Megan

Recovery updates

  • 9/27

    So many blessings continue to happen for me on a daily basis. I continue to feel better every day. It no longer hurts my stomach to eat food! I no longer have constant agony of abdominal discomfort, 24 hours a day. All that is gone. When I met with the doctors originally, and asked if I do get a transplant will all of this be affected? Their answer was no, I will still have that pain and discomfort because that is obviously something other than the need for a liver transplant. So that did frustrate me, but that’s not how it worked out. My gallbladder had to be removed as part of the surgery and they were obvious issues once the biopsy came back since there were tumors in it lymph nodes around it. That must’ve been the issue because everything is gone pain wise in that aspect!!!!! Kim came home from college Friday night for a much needed home weekend with me. She isn’t well and it is sad and concerning. She is tired she is weak. She is struggling. The doctors are keeping her thyroid levels really low to avoid her tumors from regrowing instead of doing radiation right now. That is their choice and they asked that she follow up with endocrinology for further instruction. Her appointment was made, but is not until February. That’s not soon enough. She’s struggling at school. She’s struggling to work. She’s struggling to get her schoolwork done. She’s never satisfied internally unless she’s on the deans list. So this is an extra burden on her mind. She got an extension approval with a doctors note through November to help her with handing things in if needed with no points docked. But… I’m trying to find a way to get her in sooner with an endocrinologist through Penn. Please pray about that. Brandon is healing on the inside from all of the trauma. He’s experienced due to my illness over the past year. It is taking time, but he is on the right path. Unfortunately, he had to miss the homecoming game that he really wanted to go to and be a part of and then the homecoming dance tonight obviously he couldn’t attend because they are too many risks germ wise. He is handling it with a Grace about him, but I know how deeply it bothers him because of how social he is and how much he does football. Please pray that he continues to if you have supported from him while he is in isolation with me over the next year. I did decide actually we decided that he wouldn’t be able to attend football either after just thinking that maybe he would only do football for socialization and etc.. but it is still an extremely difficult thing for him, especially at 14 years old. Gabe got married! I have a daughter-in-law now! She does live out of the country so they can’t have a wedding over here for maybe two years so that I can celebrate with them. It might happen sooner, but they are trying to work through the logistics of immigration so it’s all up to that at this point of when she can move here and become a part of our daily lives here. I was in a group chat call with them the other day FaceTime style. Watching them interact and talk and laugh Iwas able to see how much they love each other and it’s just so cute and amazing. It makes my heart happy. Thank you, everyone for continuing to follow my journey to a better life! It is very humbling.

    Read this update

  • 9/23

    I went to UPenn today for my initial discharge follow up today and it went well. I have maintained stability over the past 3 day, which is awesome to say the least.

    Read this update

  • 9/19

    As I have went through metabolic changes over the last went week and a 1/2 since receiving my “new to me liver” changes” I have noticed some odd differences and it’s really so strange… My sense of smell is much different. I feel like my scent of my natural body odor is so different. I can explain it…. But I can feel/taste it. It’s just kind of surreall. I was having my lidocaine patch put on my spine today by my nurse and that was different also tonight just by the way it was placed on me. I rolled over after and literally turned my head to my nurse and said “you have had back pain before and I can tell just by the way it was put on.” The only other person that has put a patch on me that did it naturally just like that is my brother Nick who has suffered from back pain for the past 20 years after a car accident. My injury was easily obtained by moving buckets last year at this time. I took a week off work which is so unlike me but went back afterwards without following up with anything because well “I can handle this… and just kept going. Meanwhile it was unable to heal as my stomach started having swelling (unnoticeable at first) in my abdomen and pulling on my back tendons and muscles. It is a gnawing, sharp and nauseating pain right smack in the middle of my back which over a few months time led me to having to go home from work in 10/10 pain and tears in my eyes so many times. I began getting tears in my eyes etc, and “never complain” “just keep going it will go away and I can do this” attitude…. That didn’t pan out obviously… but it’s also hard as a single widowed mother trying to care for her kids who are also all in different states of life at 25, 19 & 14…. And trying to be there for as many moments as I could for them”. Sometimes people have said to me that I post too much but I don’t care…. It’s honestly only the tip of the iceberg of my life and I’m trying to preserve and share whatever memories I can. I’m the only one showing up for them… and I believe that’s what everyone in life needs…. Someone who shows up like that. Of course my dad has tried to be there for the moments… but he’s only one person. I once wrote a eulogy for someone who was special to me and it was literally based on “how he always showed up” and I was really touched by him. I will add the link below :

    Read this update

  • 9/17

    Well… my “numbers are still being wonky… so tomorrow I have a liver biopsy 1st thing in the morning to make sure my body isn’t trying to reject this liver… which they also said if so they can easily remedy with steroid treatments and is common in the early stages of transplant and then I have a ERCP procedure (advanced endoscopy basically) to see if I need a stent placed where the ducts are stitched… then watch my numbers for 2 more days and a new plan in place for discharge to home on Sunday. It’s a little frustrating with the unknowns but I’m thankful for a team that knows what they are doing. Thank you for the continued help and prayers. Today I woke up to a text message about how this past few weeks has changed a part of their testimony. Another text with a story of “wow small world” I can’t believe you met them kind of thing…. About 5 thinking of you etc texts… And a visit from my hepatologist who has been off after a 12 day stretch and as soon as he came back he was following my care and popped in to see me with a bouncy and excited self stating that he was so ecstatic that I received a liver saying, what? You got a liver in 2026… I’ve never known you when you were healthy and I can’t believe this! I told him about receiving from the gift of life process. (The family has to personally pick you)…. Otherwise I wouldn’t have one yet and I would still be low on the list. Basically without this program and the family choosing me or getting lucky and getting a live donor I would still be in the “pool” of approximately 6,000 people in Pennsylvania or (my radius) waiting… I’m so grateful. I just can’t even say it enough.

