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Brighton (age 11) got sick over the last weekend in August. By Tuesday night we noticed he was turning yellow and took him in to the local after hours clinic. After 3 blood tests came back showing problems with the liver, we were told to take him directly to the emergency room at the children's hospital 3 hours away from home.
We pulled up to the hospital Wednesday morning just before 3:00 am. 24 hours later, the liver specialist told us he was in liver failure and suggested to put him on a the transplant list as a precaution. Later that day, his kidneys shut down and we noticed significantly slower brain function. It was astonishing at how quickly his body was shutting down, and we began to wonder if God was going to take our son home.
The doctor determined that the cause was a rare genetic disorder called Wilson Disease, where the liver doesn't motabolize copper correctly and accumulates it, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, brain, eyes, and other vital organs. The cure? Liver transplant. We were assured by the doctors that keeping him on the list was the right decision.
Brighton started recieving plasma replacement therapy to start pulling some of the copper out of his body (he had 20 times the amout of copper than is normal.) He had a few blood transfusions and a special blood transfusion to help his blood clot so he could have the procedure to get tubes in to start dyalisis. He began continual dyalisis and waited. We watched him slip further away into unconsciencousness to the point that he struggled to open his eyes even when we asked him to. He was so sick, we came to the realization that only God was in charge.
Our family and friends decided to hold a special fast starting Saturday night, and pray for Brighton through Sunday. During these times of combined faith, we felt a powerful peace and support from our savior knowing that whatever happened, it was for the greater good, and we realied heavily on his spirit to pull us through.
Saturday, we recieved a phone call from the hospital while we were eating lunch. They had a liver for Brighton! And, knowing even though the situation was urgent, they said that the liver was the most ideal that they could have expected. It was such a blessing! They took him in for surgery at 1:00 Sunday morning, Fast Sunday. It was such a stressful night, but there was peace knowing so many people were praying for Him. He was truly in God's hands.
Everything went smoothy, just as it should, and he was out of surgery at about 8:00 am. The first couple weeks of recovery were rough to go through, but all things considered, he's done well, and he's definitely on the road to recovery now! We can't wait til we can go home and be together with our whole family again!
Since it's a genetic disease, our 4 other kids were tested too. We discovered that our two youngest, Taylee (age 6) and Leah (age 3) also have Wilson disease. They aren't dealing with sudden liver failure, so it's treatable with medication. Taylee has too much copper in her body right now, so she will be on a medication that will pull the copper out of her organs (this will take about a year) and then she will start a life long maintenance medicine to keep her body from absorbing more coppr.
We're still waiting on test results to determine where to start in Leah's treatment. However, we do know that she will at least have to take the maintenance medication to keep from absorbing copper as well.
Despite the chaos our lives have become this month, we know God is blessing and guiding us through all of this. He has brought so much peace and comfort to our hearts and we have seen His hand through so many aspects of this experiencce. We know He will continue to guide and direc t us in life!
My husband is an elementary school teacher and I have been blessed enough to stay at home with our children. These medical bills are quite a stretch for our family. If you would like to assist our family, and help us with these expenses, it would be a great blessing for us! Many times, God blesses His children's lives through the generous acts of His other children!
Thank you for all the love, support and prayers!
Love,
The Wells Family
We pulled up to the hospital Wednesday morning just before 3:00 am. 24 hours later, the liver specialist told us he was in liver failure and suggested to put him on a the transplant list as a precaution. Later that day, his kidneys shut down and we noticed significantly slower brain function. It was astonishing at how quickly his body was shutting down, and we began to wonder if God was going to take our son home.
The doctor determined that the cause was a rare genetic disorder called Wilson Disease, where the liver doesn't motabolize copper correctly and accumulates it, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, brain, eyes, and other vital organs. The cure? Liver transplant. We were assured by the doctors that keeping him on the list was the right decision.
Brighton started recieving plasma replacement therapy to start pulling some of the copper out of his body (he had 20 times the amout of copper than is normal.) He had a few blood transfusions and a special blood transfusion to help his blood clot so he could have the procedure to get tubes in to start dyalisis. He began continual dyalisis and waited. We watched him slip further away into unconsciencousness to the point that he struggled to open his eyes even when we asked him to. He was so sick, we came to the realization that only God was in charge.
Our family and friends decided to hold a special fast starting Saturday night, and pray for Brighton through Sunday. During these times of combined faith, we felt a powerful peace and support from our savior knowing that whatever happened, it was for the greater good, and we realied heavily on his spirit to pull us through.
Saturday, we recieved a phone call from the hospital while we were eating lunch. They had a liver for Brighton! And, knowing even though the situation was urgent, they said that the liver was the most ideal that they could have expected. It was such a blessing! They took him in for surgery at 1:00 Sunday morning, Fast Sunday. It was such a stressful night, but there was peace knowing so many people were praying for Him. He was truly in God's hands.
Everything went smoothy, just as it should, and he was out of surgery at about 8:00 am. The first couple weeks of recovery were rough to go through, but all things considered, he's done well, and he's definitely on the road to recovery now! We can't wait til we can go home and be together with our whole family again!
Since it's a genetic disease, our 4 other kids were tested too. We discovered that our two youngest, Taylee (age 6) and Leah (age 3) also have Wilson disease. They aren't dealing with sudden liver failure, so it's treatable with medication. Taylee has too much copper in her body right now, so she will be on a medication that will pull the copper out of her organs (this will take about a year) and then she will start a life long maintenance medicine to keep her body from absorbing more coppr.
We're still waiting on test results to determine where to start in Leah's treatment. However, we do know that she will at least have to take the maintenance medication to keep from absorbing copper as well.
Despite the chaos our lives have become this month, we know God is blessing and guiding us through all of this. He has brought so much peace and comfort to our hearts and we have seen His hand through so many aspects of this experiencce. We know He will continue to guide and direc t us in life!
My husband is an elementary school teacher and I have been blessed enough to stay at home with our children. These medical bills are quite a stretch for our family. If you would like to assist our family, and help us with these expenses, it would be a great blessing for us! Many times, God blesses His children's lives through the generous acts of His other children!
Thank you for all the love, support and prayers!
Love,
The Wells Family