New meaning of Thanksgiving

Hello everyone, as I sit here I was thinking what an amazing Thanksgiving this year is to me. I sit here in my living room with the tree blinking ( I know it is early but why not this year our living room tree is white and it is very beautiful) My mind gets to thinking that I am the luckiest person in the world to be here to day.

1. I am very thankful for the donors family, I can't imagine how they feel this year at Thanksgiving, my heart goes out to them each and every moment I am alive. I know they have got to be so proud of their child for saving 9 peoples lives and mine included. Sometimes this is so overwhelming to me all I can do is cry, because I know how it feels to loose someone you love so dearly. I just wish somehow they will find a way to have a good Thanksgiving.

2. I am thankful for my husband every since my surgery he has been there for all of my needs and sometimes I know I have ran him all day long and he never complained. Over and over he would say "I am so thankful you have this new liver so you can finally feel better." Just having him by my side the whole time has been a blessing in itself because I really needed him mentally and physically. Billy is the sweetest husband, and I am so thankful that he was brought up in the church. Billy is my counselor, my support when I am having an outburst of tears, he is my best friend someone who will always laugh with me and cry with me. He is able to pick me up when I am feeling down. Thank you Billy.

3. I am so thankful for my wonderful children. God has blessed me with wonderful christian children. I watch them grow up and date christian people and it makes me so happy that we as parents have done something correct in raising our children. I can imagine how scared for the whole year and fifteen days that I was sick because the unknown was the worst feeling and that is a lot for teenagers to cope with. I am so proud of them while I was in the hospital. Here's an example Jasmine came by one afternoon and I was crying because the nurse had come in with all my medicine to show me how to administer it all by myself and I was scared to death that I wasn't going to get it right so Jasmine crawled up in the bed with me for about one hour and a half and she went over and over it with me and it wasn't as bad as I had thought. There wasn't a day go by that Alex didn't give me a hug and ask me "How are you doing today mom?" and give me a kiss on the cheek. The day I had my surgery started a whole new life for me, my family and I held onto each other and bonded so thick I didn't think we could get any closer. I am Thankful for two.

4. I am thankful Kim and her family. Kim and her family have done so much for me. Kim is a wonderful wife and mother and best friend to me. If it wasn't for Kim I don't know if I would've gotten my IV meds at home lol. I love you so much for just coming over when I needed a friend to talk to and just hanging out with me. The children did wonders for me they always put a smile on my face and that is what I needed the most. Also thank you Paul for being there for Kim when I had my surgery the things you do are not unnoticed. I am so glad that Kim has you and you are a great guy. Thank you

5. Susan and David I don't know where to begin. I want to say yall mean the world to me and I am so thankful to be a part of your family yall have always accepted me from the start and that has always meant a lot to me. Susan thank you for saying on the day of my surgery "Mary is going to get her surgery today" and when I got the call I called you and you were as beside yourself as I was that is what family is all about. Thank you for all the prayers you sent out for me, thank you for the smile you gave me the day you and David came to the hospital when I was in that meeting about my medicine I remember looking down the hall and you were sitting in the chair down there with the biggest smile on your face ever. David you mean the world to me also. I am so thankful to have such a strong christian man that I can depend on if there ever is a problem. Oh I also heard that you cleaned the bathrooms wow David that is love for a family member there thank you so much. Thank you for all the other you did for us I want say what but I think you know what it is. Susan thanks again for putting all of the time and effort into cleaning my house this goes to everyone who helped I don't want to leave anyone out. I want to thank you Susan and David.

6. This goes out to Katie and Josh and Hannah. Thank you so much for everything you do for me all the prayers, smiles, and help during my time of healing. I know that times have been hard for you all but I know how strong christian people you all are and that God is definitly going to help you through all of these hard times. Hannah is so sweet and I love hearing her say Mary her smile is so bright that wherever she is she lights up a room. Josh I love you so much you mean the world to me. I am thankful for you and your family.

7. Daniel and Mandi thanks for coming and visiting me. I got so many cards from your congregation and getting them made me feel so thought of and thankful. Your christian work has been so powerful in my life that I know you have so much to share to christians your talent is endless. I am thankful for the two of you.

