Meeting Dr. Sutherland

Our appt. with Dr Sutherland went very well. We all say down and talked for about and hour. He once again agreed that I was a great candidate for the surgery. He said he has previous patients who got pregnant before the transplant, had a good pregnancy and then had the transplant after the baby was born and are going great. He gave me the contact number of a woman my age in MS who has the almost exact situation as me. I hope to contact her very soon.
Dr. Sutherland said he has done 375 transplants in 30 years! Only 2 out of 375 were Lap transplants. The others left the large scar from the major incision down the entire belly. He said the Lap transplant takes around 16-18 hours where the large incision takes 12-14. He would try the Lap if I wanted him to, but could not promise once he got in there he could do it. It would just depend on what he finds.... Like Dr Freeman, he wants me to focus on the baby now and when its born if I am still hurting contact him for the transplant. I am staying very optimistic that between my pregnancy horomones and God a miracle will happen and the pain will go away for good!

Our trip to Minnesota..

Our flight to MN went very well. We left Birmingham June 21 at 7:50 and landed in MN around 10:30. My first appt. was at 2:30 with Dr. Freeman (GI doctor). He was running way behind so we were at his office from 1:30-5:30. We really like him! He came in and sat down with Scott, my mom, dad and I for an hour. He read through my chart and we discussed my previous procedures at UAB and my medical history. He said that my pancreas was VERY diseased! He said when an EUS shows a 7/9 that is extremely diseased. Dr. Freeman said he wished I had an EUS before all of my ERCP's so he could compare the past to now. That would help him to see if my pancreas has gotten worse over the past two years or if its about the same. We have no way of knowing now without a previous EUS, but he said regardless its really bad.
Dr. Freeman believes that due to my age, having NO other medical problems and not being on narcotics I am a perfect candidate for the transplant. He said I was almost too perfect and he wished he could use me on a research study. However, due since I am pregnant he wants me to focus on the baby for the next 7 months and see how I feel then. If the pain is still the same he wants me to come back to MN for the transplant. It is the only treatment option I have. It is such a scary feeling knowing there is only one thing left they can try. I have just got to believe that miracles do happen and pray about what to do. The transplant will take away my pacnreas pain, but will make me a diabetic and there is no definite percentage that I will ever be able to come off the insulin. Some individuals have and some have not... it will all depend on how well my body accepts the islet cell transplant. I'll post about my appt with Dr. Sutherland (transplant surgeon) soon. Thanks for all the prayers this week. I really appreciate them!

Packed for Minnesota

Well the day we have been planning for months is finally here. We fly to Minnesota tomorrow morning. My first appointment is at 2:30 tomorrow with my gastrointerologist. On Tuesday I have some tests ran and meet with Dr. Sutherland. I am very nervous about what he will tell me, but ready to hear it just as well. So far my pregnancy is going great and I just pray it continues for 8 months. I just have to trust in God each day that what he has planned for me will be. I will update you all soon in regard to the news we get from Dr. S.

We're EXPECTING!!!

Our plans have changed a little bit due to our little surprise! We are expecting a little one! Scott and I are so excited and happy. We truly feel that Gods plan for me at this time was much greater than the plan we had made for ourselves with the transplant. We are so thankful for this blessing from God.
We are still going to Minnesota June 21 to meet with Dr. Sutherland. The transplant will not happen until after the baby if they still feel it is what I need at that time. My OB-GYN has already started checking my amylase and lipase levels and wants me to have all my records sent to her. She wants to have everything she needs in case I get sick and have to be hospitalized since I will have to be at St Vincents now instead of UAB. I have had a great past 6 months and pray for another 8 months of good health. God is wonderful and I know he has a plan for us and he will watch over this baby and take care of us through it all. I go for an ultrasound in 4 weeks! I will update you all again once we get to Minnesota in a few weeks.