I am so sorry I didn't tell you sooner but as SOME of you (Jennifer Hudson, Richard Muirden, and Karen Solbeck aka my Facebook friends) may know I have been keeping updates on my sister through Facebook and I JUST realized not all of you are on my Facebook and therefore couldn't have known what has been going on with Jenn. So here goes...
On Halloween, Jenn was admitted to the hospital for a dreadful PD infection. Actually twas the worst she has ever had! She had blood and weird tissue clots in her PD tube and it made the doctors wonder just what has been going on in there. They suggested she get a CAT scan and check out her peritoneal cavity and they realized she had huge ovarian cyst on her left ovary. The doctors advise she get it removed and send it to biopsy to make sure its not cancerous. They were able to get some blood and tissue samples without having to do the full blown surgery and the results came back benign THANK GOODNESS!
Even though the cyst was benign the doctors recommended she get the cyst removed anyhow because one it was so massive and two so she could remain as top priority on the transplant list.
SIDE NOTE: Jenn ends up finding out she was removed from the transplant list in 2008! This was completely unbeknownst to us. So now she has to start all over or fight them about this huge misunderstanding
Come November, as they were prepping her for the surgery, the doctor was listening to her heart and noticed she had a leaky valve. He suggest she get a EKG and found out her heart was enlarged and only functioning at 30%. So he advised she get a stress test done and see if her heart could take the cyst removal surgery. She passes but the doctor wants to put in a pacemaker just to be on the safe side. He predicted if her didn’t, she’d die during surgery.
December rolls around and she gets ANOTHER infection. The doctors recommend they remove her P D catheter for two reasons; one she is having her ovarian surgery and it can’t be in there when they do it and two…this infection is almost as bad as the initial infection so it must be the PD tube. She’s been using PD for 15 years so this was all just a matter of time, ya know? So she went to HEMO dialysis once they removed her tube and got a HEMO catheter place in her chest.
January, she is scheduled for her pacemaker/defibulator surgery. After its done, the doctors advised she wait at least two weeks before her cyst surgery so the pacemaker has time to settle and become secure and it gives time for her cardiologist to give her the okay for ovarian surgery, which he does.
February 22nd, Jennifer goes in for her cyst removal surgery FINALLY! Good news; Jennifer is in recovery, got cyst and took out appendix (why, I dunno now.. heard if they do abdominal surgery its now a requirement to take out the appendix while you’re under). Bad news; intestines got a growth all over them. Had to call in another surgeon. Intestines were adhered together! Apparently this can happened from kidney dialysis. They scraped off the growth and unloosened the intestines. Because it could cause bowel obstruction they want her to stay till Monday so if they're any complications, she'll be right there in the hospital.
Some of the growth on her intestines was sent to biopsy just to make sure it's benign. For them to unloosen her intestines from one another, they had to cut her 12 inches from her ribs to her hips. It goes vertically and right through her belly button. Dr gave me a surgery picture of her intestines sitting outside on her stomach. Why would they think we would want to see THAT!? Sick p*cks. Pardon my language. Almost felt faint knowing what has happened to Jenn.
My poor baby..she was expecting one maybe TWO simple incisions on her pubic region near her ovaries but now has a giant 12 inch slice from her sternum to her underwear line?? I can't imagine what she thinks about waking up and looking down to see stitches on an area she didn't expect or anticipate at ALL!
But lets focus on then good here..I 'spose..she's alive AND the now -MULTIPLE- surgeries went perfectly.
Jennifer is doing well. She looks and sounds alot better. Now its all about the healing process. She is stabilized but these horrendous spasms in her tummy she keeps having hurt like no pain she has every experienced before. Because the surgeon had to cut her all the way down her stomach from her sternum to her lady region, its safe to say all the muscles in her core are having a tough time dealing with it and causing such pain that the spasms send her into tears instantly.
Its hard to watch my sister be in such unbelievable pain and knowing I can't do a damn thing to stop it. Yet, I keep visiting her to put her in higher spirits! Being the comedic genius that I am, I have her doubled over in pain she is laughing so hard at my jokes, but this time its a good kinda pain!
♥
She is confined to the hospital until she passed gas. TMI, I know, but bare with me. So she can't be released until she farts BUT she hasn't eaten anything since the night before the surgery Thursday night. They have given her a little bit of ice water with sponges to suck on but that is it. They do not want to risk giving her solid food until they KNOW her intestines are working properly. If not, feeding her could be catastrophic! But how is her body supposed to produce gas when she's running on empty, shall we say. Its a vicious cycle and we are at the doctor's mercy and hoping they know best..
Until then..she is there with a patient in the room beside her who screams all night at her nurses about wanting to go home...Ohhh the glamorous life of my sister! She's a trooper, I gotta tell ya! Love you, Jenn Jenn!
The spasms finally stopped and she can sit up on her own and walk around the hospital room and perform simple and basic tasks like get up to charge her phone and the like. The doctors changed their mind and passing gas wasn’t enough to release her from the hospital, now they do not want her to leave the hospital until she has a bowel movement but with her liquid diet..it seemed impossible. They finally upgraded her to have a “soft diet” and then gave her a bunch of stool softener on top of that and twas a success. Jenn just texted me informing me she can go home today! It’s only a week later than we wanted but we are just glad she is coming home!
And that’s what has been going on with Jenn. For the past 4 months, she has been going through consecutive surgeries! Its safe to say...she has been through a LOT lately!! Sorry for the late update..but know all is well with Jenn for the most part! The month of March is going to be no fun. Its mainly going to consist of her new found incision healing. But she is strong. Told you she is a trooper!
Now we pray this is her last major surgery before her ultimate kidney transplant..
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