8. I am thankful for my sister. She has been there through thick and thin. We have shared so many tears and even more laughter. I am thankful for my nephew he is the sweetest baby even though I don't see him as much as I want to. I can call Pam anytime and she would be there, there are no limits when it comes to me and vice versa. Thanks Pam

9. I am so thankful for the small things in life which are a.That there are doctors out there that God gave the knowledge to do the surgery I had. b.I am thankful to be alive. c. I am thankful to have a warm bed to sleep in at night. d. I am thankful to be able to look outside and see the trees, leaves which have been beautiful this year, the leaves on the ground, the sky and think of heaven and how I hope to one day be up there with my mother to just put my arms around her and say 10000 times how much I love her and miss her. e.I am thankful to have been brought up in the church.

10. I am thankful for my brother, nephews, sister, and last but not least my dad. I saved the best for last. I miss my dad so much he is always on my mind and I pray he will wake up one day before it is to late. I will never give up on him because I know what kind of man he can be because he was that man for 41 years. Dad has put us through so much and I know that there is nothing God cannot do so whenever he is ready to intervene he will. My dad is a very sad man and just doesn't know how to cope with life so he goes about it in all the wrong directions. He is going to have to figure it out all on his own because there is some things we can't do for him. I am so thankful for all of my family I just pray that they will all one day wise up and see how important it is to have God in there life. It is very hard being the only one in our family that is a christian I just want so bad for them to be in Heaven with me and mom one day.

Well, I hope that I didn't leave anyone out I tried to include everyone. I Love you all and to all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. MARY

update on Jaterkeria

I called her mom this evening and Jakteria is still in Childrens Hospital and she has a infection called cvr her mom told me that is would be like a cold to normal adults but she has to stay in the hospital to keep her blood work checked and her levels have still been high. Talking to her really made me nervous this evening, she also said the nurse said that it is a possibility that the donor could have had this when he passed away and I was even nervous after hearing that but I am trying to keep my spirits up but today has been a challenge for me I think I have cried for about four hours today, I am assuming that it is the steriods that i just finished today and on a fun note Kim assembled my med. and after it she took out my IV and I called the nurse and told her she didn't need to come out today today that if she would just call Tammy and tell her she left her bag here and she can come pick it up tomorrow and she said just fine because she lived in Springville and that is a long way to have to travel just to get my IV out and Kim did as good as job as any of the other nurses.

Rachel I got the book you suggested and it is a very good book I am enjoying it so much it is so interesting, this is going to be fun and I am looking forward to doing this project with the group. I am already on page 100 and it gets so much better each page.

Guess I will go and please everyone pray for the little girl Jakeria she and her family needs it very much. Love everyone Mary

UPDATE IF YOU NEED A GREAT NURSE CALL 1-800-KIM

THE CRITICAL CARE NURSE CAME TO MY HOUSE FRIDAY AND I WAS I NEEDED SOMEONE ELSE TO BE HERE BECAUSE I COULDN'T DO IT ONE HANDED SO KIM SO GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE ONE. WELL, KIM HAS ADMINISTERED MY SOYMEDRAWL NOW 2 TIMES AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE WITHOUT HER. SHE HAS TAKEN ALL DAY ON FRIDAY AND ALL DAY TODAY TO ADMINISTER IT, IT TAKES AT LEAST 1HR AND 20 MINUTES TO ADMINISTER IT AND THEN TO DO ALL OF THE UNHOOKING TAKES A FEW MINUTES AND KIM IS WONDERFUL AT IT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME SHE HAS TAKEN OUT OF HER OWN TIME TO COME HERE TO HELP ME. I HAVE GOTTEN TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH LILA AND A LOT OF TIME WITH LEVI AND HE HAS REALLY CRACKED ME UP, HE IS THE FUNNIEST PERSON TO LISTEN TO TALK HE SAID SOME REALLY FUNNY THINGS TO SAY TODAY I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO QUIT LAUGHING. NOW I WILL SAY ONE THING LILA AND LEVI ARE VERY ACTIVE AND I DON'T SEE HOW KIM CAN STAND UP FROM BEING WALLOWED ALL OVER HER YESTERDAY AND TODAY I TRIED TO HELP AND I DID SOME WHATEVER HELP I COULD WHICH WASN'T MUCH. BUT OVER ALL SHE WAS GREAT.

