Texas Ken's CaringBridge site update

June 21, 2007

We arrived at Baylor at 12:30 p.m. Ken had an EKG, X-ray, and they

took 18 vials of blood. We were advised surgery would take place at

4:30 p.m. today.

The transplant surgeon, Dr. McKenna, came in to meet with us at 6:00

p.m. He had just returned from harvesting the liver and shared with

us that the donor was a 48 yr. old male who died of natural causes

and that the organ was in excellent condition. He described the

surgery and told us that Ken was at slightly greater risk because of

his low MELD score.

Kim (Ken's sister) got to the hospital at 9:30 p.m. and was happy she

could spend time with him before the operation. We spent the next few

hours cracking jokes and planning Ken's next solid meal. Instead of

counting hours until the surgery, he was counting hours since he last

ate. (At this point already 30 hours!) By the way, he's planning on

Kung Pao and Sweet and Sour chicken! If Ken was nervous he didn't

show it and kept a brave face.

About 10:30 p.m. an anesthesiologist came to Ken's room to ask a

series of questions and provide an overview of what to expect next.

He shared that there was another surgery in progress that would take

at least another hour and that we could expect the operation to take

place about midnight.

Approximately midnight we accompanied Ken to the surgical floor where

he met with another anesthesiologist who would be part of his team.

We waited there another hour, and right before they wheeled Ken off

we had a chance to snap a photo of him with the cooler containing his

Gift of Life.

He was finally taken into surgery at 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The

doctors advised it will take about 6 hours for the procedure, and

then Ken will be taken to ICU and kept under sedation for another 4-5

hours.

It is now 2:00 a.m. One hour down...many to go.

Barb, TJ, & Kim

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