Liver Transplant 12/04/05
It has been 2 1/2 years and finished another round of chemo this time 2cda and we still have no better results, William still has new lesions and we are still no further ahead with his treatment. Monday 19th July William starts a new drug called Atgam,Cyclosporin,steriods there is a risk invoved with this treatment so we will have to wait and see.All went well. We left Brisbane and went back home and spent a month when William was transferred by Royal Flying Drs back to Brisbane with severe tummy pain, something that William never got.
September 2004
William was placed on the Liver Transplant List after many tests. The whole family had to relocate to Brisbane while we waited for the call to come. Hannah (8), Riley (6) started school at Kelvein Grove State College they handled the move very well. Brian was transfered to Beaurepaires in Brisbane and we lived in the Children's Cancer Units just down the road from the hospital. It was a blessing staying their, we made a lot of life long friends both parents and staff. But sadly we lost a lot of very young friends which we will miss and love forever. Rachael, Mitchel, Lennon, Sue and many more.
The call
It was 11.30 at night we got the call from our Liver co ordinator Charlton to say it was William's turn, and said not to hurry it was happening at 7.30 the next morning the 12th April 2005 but we had to be at the hospital in half an hour. That was worse then waiting to have a baby the rushing around. We rang Mum and Dad and they came down from Caloundra. Therese and Rachael(Next unit to us) came in and waited while Mum and Dad arrived plus we had another little boy staying with us. It was a very strange feeling. We woke Hannah and told her what was happening and we walked up the hill to the hospital while they done all the tests to prepare William. He was the most special boy he knew he was about to recieve the most special gift ever his new liver.
We finally settled him into his room at Surf ward and I went back to the unit, we couldn't sleep to much going through our minds.
We all went up to say our goodluck and give him plenty of cuddles. We took him down to Threatre and I got gowned up to take him in. Everyone said goodbye and we walked in ,he was cuddling me like a koala. I layed him down and told him I loved him and when you wake you would have a new liver, so he layed still while the mask was placed over his little face and he fell of too sleep and as I said goodbye a tear fell from my eye.
We went back down to the units to wait for the news which the first phone call was about 12.00 to say all was going well so far.The next call was 3.00 and his new liver was in and they were just finishing up. The next call came at 4.30 to say he was heading to ICU and we could go and see him. The Surgeon said they had to wrestle his old liver out as it was bigger than they thought it would be.
He lay their peacfully asleep with tubes everywhere, Our brave hero, our precious William.
Thank you to worlds best family for allowing part of their loved one to be given to William and giving him a chance of a better and longer life. They will never no how gratefull we are to them. So a very big Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
He was in ICU for 2 days and after he woke said can we go home now.
William ended back in Threatre a couple more times but he mended very well.
We spent 12months in total living in Brisbane this trip and have been back at home since September with trips back to Brisbane to sort out his liver function tests. Next trip 12th March to have a die test in his bile duct to see if it maybe kinked. Also my Mum is having a hip replacement on the 14th March, we hope all goes well.William needed a bilary reconstruction all went well.
I can not beleive it is nearly 12months that he has had his new liver and we will have a birthday party to celebrate the 1st birthday of Charlie his new liver the most precious gift ever.