I WILL BE TAKING MY LAST IV TOMORROW AFTER CHURCH. TODAY I GOT UP PRETTY EARLY AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE PAGAENT AND I DID. I WOKE UP FEELING PRETTY WEAK MAINLY WITH A HEADACHE (WHICH IS CAUSED FROM THE STERIODS)AND I WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AND CRYING BUT I DECIDED THAT I WASN'T STAYING HOME ALL DAY BY MYSELF, SO I PUFFED IT UP AND GOT UP AND WASHED MY HAIR AND BILLY FIXED IT AFTER HE DID ADDI'S HAIR AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, AFTER HE FINISHED WITH HER HAIR I DID HER MAKEUP AND SHE WAS PRETTY GOOD WITH THE MAKEUP AND SHE GOT A LITTLE RESTLESS WITH THE HAIR. SHE LOOKED VERY PRETTY ON STAGE BUT I THINK THAT SHE THOUGHT HER DRESS ITCHED HER A LOT. SHE DID GREAT AND WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER SHE DIDN'T CRY AND KIM TOLD HER THAT IF SHE WAS GOING TO CRY WE JUST WON'T DO IT NEXT YEAR AND SHE REPLIED THAT SHE NEEDED TO BECAUSE SHE NEEDED ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY. MIA, TINA, AND SYDNEY AND BILLY AND I WENT AND KEPT UP WITH LILA AND OVERALL SHE DID FINE AND AFTERWARDS WE WENT TO HABERNOS AND ATE AND THEN OFF TO HOME SO MY VERY OWN SPECIAL NURSE TO GET MY MEDICINE STARTED.

GUESS I WILL GO FOR NOW BELIEVE ME IF YOU NEED NURSING ASSISTANCE PLEASE CALL KIM KELSEY SHE IS THE BESTEST. LOVE YOU ALL MARY COURINGTON

ANOTHER UPDATE FROM DOCTOR

HELLO EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ALL OF YOU THE WEDNESDAY DOCTOR UPDATE. ONE OF MY COORDINATOR'S CALLED ABOUT 6:30 and proceeded TO ME THAT MY PROGRAF LEVEL HAD WENT UP FROM 19 TO 20 AND WHAT THIS MEANS IS THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RUN 3 DOSES IN 3 DAYS AND WHAT THIS REQUIRES IS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PUT ME IN THE HOSPITAL LIKE THEY USUALLY DO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS SEND A NURSE OUT TO MY HOUSE AND HOOK UP A IV IN MY ARE AND IT. THEY WILL DO ONE DOSE FOR THREE DAYS IT TAKES ABOUT 40 TO 55 MINUTES TO DO. JAKTERIA IS NOW IN CHILDRENS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT SHE WILL HAVE HER LAST STERIOD TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY GO BACK TO THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE. THE MOM CALLED ME TODAY AND TOLD ME THAT HER BOYFRIEND GOT FIRED BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN OFF SO MUCH BEING WITH HIS FAMILY. SHE ASKED THE SOCIAL WORKER IF SHE COULD HAVE TWO MORE MEAL TICKETS AND THE SOCIAL WORKER TOLD HER THAT HE SHOULD LEAVE BECAUSE THE TWO OF THEM DON'T NEED TO BE THERE AND HE SAID YOU MUST NOT UNDERSTAND THIS IS MY FAMILY AND I AM NOT LEAVING THEM.
I FELT REALLY WEAK AND BAD LAST NIGHT BUT I WAS SO PROUD OF ME BECAUSE I MADE MYSELF GO VOTE JAZZ AND BILLY AND I ALL WENT TOGETHER AND I WAS EXCITED AND MY DARLING JASMINE WAS VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I WILL SAY I GOT A LITTLE TEARY EYED ABOUT IT. I AM VERY PROUD OF MY JAZZ SHE IS THE SWEETEST YOUNG LADY AND WILL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.
I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOOD AND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. GOING THROUGH THIS TRANSPLANT HASN'T BEEN EASY BUT FRIENDS HAVE MADE IS EASY FOR US BY ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. THE FOOD HAS BEEN WONDERFUL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF I DIDN'T HAVE YALL IN MY LIFE. COMING HOME TO A CLEAN HOUSE MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. I KNOW HOW YALL SURVIVED THAT IT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE, BUT YALL SURVIVED AND I AM THANKFUL BECAUSE NONE OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT ME I DON'T THINK.
I LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPEFULLY SOON I WILL BE UP AND GOING SO I CAN HELP SOMEONE MYSELF.
I LOVE YOU ALL MARY C.

