GRATITUDE FOR MANY THINGS.

Hi there - although the path is still difficult for McKenzie there is cause to be thankful.  They have managed to get her temperature down and are keeping her sedated.  Still a long way to go for this little girl but we can be grateful for the surgical team who operated and for the nursing staff who give such great care.

Young Ethan is still being kept in Cincinnati for a little while and he wants to go home, Mom wants to go home and Eli and Dad are anxiously waiting for their return.

Life is good for so many transplant recipients and others have a much more difficult path to walk, but that's where we come in as a support team of world wide friends.

Thank you one and all for the interest you show and the care you give to these two little ones and all other recipients.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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FRIDAY MORNING IN AUSTRALIA.

Good Morning - welcome to Friday and some better news on our little champions who are still not out of the woods, but have some improvement.

Ethan is doing okay - still not healed and waiting for results of scope which should be through by Friday night Australian time.

Hoping and praying this little guy can go home and the family can be together again.

Kenzie seems to be rising to the challenges as this post is from her Mother:

Kenzie had a stable night, no fresh bleeding, only old drainage in the surgical drains. Her vitals remain stable. All the docs I spoke with this morning are pretty much in shock that they were able to pinpoint a specific area of bleeding. I had the privledge of reminding them of all the prayers being sent up accross this earth for Miss McKenzie, and for them.  

          

 Docs had to turn her diuretic off this morning because she was urinating too much. A beautiful clear, yellow urine. I stand in awe as I watch our Heavenly Father respond to the prayers of His children. I ask you all to please continue in prayer for our little one. Her intestine is still ruptured.  Please pray that this will heal quicikly and normally, with no blockage,and that she will be able to absorb nutrients from feedings (when they start). 

Pray that she will be able to wean from the ventilator soon and of course no more bleeding. I long to hear her say "Rocky you mommie"  I also long to hear a/all docs admit that her recovery is a Miracle.  I again want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your love and faithfulness in praying for McKenzie and for our family.  

You will never fully understand how you have ministered not only to us, but to the entire hospital staff. I have witnessed many of the nurses tearing up as I tell them about all of you. 

I will update as I get more info throughout the day.  If any of you feel you are able, please send a letter or card to McKenzie.  What a wonderful reminder it will be to her of how many people interceded on her behalf.

McKenzie Fleshman, PICU #21, Cincinnati Childrens Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45229

It is delightful to be able to post such better news - give thanks for   all we have and for the support we can be to each other.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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WELCOME TO MONDAY IN MY LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD

It is Monday here and wet and windy on this winter morning.

I have some more news on precious little Kenzie who continues to fight and struggle,

Kenzie is severely dehydrated today due to a miscalculation on the dialysis machine. Mom said she looks really bad. She keeps waking up. Yesterday, she would follow mom around the room when she would wake up. Today, she is not. Please continue to pray for the bleeding to stop. Pray for the intestines to completely heal.

and from her Mom Jean....

The docs are pleased with her numbers on paper. Lungs much more clear, labs looking better. She just looks so bad, with her dark, sunken eyes. Please continue to lift our little girl up in prayer. John 14: 12-14 We love you all, and will never be able to thank you enough for your faithfullness. Specific needs: healing of ruptured intestines, fluid balance, able to wean offf ventilator, bleeding to stop totally

. A Total Miraculous Healing.

Ethan is doing well and they are staying at Ronald MacDonald House until they are given the all clear to go home - Amber got to go to a ball game with Eli which would have been great for both of them.,

By the way - Happy 40th.  Anniversary Jean and Chuck

There has been other news filtering in to my box  from all over the world of successful transplants of kidney and liver and we rejoice in their success.

Keep the prayers and support coming - it means so much to people.

Happy 4th. July to my American friends.

Love and hugs,

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WELCOME TO RUBY TUESDAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVCgKsqn30
The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday


It is Tuesday in my little corner of the world and I always think of Ruby Tuesday and share this song in the hope of bringing a smile your way.


I did update on McKenzie and Ethan late last night and there really isn't much more to tell apart from this post from Amber eight hours ago:


Just talked to Dr Kocoshis....intestines look better....still some spots that need to heal. He only has 3 or 4 ulcers left opposed to his whole bowel being full of them. Biopsy results later this afternoon. Keep the prayers coming!!
  


Let's keep the prayers and good thoughts up and soon they will be able to put on their red shoes and follow their own Yellow Brick Road to home.




News from McKenzie is that the problem is a huge blood clot - let's be prayer specific and pray for wisdom for the Doctors to enable them to help McKenzie and her family.


Whatever is your way - prayers, positive vibes, healing thoughts - please use them and let's look for better news about this little darling.


Love and hugs,
Linda.

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A MUCH HAPPIER LITTLE GUY

Looking for Eli

Much happier news on Little Ethan this morning - he is sitting up and looking for his brother - I guess Eli was about to come and visit.

