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Jada Rose was born 5 pounds 3 ounces. Due to her size and some jaundice at birth, her pediatrician asked for a bilirubin test to be run at four days. Someone ran the wrong test which broke down the bilirubin into conjugated, and unconjugated. Jada's conjugated bilirubin was at 5.3. The doctor had never seen this test run nor had he seen that value. The night before our first checkup the doctor stayed up late trying to find out about this value. He was advised that this was not a good value that it should be around .2. The next day Jada was his first patient. He explained the problem and then promptly sent us up to Primary Children's Hospital. The doctor ordered a ultrasound which lasted over an hour. They were looking for a gal bladder to rule out biliary atresia. No gal bladder was found. This began a months worth of tests poking, scanning, and treatment hoping to jump start any bile ducts that might be operational. This too had negative results.
At five weeks old Jada was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Ten days later on April 6, 2006 Jada underwent surgery to hopefully fix the lack of bile ducts that normally extend from the gal bladder. This procedure is called the Kasai after the man who created it. The surgeons took a piece of her small intestine and connected it to a spot in her liver where the original duct should have been. This involves scrapping away the scarred liver to hopefully find where the original duct system is still operating. The surgeon stated that she "may have seen a tiny drop of bile" while she was conducting the procedure. Ten days later Jada returned home. The bile is what makes poop different colors, brown is the main color. The procedure failed, but Jada Rose and her support system did not.
Daddy and Mommy learned what it meant to become True Utes, and moved forward. Jada, Mommy, and Daddy moved into Grandma and Grandpa Aders home. Due to the long nights, the enormous amounts of medication, and the overall strain that this situation put on our family we needed constant help. Grandma Dawny, and Grandpa Nolan stepped up and allowed us to move in with them. Daddy continued to work, Mommy turned in a resignation to her employer, and the two puppies were given a special bachelors pad at our house complete with all the amenities that any two dogs would be jealous to call their own. Grandma Dawny and Mommy platooned each night as Jada Rose would wake up every 1 to 2 hours from pain. Mommy slept by Jada's bed and Grandma kept a monitor by her bed side. Daddy slept in the next room so he could get sufficient sleep to operate at work. On daddy's days off he would occasionally relieve Mommy and Grandma by sleeping next to Jada's bed. At the first of June Jada's weight was not adequate to handle an upcoming transplant, so a feeding tube was inserted through Jada's nose and into her tummy. Jada received regular food by a machine throughout the night. This added to the rigorous night time responsibilities as the line needed regular flushing, and the feeding bag needed refill. Because of Jada's blood type (B+) the doctors made it known that this was a rare blood type, and it may be hard to locate a donor. Jada's mommy began the process of being worked up as a "live donor". Mommy needed to have the right blood type, and a small enough liver to qualify. She did. As we prepared for a live donor, the doctors were very worried due to Jada's size. Even though mommy is a pretty small lady, the doctors said an adult liver was not optimal unless we could put more weight Jada. It was during one of these discussions with the surgeon that Mommy had an idea. She told the doctors that Jada's dad has a little sister who is smaller than anyone in the family, and asked if perhaps this might be a better option for her? This was very difficult for mommy, as she felt honored and obligated to save Jada's life by giving part of her liver. It turned out that Aunt Loni was as perfect fit as an adult live donor could be! They did all the tests and found that furthermore Aunt Loni had an extra blood vessle in one of her lobes that would assist in providing the extra blood flow that Jada's donated liver would need. Aunt Loni prepared to drop out of school, and selflessly prepared to give Jada a piece of her liver. Still the doctors emphasized that this should only be a "back up plan". They said a cadaveric liver from a young child (B+) would be optimal.
During the last week of August Jada was permanently admitted into the hospital as her health was in distress due to the circumstances of a failing liver. Mommy's family asked her what she wanted for her birthday (September 4th). Mommy said "I want a liver for my baby". Daddy shook his head in approval, but told mommy not to be too disappointed if he could not deliver such a gift. On the morning of September 3rd the doctor walked into Jada's room and told Mommy that they had found a liver. They said the surgeon was on his way to pick it up. Mommy replied with "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!" The doctor smiled. Mommy cried and hugged everyone in the room, especially a very sick and yellow Jada Rose! Mommy called Daddy and told him the news. Daddy cried with Mommy, then hugged the two pups, and told them the news. He then gave them an extra big bowl of food each, and packed to come to the hospital.
At 4:22 am on September 4, 2006 Daddy, Mommy, Gramma Rose, Grandma Dawny, and Grandpa Nolan all said their tearful goodbyes and sent Jada with the surgeons to have her new liver delivered. The doctors told everyone that the surgery would take 11-14 hours. Mommy had talked to other transplant patients who endured a 24 hour transplant! Grandpa Mark rallied his colleagues, and true to form assisted in a 7 1/2 hour transplant! Throughout the operation Mommy also felt the calming presence of her Grandma Blume who was no doubt assisting in the most important 7 1/2 hours of our lives. The surgeons brought out Jada's old liver to show her family what they had removed. Mommy was the first to put on gloves and handle the liver. She described it as a piece of tire rubber, extremely hard. The doctors explained that the surgery was a success, and that "this is a GOOD liver". The doctors said the portal vein in Jada was sufficient to use (there was concern that the portal vein was too small, or too damaged to use). When they connected the portal vein the surgeons said the liver almost immediately fused, and the liver turned pink. A short time later the surgeon also stated that bile was flowing! The Perfect Gift had been delivered! |