Saturday, March 30, 2013

Rest

Written Saturday:
Today we laid Addy to rest. The past two days have been exhausting but the outpouring of love has been amazing. To see friends and family that we haven't seen in a very long time to even our nurses and doctors that took care of Addy, it was once again obvious how much of an impact Addy had on so many. When we got home today, we got the mail and out mailbox was stuffed to the rim with cards. Pat and I sat and opened them all and were once again in awe of all the people who sent their sympathies.

Even after Addy was gone from Earth she has still found a way to brighten other's days. While we kept some of the flower arrangements, we decided to take some to the local nursing home so some of the residents could enjoy them as well, Addy's great-great grandmother included.

Today:
Pat and I decided that we needed to get away, just the two of us. We took a trip down to Gatlinburg and took some time for just us. We realized that for a while everything is going to remind us of Addy but that isn't a bad thing. We are home and are going to try to get back into the swing of things.

There is another shirt design being sold that is orange with blue writing that says " AddySTRONG forever." Some of the junior high students came up with the idea. If you are interested in ordering, send an email to Tammy Hardesty at tamsboys02@yahoo.com.

Monday, March 25, 2013

One more night with our baby

As they were doing the tests to declare Addy brain dead, they found a trickle of blood in her brain stem. This doesn't change anything other than the fact that they cannot declare her brain dead today. They gave us three options, we could take her off the ventilator, which would not allow her to donate organs; we could do donation after cardiac death, which means that her heart would stop and then they could take organs below her diaphragm; or we could wait another night, do another brain scan and declare her tomorrow. We chose to have another night with Addy. The biggest deciding factor was the donation. We found out that her heart is needed in New York by a four month old and there are 7 other children waiting for a heart at the same center. There is also a chance her kidneys will be going to California. Our sister-in-law said that would be perfect because California is where we went on our honeymoon and New York was where we took our last vacation before we had Addy. It is really important for us to donate her organs if possible because if we can save another family from going through this heartbreak, then we will.

Donating

We just found out that someone in New York is interested in Addy's heart and someone in California is interested in the kidneys. Her ammonia still hasn't been low enough for the doctors to officially pronounce her brain dead, but she is having dialysis this morning and that should bring it down enough for them to evaluate her. The transplant people are trying to get a echo done sooner rather than later so they can make sure it is a match, but they usually have to wait. They are hoping to not prolong things for us. Regardless this will be our last day with Addy.
It seems fitting that she came to us on the hottest day of the year and she will leave us during a snow storm in the Spring. While we were here at the hospital, one of the movies we watched was The Extraordinary Life of Timothy Green. As Pat and I were talking last night we decided she was similar to Timothy Green only she was Addy Yellow. While Timothy had leaves, Addy brought some yellow from the sun and that is why she had such bright eyes and a beautiful smile (and her skin was yellow).

It has been overwhelming to get on Facebook and Twitter the past few days. So many have lifted us in their prayers and we will never be able to say how grateful we are.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

That's it

Because of Addy's liver disease, her body isn't able to feet rid of some of the things it needs to. One of those is ammonia. The others are things that the doctors can't measure. The doctors had been doing everything they could to control Addy's ammonia levels but her body kept producing more. This among the other things they can't measure, caused her brain to swell. Yesterday the doctors did an MRI on her brain and found no blood flow. This means there is a possibility of her being brain dead. The doctor told us that she is almost certain this is the case. Per hospital protocol she needs to be put on and EEG again, have two neurological exams and other tests ran. However, the neuro doctors will not come exam her if her ammonia is high because it will not be a valid test. Today we were given the option of continuing treatment as we have been but little to no hope of it doing anything, waiting on the neuro exam or halting all care. Our first question was how we could donate her organs.

We met with the organ retrieval person and she had put Addy's organs out locally. Because the doctors were not able to diagnose Addy, no one was interested because there is a chance that whatever she has can be transferred to the recipient. This actually happened to us a while ago. A liver became available but there was a chance another disease could come along with it so the doctors denied it. Now her organs are being put on the national list to see if anything is interested. This takes several hours and if someone is interested, Addy has to be declared brain dead by the hospital. That puts us at waiting around 24 hours for all the necessary tests.

Today Addy was baptized with her family around her. Thank you Pastor Dairel and Cindy for coming on such short notice.

