News about Liam

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September 1, 2007

11:45 PM, CDT
It seems as though updates are done every other day - I think that means that things are getting better.

Home Away From Home...That is what Seattle has certainly come to be. Liam has a way of getting into people's hearts. People who care for him, people who learn from him, strangers who exchange a quick glance and a generous smile. The kindness of strangers is something I never lack in experiencing, at least whenever Liam is around. Regardless on my presence, people remember him.

Yesterday (Saturday), we were granted our "hospital pass", but rather than just going to hang out at the mall (which believe it or not, is starting to get really OLD!!), we decided to attend mass at the local Catholic Church St. Bridgit's and then go out for dinner. It was really important to Liam that we go back and visit Buca Di Beppo in Seattle for dinner to say hello to the manager that we met a year agor, after Liam was listed for transplant. As God would have it, He planned on us being there as well!!

We made reservations but they were so busy we did need to wait a little bit. Liam was tired. Mass was long for him, but he insisted that we just wait. Imagine our surprise when we sat down and were greeted by the waiter...thesame waiter who had taken care of us a year ago...He remembered Liam immediately and Liam definately remembered him. After sharing the good news about the Liver Transplant - the focus was on food...and boy oh boy, did Liam eat! I don't think I have any italian in my heritage, but the "eat, my son, eat!" repeating in my head was consumed with gleeful pride. Liam has not eatten like this in YEARS!

When we were ready to leave the restaurant, we saw the "Paisano Partner" (Manager) Kathy. She did a double take. As soon as Liam smiled she just looked at him and they were reconnected. She told him to come back as much as he can while he is in Seattle and she would love to "hook him up"! She wrote her number on a menu and handed it to Liam, as if he was the son of a cousin from her mothers side... (you get it...FAMILY)!

As we were driving home, the Seattle skyline was enfolded in a magnificant display of colors from the lightest of lemon to the most vibrant tangering. The colors lifted the billowy white clouds closer to the heavens than I think I had ever seen. We would look away and turn back for a quick peek, amazed that it was even more beautiful than a moment ago.

I will not quickly forget the sky that night, nor the experiences of each day here. I never want to forget the struggles we have overcome because I never want the glory of Liam's progress to become tarnished. Sometimes we forget that there are miracles in big and small moments. Last night was a miracle with an exclamation point!

01:24 PM, CDT
Liam is doing so much better! Today while he is resting, I thought I would take a couple of minutes to update you on the past 24 hours.

Children's hospital has been granting a 3 hour pass each day this week; an opportunity to get outside and walk around, to explore new environments and to be inticed by the abundant sights and smells - some familiar and some new - all in an effort to transition Liam from the hospital to the bigger world. We have been to many malls, watched several movies and yesterday we experienced the Seattle Museum (at the base of the Space Needle) - what an incredible experience! I think we will need to go back several more times just to be able to see everything! We will try and take pictures to send home so that you will understand how truly ingenious the designers have been in making education so stimulating.

While we were at the Museum, we decided to go to the IMax movie on Dinousars. Great movie!, but 30 minutes into the show, Liam abruptly stood up and moved quickly to the exit. I cought up with him in the Men's bathroom, where he was vomiting blood. He was remarkably calm, just very sad, remembering that this was a frequent happening prior to the liver transplant. Now here we were, facing yet more of the same. He kept asking me why this was happening - wasn't it supposed to stop?

Within 15-20 minutes, the bleeding did infact come to an end. We left the museum and headed back to the hospital to find out what was happening. The team was confident that this was not a varicose vein rupture due to the fact that the bleeding would not have subsided as quickly as it had. They felt the volume was too vast to have come from the lungs, and there appeared upon examination to be no residual rattles in either of Liam's lungs. By process of elimination, it was decided that the blood most likely came from a nasal polyp which was irritated by the gastric tube and finally ruptured. Doctor Francis said that a nasal rupture can account for substantial blood loss - who would have guessed?

That being resolved to our satisfaction, the rest of the night was filled with Dinner, Wii and a movie. All in all - not a bad day!

We just got word from the Transplant team that they are in surgery doing another liver transplant today! Please remember to keep in your prayers the doctors, medical team, donor family, recipient family, and the patient, who is being given such an amazing gift today. Yep...Miracles are happening ALL around us!