Victor's condition. He is able to respond to conversation. Since he has a tracheal tube for breathing, and his arms are tied down so as not to pull at tubes, he is limited to mouthing words. Fortunately, Rodney is much better at lip reading than I, so we were able to communicate. He was asking about people and obviously aware of his situation.

They are lowering medications, both sedatives and the blood pressure meds, but he remains stable. He needs continued prayer that this improvement would continue. Also the remaining major medical issue is that his kidneys would begin to work. Doctors plan to begin physical therapy in the next few days to prepare for sitting up, standing, etc. It's been 4 weeks now since the initial surgery, and he's been immobilized for most of that time.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

PJDHuerta
www.JCCelgin.org/liver

Things I've learned
1. Slow is not necessarily bad. Slow is particularly helpful if one takes the time to think things through before moving. I find that thinking things through carefully has not been my forte. For example, if I get up to do three different tasks, it is more efficient if all three tasks are done before I sit down again. (Imagine that!! Isn't that profound?) I've discovered that I regularly waste a lot of motion and energy going back and forth.

2. Just resting is not boring if one needs the rest. My habit is to take things at breakneck speed and I couldn't imagine myself any differently. However, I've rather enjoyed the "just resting" part of recovery. Something I never thought I'd hear myself say. But when I really need rest, even reading becomes hard work.

3. "God has his own timetable" is a lesson learned in layers. It's not that I didn't already know God's timing is his own, and that he doesn't arrive late. I've believed that for as long as I can remember. But waiting for Victor to improve has taken me a level deeper into learning to wait on God. God will not be hurried by my need!

Phylis

Tuesday...Victor's condition continues to improve. He's more responsive. I'd like to think the last of his surgeries is over. If I count right, I think he's had 7 surgical procedures in the last 4 weeks...or maybe this last big one is 8. Something like that. Nobody every said a transplant was easy!! The good news is that his liver continues to function; his heart continues in good condition. They're lightening the sedatives and paralytics so that he is able to respond.

I went in to work today to eat lunch and greet everyone. It felt good to be there. But by the time I got home again, I was achey and tired, ready for an afternoon nap!! :) I guess I'm not ready to go back to work yet! Maybe in a couple more weeks I'll have an increase of strength! Need to. Can't stay off forever!!

At the check up yesterday, they said that 90% of my liver has been regenerated. It's not fully functional, but the organ is mostly there. That seems amazing to me. At three months it should be fully functional as well. I'm doing well, though. I can eat almost anything, just in very small amounts. Growing livers create a lot of acid, so a few acidic thing (like coffee and pop) don't taste good. But for the most part I can eat almost anything in small quantities. I guess I'm really doing well. Thank God.

Thanks again for your prayers for both of us!!

Phylis

I had my 4 week check-up today (3 days early) and I'm healing fine. I left blood for labs and those results will come later, but no bad news is expected. Everything seems to be fine. The Doctors said today that by now about 90% of my liver should be regrown! That's amazing. I knew that within 3 months it would bet totally there and completely functioning. But I guess the early growth is faster. And later growth involves finer points of liver function. Go figure.

An addendum to Friday night. Sammy did not go see his father. Rodney didn't want to take him out that late and into the snow storm of the season. Although Victor was stabilized by the time we got there, I really don't think it would have been good for Sammy. Victor still looked bad. God knows all thing!

Saturday and Sunday Victor remained stable. They lowered sedatives and paralytics, and he was able to move his arms and to respond some. Today his blood pressure dipped a bit. They went in laparoscopically to change the stint in the bile duct and discovered bile leakage. Then they had to open him again to fix the leak. Another surgery. The good thing is that Victor is so sedated that most of this experience, he won't even remember.

Marta called today about the laparoscopic surgery and then later when they had to operate asking for prayer. Although a bile leak is a fairly common complication for liver transplants and re-sections, Victor's condition is critical so the procedure is fairly high risk. Please keep praying. We so much appreciate you prayer coverning.

Phylis

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! By 11:15 when we actually got on the tollway to head for the hospital, Victor's blood pressure had stabilized. Thanks for your prayers. He's still in critical condition, but once again is stable. Doctors say that healing will come in very small increments. They've done an EKG and his heart is working well; his liver is working well; the kidneys continue to be a problem. I'm not sure I really understand, but the destabilization had something to do with the volume of fluid going into his body and the volume of fluid coming out of his body not being balanced. The heart was simply surrounded by too much fluid in the body cavity (not enough coming out) to maintain a steady flow of blood supplied by fluid going into the veins.

It's really difficult to see him this way. But...I don't believe that God has brought us this far to leave us now!!

The good news is that I was up all day and most of the night (we got back here about 3:30 AM) and have suffered no ill effects. My recovery is progressing well.

Please keep praying!
PHYLIS