Friday Update

The Friday report was as good as the last few days have been- Praise the Lord!  Her kidney function is now perfect and all her liver numbers are great, too!  She has been released to eat real food but has to take it slowly.  She will probably just be in the hospital another day or two depending on how she is eating!  Her doctors have been very pleased with her progress and numbers and could not have given her a better report! She will start going to clinic the week after she leaves.  I will continue to update the blog over the next few days and weeks with her progress and clinic visits.  The whole Edwards family is so extremely grateful for all of the prayers, love, and support we have received over the past few weeks.  Continue to pray for her recovery, but know she is headed in the right direction!

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness ... Isaiah 25:1

Thursday morning update

Ashlie is doing very well this morning!  Her liver numbers are all within the normal range now except for one which will take time to come all the way down.  Her kidney function is also back within the normal range which is a huge praise!  Thanks for all the prayers storming heaven for her kidneys!  She has been up and moving, and taking in some clear liquids.  The main hurdles before getting to go home now are moving around more and eating enough so that she can sustain herself without IV supplement.  She is doing great! 

Wednesday aftermoon update...

Ashlie has had a great day today!  She has had the NG tube removed from her nose, and other than a little bit of fluid, nutrition and a few medicines that she is getting through IV, she is free of cords and such.  She is now on a clear liquid diet which makes her very happy!  She has been up walking around more and is in great spirits!  I am staying with her tonight at the hospital and will update again in the morning. 

Wednesday morning update

Ashlie had a great night yesterday and was able to get up, move around, and walk quite a bit.  She is sore this morning, but is very determined!  Her spirits are great and she already looks and feels better compared to before the transplant.  Her kidney function (judged by creatinine) has improved today.  It was 3.1 yesterday and improved to 2.0 today.  The nephrologists still want her output to be a little bit higher before they will release her as their patient but are pleased with her progress.  Continue to pray for her kidney function, but the prayers are working! I will update again later today!

Tuesday Morning Update

Ashlie is doing great this morning!  She is still in good spirits, and her liver function is still moving in the right direction!  Her kidney function has remained about the same, but the nephrologist is not alarmed yet.  Please continue to pray for her kidney function to improve.  They are starting to give her anti-rejection medication, and it will be a process over the next week to get the right dose adjusted for her body, so pray for this process.  These medicines are making her itch some which is normal but uncomfortable. 

The doctors are still not letting her eat or drink for another couple of days because of a few stitches they had to put in her stomach which is proving to be a challenge for Ash.  Like my mom has said, we have begged and pleaded for her to eat and drink for 5 weeks, and now that is all Ashlie can think about when she can't have anything!  All that said, please pray for her comfort!

Thanks so much for all of the prayers and support- she received many cards and packages this morning that we figure must have been stashed in the mailroom over the holidays which was fun for her.  The address that is on the right side of the blog is still the accurate address- she moved right back in after her brief stay at the ICU.  We are so grateful for all of you and your never-ending kindness!

Afternoon update

Ashlie has been moved back to her regular room, and she is doing great!  She has been standing up and moving around already!  I wanted to post on here for anyone who is interested that there are no flowers allowed on the post-transplant floor.  We appreciate everyone who has sent them before or has sent anything up here, but they are very cautious about protecting the post-transplant patients. 

Please continue to pray that there are no complications and for her comfort.  Also, continue to pray for her kidney function.  Her kidneys did very well in surgery, and the funtion is moving in the right direction.  However, there is still a long way to go before her kidneys are functioning at 100 percent.  I will update again tomorrow if not before.  Thanks again for all of the prayers and support for Ashlie and our family- we have been overwhelmed by the kindness of friends and family!

This morning...

Ashlie is awake and feisty as ever! She is still a little out of it but is doing great. We have seen one doctor who said she was doing wonderfully! Her color already looks 100% better- she now looks like she has a pretty tan instead of being really yellow! They are monitoring her numbers that indicated her liver is functioning properly, and they are all headed in the right direction! She will more than likely be moved to the regular floor today. Please continue to pray for no complications and for her to be as comfortable as possible. Thanks so much!

She's done!

Ashlie is finished with surgery!  She did very well- the doctor was very pleased.  They put her on dialysis during the surgery, but she started producing urine on her own by the end of surgery.  This is such a praise because of her poor kidney function over the last few weeks.  Dr. Campos does not think she would need any dialysis after this.  Her blood is clotting right now just as it should be.  She is headed to ICU and will be there a few days.  Please keep praying for no complications, and that she will recover as easily as possible.  Thanks so much for your prayers and support.  Words cannot express our gratitude.  I will post again tomorrow!

