Oh Mena,

I am so glad you have posted again!

Wow, WHAT a long, long road! But WOW, HOW it has turned out!!! Just wonderful.

Wishing recovery, strength, and weight gain keeps going smooth and steady as she goes now. So pleased for you two (understatement!).

Tell Angelo how many relieved, happy smiley faces are going on over here for him and you! I am sure you can hear the cheering from here!  C.

Hi Mena,

That must've been a real scare for all of you. I have never heard of a platelet level that low. I'm so glad that they were able to get everything under control and get Angelo back on track. 

The liver enzymes are perfect, you can be very pleased with those numbers!

Congratulations to all of you. A successful transplant, improvements abound and a grandchild on the way! Please tell Angelo hello and let him know we're thrilled! What a journey for all of you and a happy ending!

What wonderful news, thanks for the update 

OMG, does time fly!  I can't believe that Angelo's transplant was over a month ago!  Unfortunately after a week while we were waiting to be discharged, he developed a 102 fever and his platelets went down to 5. All his liver levels went sky high and the doctors realized he must be having a rejection, something very common. They gave him two Platelets Transfusions which did not work. The only thing they could do, was  to play with the anti-rejection medications he was taking. One was increased, one was taken away and one was changed to a different one. If these changes did not work a liver Biopsy would be scheduled. Thank GOD the third transfusion increased the platelets and kept the level up and  the medication changes kept the liver from further rejection and all the levels started to come down!

He stayed in the hospital one more week and came home on the 16th of October. The first week we went back 2x for blood work,  and since the results were great we have been back 1 x a week.

His last labs showed numbers that I have never seen before on Angelo's blood test, his ALT 15, AST 17 , ALK 116

He did lose over 25 Lbs. which we are trying very hard for him to gain again.

All in all, he is doing fabulously! 

Oh, one last thing, our daughter who got married last June is expecting!  It was an amazing coming home gift for Angelo to hear.

All the best to all of you.

Mena

Congratulations to you and your husband.  The Angels were watching one of their own.What a fantastic story, thanks for sharing it with us.

I have a friend who had a liver transplant 5 or 6 years ago, from deaths door to amazingly healthy. She travels and dances and laughs and has such fantastic energy, it's just great to be around her.

I hope your Angelo has a super quick recovery from the surgery and you and he have a fantastic and long lives.

Alison

Oh thank you Mena for your news!

Wonderful this day!

To borrow a phrase from RC ... the stars have aligned perfectly for you two! - the right time, the right place, the right people, the right doc, the right donor, the right size, type, artery, and so it should be be, the SO right outcome, for all your hard work and perseverance.

Just wonderful.

I have heard this before (that they get kicked out of hospital so soon) Amazing! All of it. Deep breaths (all 'round)!  C. 

That's wonderful news, Mena!! I couldn't be happier and I bet Angelo is overjoyed at the successful transplant and chance to start anew. I bet you feel absolutely beside yourself! Congratulations! I know everyone here was sitting in the chair next to you. We were all expecting this very outcome, but it's even better to know it's true. 

Please give Angelo our best and a big hug goes out to you too. Keep us informed of his progress, we'll be waiting for all the good news!

Let me start by saying that I feel honored that so many of you have posted wishing Angelo all the best. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now for the success story, it may be long so it Here it goes.

The surgery was supposed to last between 10 and 12 hrs. The Surgeon told me that we should not hang around the hospital but go home and wait for his call as as the surgery was over. He also added that NO news is good news and not to worry unless he called me much earlier which could possibly mean there was a problem. So My daughter, her husband and  I went home.

The surgery was suppose to start around 12 pm so we prepared for a long, long wait!

At around 7:25 pm last night,  the phone rang and the ID caller was from Mt. Sinai.....I felt my heart in my mouth....why was this call coming so early?

" Hello, this is Dr. Moon calling to let you know the surgery is over and that it went extremely well. However there was a little problem that needed to be taken care of.  I found that His Hepatic Artery had collapsed due to the procedures of Radioembolization and YX90.  To remedy the problem I had to create a new venue to connect the liver to the heart 

It will be easier for you to understand when I see you tomorrow and draw a diagram of exactly what I did"!

So this afternoon when we met with him he explained that what he used had been an artery left attached to the liver by the other center. Something that usually never happens!

He also felt that the sooner Angelo gets discharged the better and healthier will be for him, so hopefully by next week he can come home.

One more thing that he added was that Angelo had been 30 on line for a new liver, but that by the grace of GOD the center that originally had the liver and could not use it, decided to call Mt. Sinai and also by the Grace of GOD the liver was a perfect match for Angelo!  

NOW on to a speedy recovery and a new healthy life!

MENA

hi Mena, 

we are very honoured that you are posting on this website ss you wait for your husband's transplant operation  to finish. What a journey you have been on!

I live in Australia and one of our current politicians had a liver transplant about 5 years ago. It is amazing to see photos of him before, immediately after and now. He looks like a new man. He is I think 72. His ex girlfriend told the media last week that he had been having a drink again. Hopefully your husband will follow the same path - except maybe without the wine glass in his hand. 

Take care, and every best wish from us all.

Syd

Mena,  

WOW.  What an amazing event in your lives.  What a day and age we live in.  I bet that together you willl be taking really healthy care and doing all that you can to integrate and heal.  Amazing. My best to you and please extend our happiness to Angelo.

Cheddy

Hello again, Mena!

This is brilliant news, even though it must be so scary at the same time!  How fantastic that such a well matched liver became available for Angelo, and even though the way it came to you was very sad, you must be so thankful for this opportunity... I`m so glad you said yes to the liver too!! 

I`ll be thinking about you both and waiting to hear any news... thanks so much for getting in touch and letting us know that it`s happening!

Today marks a new turning point in Angelo`s health and for your future together and I wish you all the very best of luck!  Love to you both!! 

Hi Mena,

I'm thankful for the perfect liver. We are always grateful for the liver but saddened for the donor and their family. 

I know Angelo is in good hands, and look forward to hearing from you when you have ANY information. Be sure you get something to eat and try to relax when you can. Take a few laps around the hospital and get some fresh air. Once this is over, Angelo will feel so much better and you will both have much to celebrate! Our best to you both....

Oh Mena!

I am so happy for you and Angelo. What an event, and happening right now!, both happy and frightening! Hang in there, every minute that ticks by is getting you closer to his new lease on a healthy life! Please do update us whenever you are able. We will be right here, beside you, with you, waiting, wishing for all to go just perfect! C.

Hello everyone, sorry for not posting for a while.  So let's catch up!

As I am writing this post Angelo is at Mt. Sinai Hospital undergoing a Liver Transplantation.  This was the second liver he was offered. The first was from a 43 yrs. old man who died from an Heroine Overdose. Needless to say we rejected it! Early this morning we got a call from Angelo's transplant coordinator advising us that they had a liver that would be ideal for Angelo. The deceased donor was  a 33 yrs. old woman who became brain dead due to a head trauma. Her liver however had  PERFECTLY matched in  size and blood type as Angelo, so we said" YES TO THE LIVER!!!!( sorry for the little humor)

The surgery should have started around 12pm ET and possibly last between 10 to 12 hrs. time is going so slow, I feel as if I am on a slow flight to Australia.....

Please say a prayer for Angelo that everything goes well, no complications and a speedy recovery!

Will keep you posted and God bless all of you!

MENA