We want to thank everyone who has supported is in any way during all this. We always knew Addy was a special girl and we know that God just misses her and wants her back.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Had a bad day

This hasn't been our best day so far. All day yesterday Addy had a fever on and off. They tried to help it by keeping cool washcloths on her and putting ice packs around her. She also wasn't having very much urine output so they put a cathedar in. Once they did that she had a TON of output. The nurse said it was the equivalent of an adult have 2 liters in their bladder. They weren't positive why she wasn't peeing but they guessed that is was because her liver is getting bigger and blocking the bladder. The sites where her lines are continue to bleed which is an effect of her clotting level being so high. The plasmapheresis has helped that number a ton, but it is still not great and only helps so long.

The big concern is that she had a fever but no known cause. They had run blood and urine cultures and had found nothing. The doctors considered taking out her PICC line because there was a chance bacteria was getting into her body through that. The issue with that is, once again, the risk of her bleeding.

The doctors decided to take her off the morphine so that she could wake up and they could do a neural exam. When they took her off though she didn't wake up. They checked her ammonia level again and it was in the 400's the highest it has been. That could have been the cause of her not waking up because high levels of ammonia can effect brain function. To get rid of the ammonia they decided to do dialysis which would get rid of what is in Addy's body now, but not any more she may produce, so we may have to do it more than just today. They also did an EEG which shows brain activity. One more thing that was ordered was an ultrasound of her liver. This is where some good news comes. They determined she has Pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas. That could be the cause of the fever and high ammonia levels. Of course there is bad news with this, there are no real treatments for it. All you can really do is let the pancreas rest. In order to do that, they have stopped the formula feeds (I don't think I shared they had put in a feeding tube) and she is strictly on fluids. More good news though, the doctors don't think that will keep her from getting a transplant.

They also decided to put an arterial line in, which is like an IV in one of the veins on her arm. This is so they can constantly measure her blood pressure. This is another thing that Addy would have had to have for the transplant anyway.

As far as donors go Addy is now in the 1B category on the donor list. That means she no longer only gets offers from our district but now this whole side of the country. We started testing for live donors but it is a long process and we are still waiting on that. We would still like to do a deceased donor if possible but at this point we just want Addy better.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Definitely AddySTRONG

If there was ever any question if Addy was a fighter, she proved to everyone that she was. After her breathing tube was placed, the doctors decided to put and IJ line in as well. This line is similar to her PICC line but it goes into her jugular into her neck. The good part of them doing all this now is that they would have to do it before her transplant anyways, but now it is done. Once all that was done, they began the plasmapheresis. When I walked back into the room (we weren't allowed to stay while they put in the lines) the nurse said "She is a fighter." Even though Addy was sedated, she was still a wiggle worm and moving all over the bed. Of course that isn't what they want. She started grabbing at all of her lines as well, which really isn't good. They tried to restrain her but she was still moving like crazy. Our nurse was literally holding her down for 45 minutes during the plasmapheresis so that the lines weren't disturbed. The exchange takes about 2 hours total. The plasma that was going into her was a yellowish color which means it is healthy, the plasma coming out was a reddish brown. Hopefully hers will start to look better the more times they do it. Addy didn't seem to be in pain or discomfort, she just didn't want to sit still (She gets that from her dad). They eventually gave her a medicine that paralyzed her. She stayed on that medicine throughout the night but the doctors have decided to take her off of it today. She will get another plasma exchange today and they are hoping if they up the dosage of the sedative, Addy will stay still enough. They are also hoping to take her off the ventilator today. She has to be put on that because of when they were putting in all of the lines.

While it was scary when they told us she needed a breathing tube, we knew that was what was best for her and it was going to come sooner or later. This way we can get used to it before her surgery and we aren't completely taken off guard by what she will look like after her transplant.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Movin' Down

Yesterday Addy started acting extremely tired and just not like herself. We asked the doctors to check her hemoglobin, and when they did, they found it was down to 5. They decided to do another transfusion. While she gets the transfusions, the nurses constantly check her vitals. After the second time of checking vitals, they found she had a temperature. Because of the risk of it being caused by the transfusion, they stopped. They did testing on the blood and found nothing was wrong with it so the fever was coming from something else. The doctors were not really wanting to check for a virus because that could take her off the transplant list because she wouldn't be considered healthy enough to go through the procedure. They drew blood cultures to check for infection and nothing has shown up yet, but they will continue to watch them. They also did a chest X-ray to make sure there was no fluid in her lungs and a head CT to make sure there was no bleeding. Both came back and looked good.

