• August 9, 2008 9:09 AM PDT
  
  Hello Eastgaters,
  Most of you are up to date on the progress of Jennifer and her liver transplant. This is a short note to say that a week ago she was told she didn't have to report to the transplant clinic for two weeks. That is really progress. She still gets her blood drawn 2/week for those counts and seems to be holding her own on that. Meds get tweaked at these times also. She is still addressing another issue, but the Liver and Jennifer seem to be in harmony. I think we all know that getting out in crowds (i.e. church) is not something she should yet be doing. It will be a joyous moment when she can and does. . If you want to see a good picture, go to the website at http://www.mindspring.com/~eastgateucc/index.html , to Jennifer's Updates and click on that. She also has written a letter to the Cleveland Global Ministries that is listed there with some more information in her own words. David Coatsworth who works in that Ministry hand delivered a card signed by many in the Cleveland office and this is a note to them. It was an awesome gift to have David deliver that with the concerns and love from the Cleveland Folks.
  
  So keep those prayers coming for healing and further health, support for the family and praises for a "job well done". Also be mindful of the family who lost someone in order to let someone else live.
  
  Faithfully
  Sally
  
  "Through all the turmult and strife, I hear the music ringing: It finds an echo in my soul, How can I keep from singing". (Robert Lowry/Ira Sankey 1860.)
  
  "I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." Psalm 146:2
  
  So keep on Singing and Praying.

• August 5, 2008 From Jennifer herself!
  
  Dear Cleveland Staffers, (Please feel free to forward onto other card signers),
  
  When Rick came home from church on Sunday and presented me with the card from all of you I was very moved. Auspiciously, I was wearing my GM t-shirt Linda had given me at Synod as you will see in the attached picture! You may have seen an earlier picture with me all tubed-up on the eastgateucc.org web site a couple of days post-surgery. Big changes. My recovery has been aided by a cast of thousands including Shawnee and Zoe who are here with us as they reintegrate into life in the USA.
  
  These past two weeks have been unlike anything I could have ever imagined. Of course, my imagining/thinking skills were not primo the last few months. Shawnee told me of Skyping me from China a month or two ago. She had told me about a man named Nathaneal who had been a teenager with the small mission group I had taken to India in '92. I had asked her who Nathanel was. A question I would not ask today as my memory of this young man is still so fresh despite him now being a doctor and a married man for ten years! When she told me about this conversation this weekend I realized how much greater the impact of the end stage liver disease had been. (And this was with taking lactulose-the ammonia removing drug universally disliked by all patients for its side affects).
  
  In a short while I will be heading off to the support group for post and pre-transplant folks. I will wear my mask and "gel in and gel out." It will be a month or more before I can venture into wider groups like church services. One of the things I will say to the transplant group is how blessed I have been with an incredible support system with people like you, church folk from Texas, NH, Maine, Ohio, Washington, Illinois, etc plus of, course, Eastgate Congregational UCC. In addition there are so many others around this global community, many of whom know me only through a friend or family member. Since Seattle is home I have an embarrassment of riches in a loving family who have been there in so many ways.
  
  With the transplant have come some changes. The leg and hand cramps are gone. The ice cube consumption, once a true habit, is non-existent. The last few months the exhilarating campaign of Barack Obama and the alternate multi-verse of Star Trek have been my home. What I have inherited is a tendency to cry easily, something totally new. Probably not unexpected when one contemplates the meaning of the gift of life. I'm told my color and jokes are better. I'm back giving commands and have even got Zoe trained on doing the twice daily blood pressure checks!
  
  What I have also noticed is a re-awakening of the sense of the Holy. A true blessing. There is also a deep sense of love for Rick, my partner for almost 39 years, through all of this.
  
  God is good.
  
  All the time.
  
  Jennifer
  
  
  
  
• Sunday, July 27, 2008 9:56 PM PDT
  
  Okay..if you were not at church, then you missed the big announcement 'Jennifer is coming home today". Her surgery was last Sunday. Home today at about 6PM. Settling in. I think you can all imagine what that could mean, after this past intense week. So think of them on that subject.
  
  They thank you for all your care, prayers and concern. AND CARDS. According to Shawnee, Jennifer likes getting cards, so if any of you have a tidbit or two to share with her, go ahead and do that. Maybe we will have her write a book. :-) !!
  
  Seriously she is still very much on the mending side of this liver transplant. The Physical Therapist whipped her though walking and some exercises and made sure she could move about at home...as a good PT should do. "whip em into shape". The pharmcist went through the variety of meds that she must take which seems overwhelming, but will dwindle as the months go by. Jennifer is on a strict eating regime with rules about just about everything so we need to be aware of that and honor it.
  
