Great news! yes please keep us in the know.
I check daily for my Howie fix : D I am too so grateful to the organ donor. I wish we could all send her family our condolences and to let them know that their daughter, wife, mother, sister has so unselfishly given the wonderful gift of life so that someone else, a perfect stranger, could live! That has to be the most selfless thing in the world. I had an aunt who was dying young from heart disease and received a heart and lived another 25 years! That is almost the record! How awesome is that!! One of the saddest things I thought of when I found out I had HVC was that I might no longer be able to be an organ donor.
Howie - I figure that with that new liver that's only 36 - you're easily good for another five decades or more. Geez, that'll have you breezing past 100 without even the blink of an eye! Seriously, though - thanks for the update. And I'm confident that your present pain is just a passing phase...It will soon subside, and you're gonna be just fine -
That's such wonderful news. Sorry to hear you have so much pain, but one day, hopefully, that will be a distant memory. Thanks for letting us know how you're doing. I, like so many others, check every day in hopes of news from you. You give us all hope. ( a new liver AND a new belly button? Wow - jackpot!)
I've been smiling non-stop since I've read your news!!! woohoo, yeehaw, attaboy! I'm sure your heart is lighter and your spirit freer...
Bev
What a wonderful way to end 2013. You and your sister look a lot alike. I am so glad she came to help you. Up and walking around every day. Remarkable. The wonders of science never fail to amaze me. Take care of your self and get stronger every day.
You know what I am looking forward to? You are a remarkable photographer. YOu have such a good eye. I can't wait to see what you do when you are up and around again.
Sending healing waves your way.
bean
Unbelievable and inspirational
So glad you home and this wonderful gift was given to you.. I know this has give you a reason to see the beauty of this world and know the light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter now . God is good and he watches over us all. Get well soon and know we all respect and love you hurry back .
bbj
YOU unselfishly have been paying to forward to many for a long time.
YOU have shared your own remarkable journey for all to learn.
YOU have prayers, thoughts & friends wishing you the best.
I want to thank you and wish you all the happiness that you do deserve
going forward into a new beginning.
You bet cha'
Hear hear, Willy! Couldn't have said it better! So happy for you, Hector.
It is thanksgiving come early Howie.
So many people have been pulling for you, and for so long.
I think that it is partially due to the fact that for so many people who have needed help...... or correct information.....
....YOU have been a gift of sorts....... a friend, a source of solid information or advice, a person who provided comfort, or a role model for many.....
Thanks for all you have done over the years .....and I think we all wish you many healthy years to come on this second part of your life.
willy
Howie, So wonderful! We are all so joyous that you are doing well! Very happy that you have your sister with you Too !
Thank you for all of your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am doing very well post-transplant and came home on Thursday afternoon.
My sister is here from Connecticut taking care of me as I go through the recovery process. She has worked in healthcare for many decades and so is able to communicate with all of the doctors and nurses. I am taking multiple walks outside everyday and learning all of the medicines.
I am so grateful to have been been given a brand new lease on life thanks to the generosity of a 36 year old woman who donated her liver and all the people at my transplant center who worked tirelessly for me over many years.
Howie <3
Wonderful...wonderful news.....am so happy for him....he is a miracle.
He looks amazing! And from what I hear, is already out of bed and walking a little. This guy is a miracle and such an inspiration to us all!
I love you guys,
Karen:)
Thank you Mike, this is the best news, I am so happy for him, looks wonderful. He is just amazing!!
SO amazing, so darn happy, here is his picture compliments of Blondie WOO HOO I went out and bought some red dancing shoes!!
http://www.medhelp.org/photos/show/1420486?personal_page_id=1717754&type=users
I too check regularly to see if Hector has received transplant. Being a post liver transplant myself. I am ecstatic over Hector and his new liver!!! I know no won, who knows more about Hep C than Hector ( including some Dr's. I have talked to).
He has worked tirelessly informing people about their disease, and where to get help or who to see. He did this for me, after my Liver Tranx in 5-2110 I had a strong attack on my new liver go Hep C. It was becoming cirrhotic very quickly. Hector told me about a trial of only 46 people. I applied to his Dr. She was able to tell me about another faculty that had a opening. I was accepted! This saved my life!!!!
Hector I am so proud of you. I have meet a lot of people in my life, but not any one like you. Your strength, and willingness to give of yourself( when I know you felt like you were literally dying ) shows you are is a tremendous human being.
God Bless and Peace,
Jerry
Oops meant checking! If anyone knows the Facebook page please share!
I am so so happy for Hector. I have been cheking this site daily hoping to see the good news! Praying for a speedy recovery!
Such exciting news! Howie sure has an amazing story, very inspirational to us all meanwhile keeping his sense of humor in tact and contributing so much to helping many of us here on MedHelp!
I will be hoping and praying for a wonderful recovery! Thank you so much Mike for spreading the terrific news!
Randy
I have been making amazing progress. All the doctors have been amazed by my turn around. My transplant meds have been reduced to the level that it usually takes 2 months to do in only 2 weeks! I can now walk without a walker and a lot of the bruising on my arms and neck is fading. Soon my 54 surgical staples will be removed.
I had a setback last Monday when I had severe pain in the area of my belly button. It was caused by having a hernia that was a complication of my cirrhosis that was now strangled due to the changed volume of my abdomen after my transplant. I had surgery Monday afternoon when a large amount of bowel sac and some collateral veins were surgically removed. The remaining healthy tissue was then pushed back into my abdomen and the abdominal wall was then sewed together in 3 layers and a new belly button was created by one of the young surgeons. The only apparent issues now are related to pain coming from my hernia incision and my transplant incision. Since I have had the good fortune of reducing my immunosuppressants I am experiencing more pain than patients usually have. So I am now on scheduled narcotic pain relief to prevent "breakthrough" pain when pain gets to be uncontrollable.
The bottom line is I am recovering more quickly than most liver transplant patients do. And for that I am very grateful. I am learning to live with abdominal pain as best I can. Hopefully my recovery will continue and soon the pain will only be a memory.
I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world at this point. Compared to where I was only a month ago I have come a tremendous distance. The liver that I received seems to be an uncanny match for me. It is as if this liver was meant for me somehow. I am forever grateful to my donor. She was only 36 years old and had a wonderfully healthy liver that started working as soon as it was infused with my circulating blood. Lucky me.
XOXO
Howie