another update

Ok I finally got the call from the doctor and he said the biopsy showed mild rejection so he raised my prograft from 5 to 7 and raised my predisone 4 to 5 he said hopefully getting my medicines regulated this will fix my problem. The doctor I seen is so rude I told Dr.McGuire
I did not want to see him anymore. They put me to sleep to do the biopsy because I could not handle the pain because of my scar from the surgery so didn't feel a thing.
I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kim and I love you so much. You have done so much for me during this trying time in my life going through this without you I just don't think I could have done it.You are the best christian, wife, mother and friend anyone could ask for and I love you so much Thank You for everything and I love you and your family can't wait to see all the kids.
In Christian Love Mary

just a rock in the road for me

Well, I will have to say that my visit this morning sent us in a loop. He said that my blood work had doubled since Friday and he was real concerned about it. The doctor practicneer came in and he said out of the blue that your new liver has pbc like your old one had and immediately Billy said I want to see Dr. McGuire or Dr. Dubay he said he was not leaving until we saw one of them and Beth my coordinator came in and right behind her was the doctors and he said if pbc comes back in your new liver it will be between 10 to 15 years later not this soon. He said that other doctor had to much knowledge and didn't know how to use all of it and I said I don't want to see him again and he said ok.
Dr. McGuire said if I am rejecting the Liver there was several treatments to do. 1. They could put me in the hospital and run a heavy dose of predisone in me for like 2 days. 2. They are going to have to really work with getting my medicines all fixed and that could take a while.
I had to be at the Kirkland Clinic at 2:30 today for the ultrasound and tomorrow I have to be at the surgery floor on first to have a liver biopsy. The biopsies I had before they found out what was going on with me was rough and it hurt but he told me that he would sedate me and I wouldn't know what was going on which made me feel better about it. When they get these results back they should know what is going on with me it may take a couple of days afterwards but he said they will find out what is happening.
Love Mary

another doctor update!

Well, surprisingly everything went great. You will not believe what the doctor did today, I got my stales out and the doctor asked Billy if he wanted to get them out and Billy was up at my bedside like lightning and I am not so sure of this. The doctor came over and took two staples out and handed Billy the tool to take them out now let me tell you I was a bit uncomfortable the funny thing is when he showed Billy how to do it he left the room and never came back as he was leaving out of the room I was saying please doctor don't you want to stay in here and supervise him and he said "No he will do just fine and I said that is a matter of opinion. Really he did fine and he really felt like he had done something, a few times it was painful but all in all it went pretty smooth.
The doctor said my gloucose level was high and he said that some people become a diabetic but he didn't think I was he just hasn't gotten the medicine right yet this could take a while.
I asked the doctor about when he thought I could get out and he said whenever I felt like it as long as I was very cautious that meant if I go anywhere I cannot touch anybody, shake their hands because this is where the infection always comes from. I know yall are all saying "She better not go out anywhere just yet" I agree, I still am not up to traveling much so I will be in for at least two more weeks and then I will go out for short amounts of time.
I want you all to know I am the luckiest person in the world to have so many friends that really care for me. Having Christian friends is what has given me the strength I need to push myself to heal and heal fast.
Everyone who came to clean my house I give a big THANK YOU and I have keep it clean believe it or not, all of you put several hours into helping me out that really words can't explain how I feel about you. And whoever cleaned my refridgerator 'WOW'
it sure did need it Thank you. And those of you who fixed food for me and my family it has all been wonderful. The only thing is I haven't been able to find the salt substitute that i need for my food Thank you! Remember you all cannot talk about me my refrigerator was in such bad shape just remember that i had a great excuse all I use to do is sleep.
You know I am now up past 11 a lot. I was surprised the other night when Jasmine and Alex came downstairs and was so excited about me still up, now Billy was already asleep. It amazes me at the small details that mean a lot I am bound and determined to not miss anything anymore. I have enjoyed being able to just lay up in the bed and watch Television. Sally has been coming and staying with me because Billy is still insecure about me being home by myself right now. Here is my and Sally's routine she comes in and she will crawl in on Billys side of the bed and I am on my side and there we are watching tv and sleeping. Now yall remember that Sally has an injury also her foot is still hurting her so we are healing together how fun is that, we really look funny but hey it works. Then around lunchtime we get up and eat a breakfast or lunch whichever is the time we get up. It has been nice having someone over in case I do need something now I try to do things myself but I am not overdoing it.
Love you all Mary