  Pray for contining and sustaining health for Jennifer and God's support for Rick and the family as they too learn to live with this new liver of Jennifer's. Praises for the liver, the expertise and watchfulness of the surgeons and the care of the nursing staff. Prayers of comfort for the family of the donor also.
  
  More as it comes.
  
  Blessings,
  sally
  
  Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray...oh yes, everytime I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.
  
  

• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:26 PM PDT
  
  Hello People,
  
  Day two after Jennifer's marathon surgery. Early yesterday that ventilator came out of her throat and her first word was "hallelujah". Can't beat that. Rick reports that she has been joking with the medical staff ever since. She was sitting up by yesterday afternoon and has had some of the tubes removed. ( I am not sure how many were there and if there are any left, but each one removed is progress).
  
  Today, she is sitting up, talking more, crunching ice chips and anticipating going "downstairs" to the regular transplant patient floor. I did get to talk to her on the phone and that was overwhelming for me. She sounds good, Rick was there, the family has been there throughout this event. This is a loving loyal family and they surround Jennifer with love and care.
  
  I would guess that updates from now on will be only if there is a change or when she comes home or I get "a notion". Along with the Russell family I am so grateful for the prayers and words of concern and support from all of you. It has been "a trip" of wild proportions. We pray now for the liver and Jennifer to live well together. There of course, is still a road to travel, and we are praying for it to be a calm journey of successes.
  
  So that is it for this part of this day.
  
  Peace and Blessing to each of you.
  
  Sally
  
  "Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without God's unfolding grace." 2 Cor. 4:16 from The Message. God is good. Thanks be to God.
  

• Monday, July 21, 2008 11:06 AM PDT
  
  Good morning, bring on the sun. Briefly..since the day is really only half started...Jennifer had a good night, the ventilator is out already (that is a plus), she is talking, family is with her, she is also trying to recapture yesterday and asking questions, and right now the going is good. I will probably have more as the day goes..but I know that you are all wanting some info. And this is such good stuff. I just praise her stamina, the family's love and support for each other, the surgeons' concern, care and expertise and I will include the ICU staff too...they are tops.
  
  More later,
  Thankfully and gratefully,
  sally
  
  
  

• Sunday, July 20, 2008 9:09 PM PDT
  
  Okay here is what I have now at 9PM. Jennifer is in ICU having been in surgery about 11 hours. THAT IS ELEVEN HOURS!. All I can say is wow. She is resting, doped up, able to respond to the nurse's inquiries by squeezing fingers...so that is all good. She has been given a lot of blood and had a great deal of fluid in her abdominal cavity which they did deal with as they would. Her BP is good which is a positive and the professional people around her seemed quite upbeat about the outcomes to date. She is also on a ventilator. As she wakes up and processes more and breathing on her own comfortably that will come out. (those things are uncomfortable and you can't talk ..so it is an irritant too later on--my editorial)
  
  Rick is ready for a good night's rest and I imagine the girls are too and sister Sharon ..all of whom were with Rick most of the day. (another editorial...I called Sharon a half sister in one of these updates and I truly apologize to her, gracious she is a full sister.)
  
  All in all we are all grateful and thankful that this so far as been successful. Prayers again for the donor's family.
  
  Prayers for continuing recovery in good sted for Jennifer.
  
  Blessings to each of you,
  This has been one long day for the Russells.
  
  Take good care,
  sally

• Sunday, July 20, 2008 3:00 PM PDT
  
  For those of you who are wondering about the progress of Jennifer's, here is a short update. As of about 2:45PM, Jennifer was still in surgery but holding up well, the liver is in, some oozing is being monitored and there is about 60-90 more minutes of this part of the process if all goes well. Rick is sitting with Robin, Kelly and Jennifer's halfsister, Sharon. Shawnee is taking Zoe over to PF...but was there all morning. Rick sounded very tired this morning and still is...but he did sound livlier this time.
  
  Next report will be after this surgery marathon is finished and hopefully she is in ICU.
  
  They feel blessed and surrounded by caring, loving, praying folks.
  
  Take good care,
  sally

• Sunday, July 20, 2008 8:46 AM PDT
  
  Okay...this is a go. Jennifer is IN surgery now...about 8:30AM. I will get updates later. My gosh folks, this is more than I can get my head around.
  
  Pray for success and strength.
  
  Take good care,
  Blessings
  sally

• July 17, 2008, 10:57 AM, PDT
  
  Hi Folks,
  
  Time for the latest on Jennifer's week.
  Basically it has been a good week. Her hematocrit was a bit low but they weren't going to transfuse yet.
  
