Bronchitis was then diagnosed as pneumonia and that with the proper medication she would be back on her feet in no time.
Throughout the summer the young lady would get better but then fall into a bout of wheezing, coughing and sudden extreme tiredness, the doctor's were now starting to take things a little more seriously, things were just not right.....her heart was being affected and they didn't know why.
Turns out that she had contracted one of the "new" virus's that are entering into North America and it had attacked her heart. By late summer the Ottawa Heart Institute was now involved and the talk turned to surgery with the installment of a pace maker. Know as a LVAD.
We all thought that this was just a temporary measure until the Saturday before Christmas when all hell broke loose...
My friends daughter was sent by ambulance to the Heart Institute where she was put into a drug induced coma for months....while everything about this situation was being assessed.
By February, small steps were being made and as we most affectionately call her "Rebel" was slowly brought back to consciousness....it has been a very long, arduous journey.
To make a long story short(er), it was determined at that time that Rebel would require a heart transplant.
Today is Rebel's 20th Birthday,
Today, they found a Heart.....please pray that this is the perfect match...
Please pray for the donor's family. The gift they have given in the midst of their tragedy is so very beautiful and amazing. Please pray for the surgeons and the care givers as they minister to our Rebel girl, giving her new life.
Take today to sign your donor cards, give thanks for your health, your family and friends....Take today to reflect how fragile life truly is and that we are truly blessed to enjoy this day.
Life's fun if you don't weaken!
Lily
*************************************************************************************
UPDATE:
UPDATE:
(from her Mother)"The perfusionist came with the charge nurse from the Ward around 7 AM to tell us that she was `going like a pony!`
At this moment she is still in the O.R. as they are waiting to ensure all the bleeding subsides and that all continues to go well.
So we now want to ensure that that her body does not reject the heart. All seems to be going very well."
Please continue your prayers for our Rebel.....
and the family of the donor in their time of grief.
Lily
10 comments:
Thanks for this reminder! I just saw a thingy on NG Explorer on the "Organ Trade" (where Americans go to other countries to get organs) because the wait is waaayy too long here :-( It was sad.
yThanks for this...
Life is fragile and precious. I remember speaking with Emile Therien whose daughter died of an undiagnosed (and untreatable) heart problem. He said by donating her other organs, she was living on.
Wishing your friends all the best.
Good luck to Rebel and her family. It does put everything in perspective!
Amen.
My fingers are crossed. I wish everyone the best.
Great news! I'll be praying for her. Very intersting I read you today...as earlier I was getting something out of my purse and glanced at my drivers license and remember distinctly looking at my 'donor' sticker on it. I remember thinking...good girl and then I read this.
I hope this awareness will get others to become donors as well. I mean why not? I won't be using them anyway when that time comes.
signed mine at the last renewal also inspired by Rebel, last fall.
many, many prayers going out to rebel....godspeed...
it is sad that so many people probably would have no problem being a donor, but don't take the steps to make it happen...
my goodness, quite a story and what a reminde that life is so unpredictable. Both families are in my thoughts.
Post a Comment