Update on my daughter Holly...prayers appreciated and welcomed

I wanted to give an update on my daughter Holly. Gord, and a few others here have met her.

She's had a tough go of it lately. We seem to take one step forward, then three steps back.

She had the peritoneal port put in for dialysis because they couldn't find suitable enough veins for a fistula.

Once the port surgery was done-a few weeks later she ended up in the hospital with a surface infection where the port goes "internal". They also feared that the infection had also gone internal but that wasn't the case. After 4 days in the hospital and tons of blood cultures and tests, she was discharged and came home.

Fast forward to 3 days later and both Holly and I got "colds ?" and fevers-and Holly ended up in the emergency room with concerns that the fevers were caused by...you guessed it, the port for the dialysis. After tons of blood cultures, tests, etc. they determined that she must have had a respiratory infection...and 5 days later, she was discharged and came home.

A week later, we were to start the peritoneal dialysis (this past Monday) and actually went to the facility (Holly had been complaining about sore muscles and just not feeling right on last Friday-but the docs over the phone on last Saturday and Sunday said that once we started the dialysis-she'd feel better). Once at the center-they tried to do the dialysis, but the port wasn't working like it was supposed to...and Holly 'crashed' and could speak, hold her head up-or walk.

We rushed her to Mayo, through the emergency room and they fast tracked her into surgery and had a temporary hemodialysis port put into her neck-so they could start dialysis immediately. They also put in a central line (also known as either a 'cut down' or 'pic line' or 'arterial line') so that they could pull blood samples for testing and infuse IV meds through the same place at a more rapid rate. Holly was then put into the ICU for two days-and was moved to the cardiac floor on Wednesday evening...as after having dialysis 3 times, she started to feel better.

Today, she had a minor surgery to remove the hemodialysis port in her neck and 'tunnel' a similar port into her upper left chest area. This does two things-it lessens the chance of infection-and is WAY more comfortable for her. And she had four continuous hours of hemodialysis...which went well.

This is really the first chance that I've had to update people...and we hope that she goes home this coming week...Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter. It sure makes one think about what is important.

UticaGeoff

 

My prayers for Holly continue ray:

 

Holly and your Family will remain in my prayers.

 

Prayers sent. In Jesus name,Amen

 

Bruce, I am not much for prayers, but you and Holly will always be in my thoughts as you both work thorough this transitional period. My money is on Holly overcoming this latest situation while emerging better than before. :TU:

 

thanks everybody, Holly is going down for dialysis now and the doctor said that once this is finished this afternoon we are good to go home. we will resume at dialysis beginning next week and have it 3 times a week until transplant.

 

Bruce,
Thoughts and prayers for Holly and your family.
Bill

 

God bless you and your daughter. Ill add holly to my prayer list. I too am a dad with a child waiting a life saving transplant. I have been through all the hell you have watching an innocent kid suffering and essentially be helpless to help. When I tried to be a living liver donor to save my son and be his lifelong hero the screening found that i had cancer and I could not donate, but the early detection basically saved my life. My son fights every day and he is the bravest kid ive ever known. waiting for a transplant is hell every day and as a parent spending a day in any childrens hospital it takes weeks off your life. so many innocent kids with such heavy health problems and they are all so brave. The doctors there are the best. they all deserve and need every prayer they can get. Sorry to hyjack the thread but it hit a nerve and I had to share. Please all who read this pray for all the innocent that have been dealt a bad hand and if you can, give to the nearest make a wish foundation, shriners hospitals or your nearest childrens hospital. They really need all the help they can get. Also if you can, please donate blood and platelets it rally saves lives. I had donated 100+ units of platelets before I got deferred and it kills me I cant help that way anymore but maybe i can help by inspiring others. God bless and again best wishes to Holly. ray:ray:ray:ray:ray:ray:ray:

 

Thanks for sharing your story, too. Holly actually had a heart transplant at 5 months ( hence my screen name). She's now 25.

We appreciate the thoughts and prayers...and Gsgnnut...if you ever want to talk...I am available.

 

Thanks Bruce.

 

Keeping you, your daughter and family in my prayers.....God Bless!

 

We are finally home...and will start the outpatient dialysis on Monday.

GSGNNUT, like I said...if you ever want to talk...I'd be happy to.

 

Awfully glad she is now home. There's no place like home.

I will pray for Holly and gsgnnut's son. Terrible that these innocent children have to endure such issues. I believe they will both prevail!!!!

Prayers heading to both you dad's, for your precious kids. Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

 

My prayers for y'all.
I have been a regular platelet donor. Every month like clock work for twenty years
I got out of the habit when I had to change jobs 5 times in five years. I've donated maybe a dozen times in those five years
I'm at a good place now , I'll call the Red cross tomorrow and set up a platelet donation

 

Prayers for Holly and your family today!!

 

Thoughts and prayers to you and your daughter.
Im a firm believer in keeping an upbeat attitude and outlook during such times, it definatly helped me during my chemo treatments for Hodgkins.
Tell her to stay strong:TU:

 

Thanks Mark! I can sympathize...I had chemo for about a year...a year or two ago. It's rough on the body, but sometimes rougher on our mental states....

I thank God every day for Holly...as I know that we've been blessed to still have around. She's at dialysis right now....and if she feels up to it, we'll hit a car show later this afternoon. If not, we'l just hang out.

 

:tu:

 

My continued prayers for Holly