Waiting
Afton has continued to respond well clinically from the procedure, even though there are problems with the liver that she got. Her lab results have been surprising. Her liver function numbers have trended much better then expected despite the known malfunction (a non-flowing hepatic artery).
This is a double-edged sword, because: [1] It means Afton’s health is currently maximized and the liver is doing what a liver should do chemically inside Afton’s body; but [2] the known defect of her liver could eventually lead to the decline of the health of the organ itself. And if we were to move forward with this liver based on the fact that clinically the liver is doing everything it should right now, we could find ourselves in the position where her liver is failing and we wouldn’t have the national priority on the donor list that she has at this moment.
It means we have a lot of hard decisions to make in the near future. Afton is still listed as top priority for available livers, so we’re waiting to see what we get offered, and when. In the mean time the liver she has, though the artery is not working, seems to be producing the result it should and we’re hoping it continues to until a new, good option presents itself.
Thank you for all of your thoughts, and continue to keep us in your hearts as we face the unknown that comes.