"Ethan is feeling much better, especially now that he can eat real food. Taking him off TPN/Lipids (IV Nutrition) today and he will have another scope tomorrow morning. Keep the prayers coming!"

These words from Amber's facebook page and another post indicates she has just been to visit McKenzies family  - such a great support network.

Thank you for carefully and prayerfully supporting little Ethan and let's hope that the scope on their Monday gives the result that will have them packing for going home.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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SUNDAY MORNING SMILES

Food glorious food !

Happy news this morning - Ethan is allowed to eat and has his food of choice.   Check out that little smile.

Things are still a little uncertain, but are looking much brighter for this little guy.   Thank you everyone for your careful and prayerful support.

No more news on Kenzie or Taylor but will keep you posted as it filters through.

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Adelaide and such a delight to find this photo when I came to check my mail.

Sunday morning sunshine and smiles.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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SATURDAY MORNING AND STILL ON THE ROLLER COASTER

Good Morning and we are still on the roller coaster of life - we are all on the ride, but some are having much less fun than others.

News in this morning is good and not so good. 

Ethan's Mom's facebook page posted a couple of times during my night:

"Ethan seems to feel ok today. He's back in a regular room and out of the PICU. No bleeding so far. We will have another scope either Monday/Tuesday. Continue to pray for Ethan and also Kenzie....she had to be put back on the vent...."

and the sweetest news so far:

"13 hours of sleep + a massage + my baby out of the PICU and feeling better = a happy momma :)"

Keep up the prayers and remember to give thanks too.

Miss McKenzie is still giving cause for great concern and her Mom isn't doing so well either - not sleeping or eating.   New from Kenzie's page is:

"She is still on the ventilator, getting more blood, platelets and ffp(clotting med). Getting contrast for CT scan. Should have scan around noon. Please also pray protection over her kidneys from more harm from the contrast. Dad should be there soon."

"It was nearly 1 before she went down for her scan. Mom is really having a hard time today. She has not been sleeping or eating. Dad is there now to try to make her eat, but she really needs prayers as well. You cannot tell someone in her postion to relax. She needs God's hand on her now as well."

"Just got a text from Mom. They are back in their room from the scan.They are hoping to hear something in about an hour. She will let me know when they do hear something."

When I hear something else I will post again - in the meantime please add Taylor to the list - she is Crosby's friend and really struggling with rejection too. 

Love and hugs,

Linda

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FRIDAY MORNING ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Kenzie and Mom

Good Morning World - early start for me today - I am to be the driver taking someone to hospital - wonderful for me who has so often been the patient.

McKenzie has not been doing so well and will have to have major surgery if this bleeding does not stop, so what I am saying is we have to be prayer specific and storm heaven's gate with the request that the bleeding stop.

Check the look on the little guy's face.

Ethan too has been transferred to PICU and they are hoping it is not bleeding ulcers.   This is a time of great stress for these families and I know how much they appreciate your prayers, positive thoughts and healing vibes.

Thank you for caring for these little ones - part of the transplant family.   

No news in about Ty - hoping the transplant surgery went well.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE

Our boy has required another blood transfusion, so please continue to support him with love, caring and healing thoughts and prayers.  It is tough enough as as adult when you can understand things just imagine how tough it is for this little fighter.

The bleeding seems to have stopped and he is scheduled for more tests Thursday US time,

McKenzie is struggling with breathing and bleeding.  Please hold her close.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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LASTEST UPDATE

A message just in from Amber asking for prayers for Ethan because he is bleeding again.

Will keep you informed as I know any more.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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A WEDNESDAY WELCOME

Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday and the news I have about the American kids in our transplant family is as follows:

"This little boy gives me strength I never knew I had, him and his brother are my reason for living. I'm so blessed to be their mommy! :)"

and

"Ethan feels much better today. He's starting to get those chubby steroid cheeks back. He can have real food now but still chooses the soup. Keep the prayers coming....God is listening! :)"

So there is some good news there but please hold this little boy close he still has a way to go.

Miss McKenzie is apparently making her own decisions.

Apparently, Miss McKenzie decided she has had enough of the ventilator. They were trying to wean her off. At 5:30 AM, she removed it by herself! Poor mom and dad woke up to alarms, machines going off and doctors and nurses in the room. She wanted her binkies! Now that is a hard core addict. Pray for the docs and nurses. She woke up with an attitude. She is done with this being in the hospital stuff

She had a blood clot damming the fistula. It came through as well as old brown blood. Please pray there is no new blood with it. Mom said the docs were not happy, but not surprised either.

and

Super thankful for your prayers. Keep em coming

She's breathing room air. She is starting to have blood output through her g-tube again. It is continuing through 

her fistula. Her labs are dropping. Please pray

That is the latest news I have and I will post this to Facebook manually rather than leave it for Networked Blogs to post because they are taking many hours to post and I want this information out there.

Keep up the prayers and positive thoughts and rejoice with me because today I celebrate 77 weeks post transplant and I am alive and well and thankful each day for my donor and his family.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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