Today is the day I thought I would
sit down and write some of my thoughts down about this traumatic experience my
son my kids our donor and her family have went through in such short time that
will be forever engraved in our hearts and minds. After a 15 hour labor and 5
hours of constant pushing the birth of my little man Elijah Kweku Tsawo finally
occurred June 25. With immediate attention the doctors knew something was
wrong. Test after test and even leaving the hospital nothing was set in stone
with what his condition was we knew jaundice and we knew it was different from
the jaundice my other children had.
On our journey back to the states
for Hawaii felt doing a biopsy on such a small child would be extreme I knew I
had to do more. Every doctor any doctor please hear my cry and one did Dr.
Mesra ga. From Greenville N.C. he listened ordered biopsy which left us here.
Biliary Atresia or B.A. as most living through it calls it…either way it was
new to my family and we were not inviting it in! After the first biopsy was
returned incomplete I was told we have to go back in but while in if we can
save the liver we will with a procedure called the Kasai which would try to
relieve the toxins from the liver that are now taking over my babies body. It
did save us some time but while in the doctor informed me it was worse than
expected and we would have to do a liver transplant. Not only was my heart
screaming my head and my mouth was also. Exhaustion anxiety loss of appetite
came flooding over me. As I walked to recovery to now see my little man I knew
I had to pull it together and get ready to see the bravest baby I know. It
wasn’t over again this was only to by us time until we can get a liver for
donation.
To
shortened the story the day has come , three dry runs( when ur called to arrive
at Duke they have a liver for you and it turns out they can’t use it either too
damaged too large) a quiet two and half hour drive alone keeping positive
thoughts praying to God! Let this be Elijah’s liver! Let there be no more dry
runs Lord! lets pray that this Donor is a match for my baby !lets pray that
this Donor is a match for my baby! I use
caps cause She deserves it!
Dr.
Sudan to come in to guarantee she would take good care of my baby like he was
her own and there were No more tears from me. Only the thought of a happy
little boy running around causing chaos around the house eating real food. Will
his eyes be white? Believe it or not just to see the color and texture of his
poops would really make me the happiest mom.
I
met and Angel that day who actually found me. She was this little woman
standing there ready to show me this beautiful soul on her camera phone and she
did! It was our Donor Sarah! We can put a face to this amazing thought of a
person I had in my head.. I had already come up with many ways I would find who
it was and how I could find this person and I say this because the day before I
asked would I be able to meet the donor and I was told maybe not it would be up
to them and since there was such news around our story she probably didn’t want
to meet us. My heart ached but back to meeting my angel I know people thought
we were crazy cause we were crying like crazy in the middle of the hall we
didn’t care I got to see this person close and personal and she had so much to
tell me about our Donor. Thank you
Nicole for finding me! thank you Sarah for becoming” a part” of our lives and
will forever be so .Elijah will know both of you very well as he grows and
develops into this wonderful young man God has him to be! Elijah, me and my family,
Sarah and her family went through this experience for a reason and I feel as
the same we have to educate. I have been written asking “ how do I live if I
give him my liver”? Valid question? As much as we use google to find or educate
ourselves on how to do our lashes, hair, recipes etc… we should be doing the
same when it comes to things that can make a difference in someone’s life. I
educated myself when I knew my sons condition and I didn’t and wouldn’t stop. I
want to ask everyone who reads this to educate themselves on one thing they
know nothing about in regards to being a donor, and those in need in your local
area and or community. Elijah is doing very well today he will be on medicines
for the rest of his life to prevent viral infection and to prevent rejection of
his new liver and we do labs so far on a weekly basis. He cries when they draw
his blood and I whisper in his ear every time” son the hard part is over YOU
GOT THIS”! I thank you Sarah for
answering that email and I thank you for having such loving heart.