Mary Smiles Again

Hello everybody, This is Mary back from the dead I thought that was funny since it is almost Halloween. Guess what I've got the best Christmas, birthday, anniversary and any other occasion you can think of present "A NEW LIVER". Two weeks ago today after one year one week and fifteen days I got my Liver transplant and I am an amazingly different person not only do I think that so does everybody else.
Thanks to all of you and your prayers I have had the most successful experience. My doctors and nurses at UAB was sooooo good to me, when I went to the doctor for blood work Monday he said I made his day because I looked so much better than I had on Friday. The doctor came in to examine me and he kept looking for something at my stomach and I asked "what are you looking for" he answered I am looking for a drainage tube and he was so surprised that I had none, everyone comes home with at least one tube. I told him I am nothing like any of the others I am a fast track Liver Patient.
I have the best Christian friends any one could ever have. Guess what everybody the house is still clean and not messed up "YET" I am so lucky I would like to take a moment and be a little mushy. Without any of my friends I would not be this relaxed and I would feel like I needed to push myself to get well faster than I was really ready. All I can say is THANK YOU and I love you all so much.
I don't know what life was like after 5 because I would sleep so much before my transplant and now at 11 my eyes are just getting a little tired and I love being awake and just talking to my family and even friends, I am so happy and now there is a smile on my face almost all the time. I am back everyone me and my old self well really a new self.
When I came home I was so scared because my stomach was so sick all the time and I had lost 10 pounds since I had come home and the doctor took me off of my Cellcept and now my appetite has come back with a vengeance all I want to do is eat I can't even believe it. I have been saying I can't wait to really want to eat, because before I ate because I knew I had to eat and now my body has been craving food. Today I got up and had 2 scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast which is good for me because I usually don't want breakfast. And about 12 my stomach told me that I was hungry so Sally and I heated up some potato soup I ate a big bowl of it with lots of crackers and then Lee Ann brought some Butterbeans and fried potatoes and I ate some potatoes with Ketchup and that was delicious and after church Jeanette is sending us a plate from church and I am ready for the food.
I talked to little Jatkerias mom (I am not sure that I spelled the name yet) As I talked to her we got to talking about winter and she was saying Jatkeria didn't have any long sleeve pjs because they had to leave in such a hurry and she couldn't get things she needed. So Billy is going this weekend and buy her something warm she wears she said a size 4 toddler. Jatkeria's mom said they are all going to the Ronald McDonalds house real soon sometime this weekend and she was happy about that. The baby is doing great Everyone listen to this she got her staples out yesterday Monday and I have mine all the way up till Friday and I couldn't believe she got hers out I tried to get mine out again yesterday but he said no not till Friday, so I didn't say another word, so Friday is the day for me.
The doctor told me that my blood work went from 3. something to 19. something and he had never seen any blood work go so drastic I was concerned about what all that meant and I asked did this mean anything about rejection the Liver and he said no if a person rejects a liver they never make it home they reject it in the hospital, and he said if you reject a liver it's not because of the liver it is always because of infection he said infection causes rejection and that is why I am going to be very careful in the winter and for awhile I will have to stay inside because he said there is a lot of germs out there and it would be very easy for me to catch one because of my surgery site and. He said everything was going wonderfully not to worry about rejection and even if I did reject it there is so many other medicines left to use that he wouldn't even worry about it if it happened but he is confident that it will not happen so I left there happy as a lart whatever a lart is. My made up word.
I hope I have updated a little more and I will update some more later since I will have the time. I will be off work till after the first of the year because people have donated me enough days so I can stay at home as long as I can and recooperate
but i am sure i will be going back after the first and that may be half days for just a while I will wait and see and not be in a hurry, everyone I have enjoyed being at home and relaxing. You would think that I would be relaxed but before I had my surgery I would sleep a lot but I never got rested and I already feel better..
In Christian Love Mary Courington

NEW FROM MARY!!!

