Livia Kilian - Recovery Fund

On November 4th 2018 my sister, Livia Kilian, was in a tragic car accident. She is taking gradual steps in the right direction but has a long year ahead of her.
In the accident she suffered many injuries. She had her spleen removed and they were unable to close up her chest for a series of days, her liver was left to repair it's "grade 4, shredded self", she had broken jaw that could not get fixed yet due to tubes in her mouth keeping her alive. Her lungs were completely collapsed that were gone and could not be seen on any scan. A few weeks later she even flatlined but was brought back to life with compressions and a shot of adrenaline.
She was on the highest level of life support (ECMO) for 26 days. The ECMO took blood out of her main arteries, went through a machine and oxygenated it, then entered back into her body. This was her lifeline but as it kept her alive it had risks - when blood exits the body it will start forming clots and usually this machine is run with the patient on blood thinners, Livia could not go on blood thinners as she had multiple internal bleeds. We were told her lungs were not going to recover and her body had too much trauma to be a transplant candidate. She now sits with two of her original lungs and is breathing on her own. Her lungs aren’t perfect yet and have scar tissue but her lungs are a miracle!!! With God's help and the power of prayer she is still here!!
That was not the last of her battles however, her battle is not won yet until we have her home and Livia has lots to overcome.
On Saturday, Dec 1st we were then told she suffered multiple major strokes and would never walk again, would be emotionless and stare at a wall. We were told she would most likely never come home but would be institutionalized. This day was the worst day of all of these horrific days. After so much prayer and hope we felt she lost but then that night she opened her eyes and responded to questions and commands through blinks and had squeezes.
As she continued to wake up, very slowly, she has continued to amaze us by proving how much of a miracle she really is. She first began with blinks to answer questions, those turned into frowns or a very weak half smile, then once she got in for an MRI she got her neck brace off and she started to nod, writing came next once her hand built up enough strength to hold a pen, then eventually talking once her tracheoscopy came out despite her wired shut jaw.
She spent 45 days in the ICU and on Dec 18 finally was moved to HAU where she still remains. On Dec 22nd Livia took her first assisted steps and has been increasing that almost daily.
We pray for Livy to keep taking those "two steps forward" to better health.
Many have asked if there’s a gofundme set up for Livia’s rehab to help us with her needs.  My mom, Jenene Kilian, will be in charge of the funds. Any amounts raised beyond what Livia needs for rehab and home care will be donated to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation https://rchfoundation.com/ as we owe them a HUGE thank you.

We are so grateful for the ICU trauma team at Royal Columbian.  As many of you have followed "Livia’s Prayer Warriors" and saw her daily trials and prayer requests, you know how hard they had to work to save her.   They worked ceaselessly to save her lungs, as her body had too much trauma to be a transplant candidate, they also revived her when her heart stopped, brought her brain swelling down and tried hard to stop her strokes, and continually helped her damaged organs heal along with removing her spleen.  God was able to work through this special team of intensivists, surgeons and nurses so that Livia will soon be able to come home.  We also are so thankful for the ECMO machine that she was on for 26 days, keeping her alive.  Without this important lifesaving piece of equipment and your prayers she would not be here today.  Oh and a huge thank you to all of you that donate blood, for Livia used many many bags of it.  (We so appreciate you too!)