    Read this update

  • 9/15

    Well it’s been quite a week for sure! I got the call last week that a donor was available for me through the gift of life program and received my “new to me” liver was transplanted on Wednesday 9/9/26! I am so grateful for the liver that I was given. It is basically like the champion of livers if they have those types of awards… There are some family and friends that have been helping with keeping my household going and helping get a few chores taken care of while I’m unable to so that I don’t skip a beat while trying to heal up when I get home. I’m so grateful for that and everyone has something that they are able to do in their own special ways. First it looked like I was going to be able to go home tomorrow, until my labs altered a little last night. If they continue to be altered it means that the stitching closer a little too tight at the bile duct and I will need a stent placed in there to hold it a little more open to heal correctly and then remove that stent in a few weeks. I won’t know until tomorrow morning when the next labs come back to say if I need that done on Thursday and go home Friday or don’t need it done and then go home Thursday. Otherwise healing has been stellar except my chronic back and joint pain and not being comfortable in this hospital bed. I miss my bed!!! Super thankful that I also still have a “sunset” to look at every night here because that is one thing I do every night. So glad to get some more stitches out today! My neck ones were KILLING me! GoFundMe is still active as I will continue to be off for healing for probably another year or so….there is always that way of helping :) Ok, off for now!

    Read this update

  • 9/6

    Once again, I was reminded of how fragile I am right now. I downloaded an app to make sure that I get at least 1200 cal a day and it tracks the vital nutrients that I need so I can make sure that I have enough potassium, calcium, and magnesium in my diet. Last night, I decided that it would be OK to eat the second half of my grilled cheese with my cup of tomato soup and that put me on a downward spiral for the rest of the night. Vomiting, sweating, heart, racing, shivering. So today, I’ll try again. Sometimes it’s really hard to keep pushing through. Please continue to share until I get a donor. Thank you.

    Read this update

  • 9/1

    I’ve had a few rough days since Saturday.. Staying up longer and eating more than usual really took a toll on me so I’ve been resting a lot the past 3 days. My daughter’s surgery went well yesterday. She got home a little after 9pm yesterday and has been resting well today. Thank you all for your continued support! I haven’t gotten a liver match yet, so keep sharing and spread the word :)

    Read this update

  • 8/29

    Today was a good day! I got up around 11:00 to find one of my aunts here and ready to spiff up the house! I was up for about an hour and then had to rest again until 3pm… I was able to eat about 60% -75% of daily intake, which is really good for me as the last few weeks were really hard to get 25% of daily intake. Kim came home from school since she has surgery on Monday and another aunt showed up! We all visited for a few hours and they walked with me on my required one hour daily walk… It was just really nice to be feel well and to be able to visit for so long. I haven’t been awake consistently for 5 hours in I have no clue how long… Clean house, laughter and food… that’s comfort right there. Please continue to share until I find a liver match!

    Read this update

  • 8/24

    Putting myself basically on bedrest has been successful and allowing me to eat the small meals every few hours. Yesterday I did go out for a little bit riding around in my dad‘s truck for some errands, but other than that eat, sleep, repeat. Letting go enough to trust the people around me to fight for me and find me a liver has been really hard because I’m used to doing all of that taking control of the chaos, etc. But for now………… EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT.

    Read this update

  • 8/21

    One full week of being able to eat every 3 hours without getting sick! I’m on a strict schedule for myself, to keep me stable and gain some strength for surgery. It may sound so small to the average person, but this is HUGE. I hope and pray that it stays this way! I felt good enough to sit up and visit with some high school friends that came over for a few hours. It did throw me off my schedule for the next day though, but thankfully I was able to get back on track. My schedule is wake, eat, stay up 1-2 hours, sleep 1-2 hours, repeat. I’m getting messages about people submitting the questionnaire for me. I am so thankful for you! They say each person in need of a liver need about 50-100 people to try for them since the guidelines of donating are extensive and a lot of people are “weeded out”. So thank you for sharing, praying, submitting the questionnaire and hanging with me ☺️

    Read this update

  • 8/18

    I contacted my doctor yesterday and got a new lab work order. Although my labs haven’t changed much I still have jaundice. I’ve been trying to keep pretty steady with eating something every 3 hours and a lot of rest… and my daily hour walk. I’m thankful for all the shares, comments and offers to help me. Today we caught a ride with my Mommom to go to Brandon’s sports physical appt and then he was able to get a few back to school items at TJ Maxx while I slept in the car. Everyone’s supportive messages sent do not go unnoticed and they do help me feel better. Back to resting……..

    Read this update

  • 8/17

    Today my eyes are starting to turn yellow… please help find a donor ASAP

    Read this update

  • 8/16/26

    Since the recent hospitalization I have been resting a lot more, however, I’ve been able to eat or have a shake 6xs a day by being woken up by Brandon as needed. I have no appetite and am always nauseous so it has made eating extremely difficult to keep up with!

    Read this update