HELLO EVERYONE THIS IS MARY!!!! I AM DOING VERY WELL. TODAY THEY STARTED TEACHING ME HOW TO TAKE MY NEW MEDS, THIS WAS ALL QUITE EMOTIONAL, AND STRESSFUL FOR ME. I WAS SCARED AT FIRST ABOUT FORGETTING HOW TO TAKE THEM. BUT JASMINE SAVED THE DAY!!! LOL!! SHE SAT DOWN AND WENT OVER AND OVER AND OVER MY MEDS WITH ME TONIGHT. AND YAY!!! I FINALLY GOT IT.
THE DOCTORS SAID THAT I HAVE FAST TRACKED EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THEY HAVE HAD FOR ANY LIVER TRANSPLANT PATIENT. THE PT CAME TODAY TO WALK ME AND SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I HAD HAD A LIVER TRANSPLANT, SHE SAID THAT EVERY PATIENT SHE HAS WORKED WITH HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SWOLLEN, AND I WAS THE FIRST ONE SHE HAS HAD THAT HAD NO SWELLING. SHE WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK!!!!SHE WALKED ME UP SOME STAIRS WHICH WASN'T THAT BAD, AND BACK TO MY ROOM. SHE SAID THAT THAT WAS ALL THE PT THAT I WOULD NEED, BC I WAS SUCH SHAPE.
I HAVE ONLY HAD A LITTLE ITCHING WHICH WAS CAUSED FROM THE MEDS. I AM REALLY RELIEVED! NO MORE ITCHING!!!!!!!! THE DOCTOR SAID THIS MORNING THAT HE THINKS I CAN COME HOME ON WEDNESDAY. THAT I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS, CARDS, MONEY, FOOD, AND FRIENDSHIP. YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. LOVE YOU ALL, MARY

LATEST UPDATE!!

Hi everyone its Jazz again with another update on mom! Last night they finally got her in a regular room with no specific visiting hours!! YAY! Alex, dad, Zac, and me are VERY Happy about that!!! Anywho mom is doing very well with her new liver and today, is trying to rest a little bit! She has been very emotional today but the doctor says that it is normal with all of the side affects of the new meds that she is on! I am so thankful for everyone who has came and sat with us throughout this trying exhausting time for us all!!! I appreciate it so much!! It means alot to us!! thank you all for your support and prayers! Its working!!! I'll be sure to keep updating soon!!! LOVE, JASMINE

VISITING HOURS!!

THE VISITING TIMES ARE 10:30am-11:00am, 2:30pm-3:00pm, 4:30-5:00pm, 8:30pm-9:00pm! Dad seen mom this morning and said that she was NOT ITCHING!!! YAY!! We are relieved and most of all mom is too! Dad said that mom was talking up a storm and doing great! I'll be sure to update later!!! TTYL JASMINE

UPDATE!!!!!

Hi everybody!
This is Jazz again! Good news to everyone mom did great during the transplant!!!The doctor said that it only took them 4 hours to do the transplant and that she was doing excellent! He said that mom had a new BEAUTIFUL LIVER!!!(lol)Dad, Alex, and me are doing good too! We all got to go up and see mom last night at about 12:15 or 12:30pm something like that i'm not really sure because i was so exhausted and had passed out asleep in the floor!When we got back there they had already taken moms breathing tube out and she was breathing on her own! She even had her eyes open talking about how she was hurting and saying her famous words of "I need something to drink" lol THATS MOM!!! But it was only because she had the breathing tube in for such a long time during surgery! They have certain visiting hours to visit during these first few days after the surgery I'm not sure what they are right now but I will try to blog them later for mom! First of all Alex, Dad, Mom, and I would like to thank everyone who came and spent a really long day of waiting with us, it really made it a whole lot better!! I was a nervous wreck but it would've been even worse if all of you weren't there to keep us company! I love all of you so much and want you to know that we are so lucky to have WONDERFUL christian friends and family to be there for us! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Well i'll try to keep updating throughout these next few days! LOVE, JASMINE

TRANSPLANT TIME!!!!!!

Hello everyone this is Jasmine I'm posting for mom today! It is 2:41pm and mom is in the prep room getting ready for the transplant. If you didn't know mom got the call around 1:45pm yesterday and told all of us to be here art 4:00pm and that they will do the transplant in the morning around 9:30! So we loaded up and came over to the hospital. Dad stayed with mom and the rest of us went home to stay for the night to prepare for a long day spent at the hospital! We arrived around 6:00am this morning and have been here ever since.We will be in the SCIU waiting room on the 7th floor if any of you would like to come visit. The quickest place to park would probaly be in the 4th ave. parking deck and come straight up!!! I will try to keep you all posted as the days go by. Please keep us all in your prayers! we appreciate it a lot! LOVE EVERYONE, JASMINE!!