  However, yesterday (Wed.) at 10:00AM Rick and Jennifer were called to UHMC and off they went to wait another prospective liver. They spent all day there, Jennifer was fully tested and prepped and they waited. The liver was to come in around 7-9PM and it did. During the day J. was made the number one recipient of this liver if all the vital "stuff" matched her. The doctors would be doing a look see at this liver, compare it to J's needs and then if all went well do the surgery probably around 10:00PM. (times are not exact)
  
  And as Rick says it..I think they "were at the door of the surgery room" when the surgeon came in to tell them that the liver was not going to be transplanted. It seems that it wasn't looking as healthy as they thought. So off the Russells went to home.
  
  This had to be a great disappointment for both Jennifer and Rick. On one hand they wait and anticipate and on the other the surgeon is watching out of Jennifer. They do learn more and more about this process as they happen to move through them. It is heartening that the transplant surgical team is alert, aware and proactive, imo.
  
  I expect that prayers for Jennifer and Rick would be for continued faith, patience and understanding, for the supportive family to keep on being strong in that too and for this liver to present itself soon in good non risky condition. Prayers too for the surgeons who are in charge of this eventual surgery and the care they give to J.. And of course, prayers for the donor whoever she/he might be, that God hold that one close also.
  
  Blessings to each of you.
  sally
  

• July 12, 2008, 9:07 AM, PDT
  
  Hi Folks,
  
  This is just a brief update for those who are asking and wondering.
  
  Rick tells me that it has been a good week. Jennifer is getting exercise, taking her meds like she needs, going about other activities and is generally stable medically. No trip to the hospital in two weeks. And that is good news.
  
  Jennifer remains #4 on the list of liver recipients. The issue now is THAT telephone call. They wait for it to ring and have it be the the UHMC transplant folks. Not yet..but stay tuned. It must be hard to anticipate and then have it not be...yet, but with the support of all of you and their family, the Russells are coping.
  
  Any more questions just ask. Send an email, see me at church, use the phone...I am willing and able.
  
  And without any other news...we may see Jennifer in church.
  
  The weather is good, Jennifer is stable, God is good.
  
  Take care and Blessings to each of you.
  sally
  
  
  
  
  
• July 5, 2008, 6:02 AM, PDT
  
  Hi again everybody,
  
  Rick wrote in the night to tell us that they were on there way home. The liver was from a very tall man and it was too big for Jennifer. So as disappointing as this is for them, it was closer to 'being' and they learn more about the process each time.
  
  Thank you for caring, for your concern, keep the prayers coming.
  
  This up and down teeter totter has to be tough on Jennifer and Rick.
  
  Blessings to each of you,
  sally

• Happy July 4th Folks,

This is a quick message on Jennifer. As of yesterday her hematocrit was 26 down one, her MELD was 22 up one. She had a busy Saturday last with the two events she attended. It was good to see her participating. Rick said she was off the other day shopping at a mall..so keeping up spirits and physical abilities. She has to be accompanied and tires easily..but WAY TO GO JENNIFER. And of course having Shawnee and Zoe home is a good thing too. Rick's brothers are here and sister Margaret comes in tomorrow, so lots of support there, along with the family that lives in this area.

NOW for today's news. Jennifer was admitted to UWMC today at noon to be the "backup" for a liver that will become available sometime in the close future. At 7:30PM she has been thoroughly prepped with all the various tests that she has to undergo before she can have the surgery, been advised with all the information for a transplant by the surgeons and now must wait. This liver may or may not be for her, but if it is, it will be good.

Prayers for health, strength and comfort for Jennifer and Rick and the family. And for the donor.

Stay tuned. More as soon as they know and let me know. Rick has been very good on this.

Blessings to each of you.

More to come as it happens....or not.

Prayerfully,
sally





• June 22, 2008—It was a joy to see Jennifer in church this morning.
  

• June 19, 2008—Currently, Jennifer is stable and at home. She is conserving energy, getting some physical exercise to maintain strength, taking her meds (one of which she says is very yukky tasting) and keeping her mental spirits positive. Earlier this month, she spent a week in the hospital getting a “tune up” (her term) to make sure that she is well enough to undergo transplant surgery when a good compatible liver becomes available. No trips to the emergency room last weekend or so far this week...and that is cause for celebration.
Many of you may know that last weekend Jennifer was called to be at the hospital in the morning to receive a transplant. As things progressed through the morning, and with much consultation with the surgeons, Jennifer declined that liver. A later biopsy on the donor liver revealed that it was unacceptable for anybody, so Jennifer's decision was a sound one.
Rick says J's spirits are good and for that we can be grateful. Now the job is to take the meds, keep her strength up and wait. She continues to be number 4 on the list at the University of Washington Medical Center...that, too, is good.
Prayers for Jennifer to remain stablized with all these MELD scores and that when another liver is available that it "fits". Both Jennifer and Rick are very appreciative of the prayers, cards, concern and support that you are so willingly offering and giving.