My mom has been reading the Psalms over the last weeks so I thought this passage was perfect!

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD ... Psalm 150:1-6

9:00 update

Just got an update, and they are in the final stages of the surgery.  She is tolerating everything very well- Praise the Lord!  I will post again when she is finally out of surgery.

8:10 update

The surgery team just called and gave us an update.  They said the majority of the surgery is over, and the liver is in.  Ashlie is tolerating the liver very well.  Our expectation was that the surgery would last anywhere from 3-6 hours.  I will update again once we know something more. 

7:40 update

Ashlie's surgery began at around 6:00 pm and we got a call about 30 minutes ago that everything was going well, and she was doing great.  Will update again when we hear an update from the surgery team. 

Surgery Update

They just took Ashlie down to the holding area about fifteen mintues ago.  Whitney was able to go down with her and is keeping her company until they take her into the OR around 5:10.  We just received word from the surgeon that "the liver is beautiful".  We feel so blessed for her to receive a very healthy liver.  The surgery should take about four to five hours from when they begin.  We will post again once we get more word.  Please continue to pray for the surgeons, for Ashlie's strength, and the rest of her care takers.  We cannot express how much your prayers have meant to us.  I will post again soon.

-Natalie

Still waiting...

About to be heading down with Ashlie to start pre-op.  It will probably be 4:30 or so before the transplant begins.  Thanks for the prayers!

3:00 PM

We have heard recently that the surgery will probably begin around 3:00 this afternoon.  Thanks so much for the support and keep the prayers coming.  Will update once we know more.

They have a LIVER!

I spent the night up at the hospital with Ashlie and Dr. Johnson (one of the residents) came in about 30 minutes ago and told us that part of their team is on their way to pick up a liver.  Dr. Eason was the one who got the call and approved the liver, but there are still many steps to go to ensure that it is the best match before the surgery begins.  I will be updating the blog as we know more details and an estimated time for the surgery.  At this point, just pray for the details of the transplant. 

Christmas Day update...

Merry Christmas from Memphis!  Ashlie is still holding her own.  Her kidney function continues to improve a little each day which is great and an answered prayer.  She is having some back pain so pray for her comfort.  Dan and I are spending some time at the hospital this afternoon with her while the rest of the family gets some off time playing with Cooper & Reese Ann at Natalie & Eric's house.  We saw Dr. Eason- the transplant surgeon originally from Jackson who has taken a special interest in Ashlie- just a few minutes ago.  He is going off call today and will be off for the next week, but he assured us that the surgeon who will possibly be doing her transplant sometime this week is excellent.  Thanks for all the love and support coming our way.  Ashlie and the entire family feel it, and we are so grateful!  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Update

Hello, all.  Not much new to report.  Ashlie is doing ok, and her kidneys actually improved a very small bit today which is great!  She has a really cute silver tinsil tree by her bedside and will have lots of visitors tomorrow as the Edwards/Sikes/Carruth crew plus Granny will all be in and out!  We are going to try to give Dianne (aka Edie) lots of grandkid time away from the hospital.  Please continue the prayers- we are so grateful for them!

Thursday Update

Ashlie is still holding her own and continuing in the waiting process!  Her kidney condition is remaining stable and not getting any worse again today which is a huge praise!  She is in good spirits and ready for the next step in this journey to healing!  Thanks to her sweet friends who traveled several hours to visit with her- we all appreciate it so much!  Please just continue to pray for the details of the transplant and all of those involved.  I will update again tomorrow.

Insurance Approved!

Praise the Lord- Blue Cross Blue Shield approved the transplant!  We could not be more grateful for all of the prayers on Ashlie's behalf!  She is beyond relieved to move onto the next step which is receiving a liver transplant anytime now!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

Wednesday mid-day update

Ashlie is doing about as well as expected at this point.  Her kidneys are not getting any worse which is the goal so continue to pray for her kidney function to remain stable.  Please continue to pray for Blue Cross Blue Shield to approve the transplant.  We should know more about this status later today or tomorrow, but there are some wonderful people here fighting to get it approved and a meeting between some of Ashlie's doctors and the medical directors from BCBS at 2pm today.  Thanks to all those who have offered contacts and information.  I will update again later today. 