My Doctors update

Well, I hope and pray the time is almost here. Wednesday Dr. McGuire told me that he hope it will be next week for you to receive a liver. Alex asked me was I scared, I told him I am not scared but I am anxious, excited, and happy about it all, now when the call comes I will then probably be real scared, I have faith in God and I know he will take care of me and the donor's family.
It is very hard to think that someone has to die to be able to save my life, it is hard to find words to express how grateful I will be not for just now but for the rest of my life. It is an amazing thing to be a donor, I have been a donor a long time, I was a donor before I needed a transplant. IT really makes me sad, and I will have to pray I can be strong after my transplant just thinking that someone just saved my life. I have been on the list for a year and really God has blessed me somewhat of a normal life. I would not know what it would be like to not itch, the doctor told me that he did one other surgery where the person itched like me and immediately when he woke up his itching was gone, that itself makes me happy I Can't Wait. I don't know if some of you understand about the itching. Your liver filtrates the toxins out of your body and my liver isn't the toxins are getting into my skin which causes server puritus, none of the medicines worked for me. I met a man at the Liver Walk last Sat. who had PBC and I got to talk to him and it was amazing, he said his itching was so bad also but the doctor put him on rifphamin and his itching immediately stopped I wasn't that lucky I was on it and had a reaction to it, like flu like symptons and it turned me alittle jaundice so there went that idea and he wasn't even on the list yet I felt bad for him also proud for him not itching.

Thanks Mary

Saddness I feel

Hello everyone how are you doing. I have been better. Well, Sunday I had to go AGAIN to the UAB emergency room because of my itching, while I was in the triage room the nurse was asksing me all kinds of questions like, How bad is your itching? Have you ever had any bad thoughts like injurying yourself? ( You know this itching gets so bad sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself I have never thought of suicide or injurying myself but I do feel very close to going crazy.
I feel like my life is just passing by the emergency room just gives me a adavan shot and 2 adavan pills and this has put me out of sorts for 2 days now. I slept all day on Monday and have been very drowsy today.I thought I was ok yesterday and went to get my medicinea at the pharmacy and here goes my adventure, I backed out of my driveway and went straight through the stop sign without stopping and just kept ridding on the opposite side of the road I was so thankful that no vehicles were coming I was so lucky I made it to the drugstore and back home, later I thought I was ok and took Alex to Mia's and made it ok I guess. Now the sad part is Billy said we need to talk to the doctor about me driving this episode was different because I had all that adavan in me but Billy and the kids all say that I drive somewhat like that without that medicine and just on my butorphanol. This bothers me tremendously because I am so worried don't won't to hurt anyone else and if the doctor is to say I don't need to drive until my transplant when I get off of this medicine then that is exactly what I will do but I hope he doesn't tell me that. I am so tired of being tired and dragging around and I worry about saying the wrong thing, going the wrong way, looking goofy by slurring my words while talking which is happening more often than usual, going to the mall with Billy and him saying "Mary where are you" I know this sounds kinda of funny but this is my life and it is making me feel sad everyday.
Please remember me in your prayers I go and see the the transplant doctor on the 14th of July. Mary

My upandate for Doctor

I called the doctor today and they are going to do a EGD on me Junr 24th at 12:30 they will run a light down my throat and what that will do for my itching I don't know and the nurse didn't know either something has to be done because the itching just wont quit. So please remember to pray for me.They have done several transplants in the last couple of weeks and she said I was moved up but she didn't have the paper in front of her to tell me so yea me. Moving up is a plus for me.

fun day at the park

Here are a few pictures of my children at the park. They were suppose to be Jazz senior pictures but the white eyeliner just didn't work I must have used my medication before doing her makeup but there are several great pictures here so here are some to share.

thanks

Thanks to Paul for my update on my blog. I tried to be creative on my own and I deleted everything that was there. So Paul saved my blogging life. Thanks everyone for coming to Alex's party last night, we had a great time and the food was great. I will post some pictures later of different activities so be patient with me. Love Mary.

