I feel like there is so much to update you on, but not so much at the same time.

In my past update, I mentioned I was in the "safety net" for a kidney transplant. Well, two months later, and I'm no longer in the "safety net"! Huh! Now my kidneys--functioning at 9%--are most definitely going bye-bye (one is)...huh...
6-9 months from now, I could have a new kidney and stop doing dialysis 3x/week. Damn kidneys.

I made it home for the holidays! It was absolutely beautiful! My dad put my bright pink sparkly tree up and some of my favorite ornaments, along with his favorite (we shared a tree) ornaments that remind him of his wife. I got to eat Christmas dinner with my dad! It was delicious and so worth fighting to get home for the holidays.

Then, things started turning bad.

Since I've had my liver transplant 10/1/23, my throat has been finicky. I have esophagitis (thanks, acid reflux), which is inflammation of the throat, but it got worse after the transplant to the point where not even water--a completely thin liquid--would stay down. It would all come back up through vomiting. From December 27 to January 4, I didn't eat or drink ANYTHING. It took two people (one being my dad) telling me that I looked off to get me to go to the local hospital on January 4. I was sent to the hospital where I got my transplant, and the doctor came in concerned: 'Morgan, you know you literally starved yourself for 10 days?' I couldn't help it. I couldn't eat. 

I was diagnosed with severe dysphagia, which--according to the Mayo Clinic--is difficulty swallowing (or sometimes not being able to swallow at all). I was immediately given an upper endoscopy, where they cleared out the phlegm/mucus in my throat and opened (inflated) the throat with a balloon. My throat diameter should be about 20 mm. It was less than 10. After the endoscopy, I was able to go home and eat liquids. 

A second endoscopy (weekly procedure) on January 30 opened my throat to just about 20 mm. I could eat anything, but take my time with it.

While at the hospital, I felt like I pulled a foot muscle bad and tried, but couldn't put weight on my right foot. I went home and ended up missing 5 scheduled dialysis days and lab draws because that right foot couldn't bear weight. Randomly, I got a call from the post-transplant office, asking what was going on with missing things. They told me I could die if I didn't get to my local ER right away because of missed dialysis. Yeah, ok, whatever, try to put the fear of God in me...I'm fine.

Turns out, that's true. According to the National Institute of Health, the toxins built in your body after 7-10 missed dialysis days could kill you. Yikes. I went to my local ER, guaranteeing my dad that I would be whisked off hours away back to the transplant hospital, and that mentally...I didn't know how much more back and forth I could do. My ER doctor called the transplant hospital, and the doctor there said, "Oh, she just needs dialysis. If you can provide that, she'll be fine." YAY!! I get to stay close to home! I was in my local hospital for a few days, receiving dialysis and physical therapy for my foot. I'm now able to gently put a little weight on both feet!

Currently, I made the EXTREMELY TOUGH decision to NOT go home and be with my dad, but instead am back in a rehab facility. This time, though, I'm less than an hour from home! My throat is closing again, but I already have an endoscopy scheduled for the end of this month, so I'm ready. 

I really just want to go home, but I can't put the burden of literally having to help me even stand to my family. That's not fair. This is MY fight, I own it.

You are all caught up now, but what a whirlwind these past few months have been!

Also, happy Galentine's Day! If you don't know what that is, I'll have a little video linked on my Facebook. If you don't see my FB, go to youtube and look up Parks and Recreation Galentine's Day.