Insurance Issue

My dad just informed me that even though the hospital has officially put Ashlie on the transplant list, that her insurance company has not approved it yet and is pushing back.  Dad wanted me to post this so that everyone will be praying that Blue Cross Blue Shield will approve the transplant. He also asked that if there is anyone who has any contacts at Blue Cross that might be helpful in getting this life-saving transplant approved, that they would call him- Chip Edwards at 731.697.8388.  Thanks!

Tuesday Mid-day update

Ashlie is hanging in there this morning.  Her kidney function has improved slightly which is great, and the focus is to get her to eat a little bit more today and to keep up and moving so that she will be in as good of physical shape as she can be for the transplant.  They saw several different doctors this morning, and they all gave encouraging information.  She will definitely stay in the hospital until the transplant unless she improves dramatically which no one is expecting.  There is a definite possibility of a transplant in the next two weeks.  Her blood type is O+ which makes it a little bit harder to find a donor liver because she can only take an O+ donor liver, but the doctors still think that it will be soon because if where she is on the list.  At this point, we will just be waiting on the transplant while trying to keep her kidneys in as good of shape as possible, her physical strength up, and her spirits high!  Keep the prayers coming especially for her kidneys to hold their own or continue to improve and for the details, timing, and people involved in the upcoming transplant. 

Monday Evening Update...

Thanks so much for all the prayers, love, and support today.  It has definitely been a roller coaster day as my mom put it.  Ashlie is holding her own, but after a physically and emotionally exhausting day, she is drained.  Please pray for a restful next 24 hours or so for Ashlie.  Sister Natalie is spending the night at the hospital tonight, and I am headed back up there to stay the night tomorrow so my mom can get some rest, too.  I will update with additional information once they see the doctors tomorrow.  Praise the Lord for such great news today and for the way that He is sustaining Ashlie, my parents, and the rest of us. 

She's on the List!

Just wanted to let everyone know that she has been officially added to the liver transplant list!  Thank you so much for praying.  They are still meeting with the doctors, so there is not much new to report, but I will update again tonight or tomorrow.  If everyone will start praying for a liver to come quickly and for all of those involved in the transplant. 

Now Pray at 3:30...

There have been some communication errors among the residents and fellows that Ashlie has seen this morning, and after talking to Mom a few minutes ago, she thinks that the final meeting to decide whether she goes on the list is at 3:30.  I will post as soon as I know anything else.  Ashlie is doing ok today and seems to be in good spirits!  Thanks for all of the prayers!

Committee Meeting @ 8am

The committee meeting was moved from this afternoon to 8 this morning, so they are meeting as I post this.  If you see this post in time please pray that she is added to the transplant list, and when I know what happens, I will update blog again.  Thanks for praying!

Hospital address

Just wanted to share the hospital address for anyone who was interested:

Ashlie Edwards
Methodist University Hospital
1265 Union Avenue
10 Thomas- Transplant Floor Room 1015
Memphis, TN 38104

Afternoon update...

Ashlie and my parents met with a couple of the transplant surgeons late this morning.  The consultation went well, and they learned more details about what these next few weeks could hold for her.  She still has to be officially placed on the transplant list- the committee meeting happens Monday afternoon for this- but is more than likely considered a good candidate for a liver transplant.  Because of the disease of her liver and the condition she is in, she will more than likely move to the top of the list and could have a liver in the next couple of weeks.  Please be praying for a few specific things:

-For Ashlie to be officially placed on the donor list and that a liver becomes available quickly
-For her kidney function- most of the problems she is having with her kidneys are linked to the shape her liver is in, but we need to pray that they will not be damaged too much before she gets new liver
-For Ashlie's strength and spirits physically, mentally, and spiritually.  She has endured quite a wild last four weeks and is still in some shock about how quickly her health has deteriorated.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!

Sunday morning update

We decided to start this blog to help friends and family stay updated with Ashlie's journey.  She is suffering from liver disease and was initially treated at Vanderbilt and was moved to Memphis on Friday night.  Ashlie is at Memphis at Methodist University Hospital for treatment.  This weekend has been a waiting game of sorts trying to asses her condition and run tests with the limited weekend crew of doctors.  She is stable and able to get up and move around.  Once we learn more from the doctors over the next 24 hours or so, we will update again.  We are hoping that she will be moved out of the ICU into a regular room sometime today and will update her address for cards and such once we know a more permanant room number.  Thanks so much for everyone's love and prayers during this time.  Please continue to pray for complete healing for Ashlie and for a liver to become available if healing does not occur.