events of the evening

Last night my car quite running I had to have it towed. MY friend Teresa and LIndsey came to wait with me because my flashers had quit working so they parked behind me and guess what her car also quit her battery went dead so James had to come and buy her a battery I was stranded for 2 and 1/2 hours on the side of the road. I just talked to the auto shop my car is at in Graysville and my motor has died, can you believe that I was just beside myself luckily it is income tax time and it is going to cost 1750.00 to get it fixed can you believe that. I can't. I thought well what can happen next? and really things could be worse. We were stranded on 78 highway and it was raining and I got really sick there. I didn't think I was ever going to get home. I got home about 9:30. Alex is going with Teresa and James and Caleb and LIndsey to Gatlingburg for the cyc retreat I hope he has a great time he needs to get away for awhile. I won't to get away for awhile but I sorta am in a bind I cant' go anywhere. We called the police to come help and we were told that there was one police and he was working a wreck and maybe when he was finished he could come and help us. Bryant Nabors ended up coming by and blocking off the road so James could try and jump off Teresa's car which didn't work. But anyway all is well Mary

Happy Valentines Day and Anniversary

Hello everyone I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day. I would like to say to all the blogging world that my anniversary is on Valentine's DAy and I will be married for 21 years and it has been the best 21 years of my life and no life isn't a bed of roses but I have the best husband in the world. My husband is going through alot with me being sick and his parents being sick that I applaud him at how well he is holding up. Billy knows how to make a smile come on my face when I am not feeling well and he knows just what to say to me to make me happy. Even though life has been hard for the last 2 years with my mom having been sick and my dad acting like he doesn't have any sense and Billy never let me down not one time he stayed at home while I stayed with my mom and kept some normalcy at our house and I am so thankful for that He held my hand through the heartache of losing my mom and without him I would'nt have made it through like I did. Having a husband that is so loving and caring and considerate and so thoughtful of someone other than himself means the world to me. I love him with all my heart and I look forward to spending another 20 years or more with him. HE is my light when the tunnel is dark he is my sunshine when the sun is shinning and he is my SWEETHEART!!!!!

Doctor's update

Hello everyone how are you doing. I hope you are not getting tired or bored with my same background but I do not know how to change it Help Paul. Well, the doctor told me yesterday that usually from the time you are put on the transplant list it takes 6 8 months to get a transplant March will be 6 months and May will be 8 months and he said there has been 2 other people who itch like me and immediately after the surgery the itching stops that was music to my ears that will be a blessing to me sometimes I think I need to be committed. Oh let me vent a little. My doctor called my coordinator and I heard him say "addictive Personality" I said did they say that I had a addictive perosnality? and he said the pharmacist said that and that made me real upset. The doctor just laughed and I didn't understand it and I told him that sometimes I take two puffs at a time and he said that is no big deal and I am not addictive to it. Because it is the only thing that seems to help some and I am not going to change anything but add one more bottle for you a month. After my surgery I will not need any of that medicine and I am so thankful.
Mary

Snow

The picture that is at the bottom by itself I took looking outside my bathroom window the picture looks a little leerie but it is pretty. I so much enjoyed playing in the snow with Levi and Addi, the excitement on their faces was worth my hands freezing off and my nose running. Kim made us some snow cream and it was great I have pictures of Levi eating the icecream and he has the bowl up to his face and you can't see him it is really funny I will post those later. Addi is at my house now and she is up there with Zac Jazz Alex playing Monoply she has no clue but she is hangin in there with the big dogs. My cat Boots had to have some surgery on his leg and is staying inside for now until we get his staples out and addi is scared to death of him she said his leg looks scary and it really does so we have to walk her around the house if boots is near her it is so funny. Today is such a great day the snow didn't last long but the memories will last a lifetime I am like Addi this is the best day ever. I love you all and thank God I have such a wonderful family like you. Love you all Mary

hello everyone I hope you enjoyed these pictures Our snowman was the best ever it took us a long time to make that wonderful snowman.Levi and addi and lila were great today. Playing in the snow with them was such a great day for me. Love you all Mary

winter still

hello winter snowin

Youth day at Haleyville

We had the best time. There were 275 that attended and the singing was great and the classes were wonderful and the fellowship was out of this world we met a lot of new people. Here are a few pictures hope you enjoy them.