So that Addy could be watched more closely, it was decided we would move to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Once down there is seemed like we had 10 nurses and doctors in our room as soon as we arrived. We found out that every nurse on the floor only takes care of 2 patients and they must come in at least every two hours. After the PICU doctors talked to the GI doctors and the transplant team, they came up with a plan of action. The doctors decided that the Vitamin K was no longer doing anything for Addy's clotting levels. To help that they have decided to do daily plasmapheresis. This means they will take all of the plasma out of Addy and replace it with new plasma. The doctor explained to us that if she was in kidney failure, she would be in dialysis but with liver failure, this is like dialysis. In order to do this, Addy has to be sedated and put on a breathing tube. The doctors told us this will probably be until the transplant. Right now they are putting the breathing tube in and we are waiting. It is a two hour surgery and they are an hour in.

There is good news to all this. Just moving to the PICU puts Addy into a new category on the transplant list. Having the breathing tube puts her even higher. The doctors have told us the transplant team will be getting calls for more offers hopefully. They still can't predict when one will become available but they all seem optimistic that it could happen even more quickly now.

We are really going to miss being on the 8th floor. We got to be really close to some of the nurses and PCTs. When we would walk through the hallways it was nice because just about everyone would say hi to Addy and when they came into our rooms it wasn't an unfamiliar face. They took great care of not only Addy but us as well.

Here is our new address:

Addy Snyder
Room 531, Unit 5a
Children's Hospitals of Pittsburgh of UPMC
one Children's Hospital Drive
4401 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Monday, March 18, 2013

Movin' on Up

Not really up, just down the hall. On Saturday Pat was taking Addy down the hallway to look out the windows when he noticed an open room. He asked our nurse what it would take to get a room with a better view, just joking. Before we knew it, the nurse had asked her supervisor and we were moving our stuff. We now look out over the city instead of at the other side of the hospital and we can see the TV from the couch!

The new address for the hospital is

Addresses

We have had quite a few people ask us about sending cards and such, so here is the email to send an e-card

http://www.chp.edu/CHP/ecards

The address for the hospital is

Addy Snyder
Room 824, Unit 8 B
Children's Hospitals of Pittsburgh of UPMC
one Children's Hospital Drive
4401 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

The only thing that has changed is our room is now 833.

That's all the news for now!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday Afternoon Update

On Wednesday Addy had to have another blood transfusion. Her hemoglobin was low again and she was acting pretty lethargic. The doctors thought it was because they had been taking so much blood from her to run tests. They decided that instead of taking blood everyday, they would back off and only check her ammonia every other day and quit checking her glucose. Both have been staying steady so they felt safe not checking as often. After the transfusion, she started acting more like herself and was back to smiling and playing.

Yesterday as the IV team was changing her PICC line dressing the line got pulled out a little bit. They took her back down and instead of pulling it completely back out, they just replaced it. She didn't bleed as bad this time so now she doesn't have to have her arm board on.

As far as the live donor goes, they are in the second step and are now checking the tissue type. We aren't sure how long that takes but they took a blood sample on Thursday from Addy.

Addy now has some clothes she can wear! Stephanie's mom took some onesies and put ribbon up the side so that Addy can wear them with her PICC line. Addy doesn't mind being naked, she actually loves it, but we have started taking her on more walks through the hospital, so she should probably have some clothes on!


We also got a pretty special package in the mail. Our friend Barb got an AddySTRONG onesie made and put it on a teddy bear for Addy. She really liked it!

We continue to get cards and have had to move to another wall to display them all. When a new nurse comes into our room that is almost always the first thing that they comment on. Thank you to everyone who has sent one. While Addy may not understand, Pat and I enjoy getting them everyday.



Other than that there is nothing to report. We are still just waiting!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Still waiting

Once again there isn't a whole lot to update. The doctors got a little concerned over the weekend that Addy's ammonia levels were climbing again but the past two days the number has come back down so that seems to be under control. Other than that we are still just waiting on a liver. We have had quite a few people ask for the number for the live donor coordinator so we wanted to put it on here if anyone was interested 412-647-5512. They are looking for someone smaller so that the liver will be a better fit but they are taking everyone's information and then sifting back through to test people.

In other news, we had some visitors this weekend. Brian, Andrea and Jenna came to see us Saturday and then a little on Sunday before they headed back to Lima. Stephanie's parents also came over on Sunday. We were able to take Addy outside both days so she could enjoy the sunlight a little. I think she is starting to get as antsy as we are about being stuck in the room all day. We have started going on walks around the hospital, but we are going to have to bring her stroller in or get a wagon because she is getting heavy! She also has at least 6 teeth coming in so she hasn't been the happiest thing. It is always stressful because we aren't sure if she is fussy/not feeling good because of her teeth, her liver or something else.

Pat and I have been reading the Duck Commander book that Willie Robertson and his wife wrote about how the company came to be. Many times throughout the book it is mentioned how God always has the best timing whether we think it is or not. Pat and I have said that a lot of times over the past few months and when one of us starts to question it, it is nice to have the other to remind us.

I think that is all to tell for now! Enjoy the pictures!






Wednesday, March 6, 2013

How Can We Help?

That is something Pat and I have heard a lot over the past few months and we have never been able to really answer with anything but prayers. Thanks to our amazing family and friends there are now two benefit dinners going to be held in Addy's honor. We wanted to share the details with everyone in case anyone was interested.

March 16th Walhonding Valley Fire Station, 5:00
   The WVFD firefighters soup supper will be in support of Addy Snyder, Daughter of Firefighter Pat Snyder and Teacher Stephanie Lapp Snyder. Addy is in the Hospital requiring a Liver transplant. We would like to ask for your support for one of our WVFD family members. The soup supper is donation based and all money will go to help the Snyder family. Bingo to follow the supper! If you have any questions, please call 740-824-3100!

March 22, River View High School
The AddySTRONG Benefit will be held at RVHS on March 22nd from 5-8. We will be serving spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert. Cost is $10. Children ages 5-10 are $5 and children under 5 are free. We will be pre selling tickets. We will also have a Chinese raffle and 50/50 drawing. Contact Sharon Wachtel at ftwach@roadrunner.com if you would like to order tickets. 

There are also still AddySTRONG shirts for sale until Friday. 

Thank you again for everyone's love and support. Our nurses keep making fun that Addy has her own wallpaper with all of the cards that have been sent to her

In Addy news, nothing has changed, other then she is now 8 months old! After her blood transfusion yesterday, she was much perkier and acting more like herself. Other than that we are still just waiting!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Keeping Everyone Updated

Not a whole lot to update again today. Addy had to get a blood transfusion today because her hemoglobin was so low from all of the lab draws. It was over a 4 hour period so she got it pretty slow. The nice thing is that she gets it through her PICC line so we can still hold her and move her around. She enjoys sitting on the couch with us and just hanging out.

Pat and I have been able to be somewhat productive while we have been here. I have read The City of Bones and watched the first two episodes of The Amazing Race that I missed. Plus I have beaten all the puzzles on What's the Word. I have also gotten some of my Master's work done so that I can try to stay ahead. Pat has read almost all of The Hunger Games and started reading Willie Robertson's book. We also watched Mr. Popper's Penguins. Something else we discovered is that our floor has a Wii on wheels. You can take the console to your room and play games so that is what we did last night.

Pat and Addy taking a nap today

Playtime!

Addy's new trick! The rails now have to go all the way up on her bed when we aren't right there. 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Addresses

We have had quite a few people ask us about sending cards and such, so here is the email to send an e-card

http://www.chp.edu/CHP/ecards

The address for the hospital is

Addy Snyder
Room 824, Unit 8 B
Children's Hospitals of Pittsburgh of UPMC
one Children's Hospital Drive
4401 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Weekend Update

Not a whole lot to report today. Yesterday her ammonia levels were up so that was a little concerning, but after giving her a dose of Lactelose (a medicine she was already on) and re-running the lab, it was back to normal. The doctors told us that it is a very picky lab so it could have just been how it was ran or the amount of time it took to run the lab.

Addy is still happy and playing. For some reason she has decided sleeping at night is no longer necessary. Yesterday we tried to keep her up for most of the day but she still fought the sleep at night. She will sleep in our arms but as soon as we go to put her in her bed, she is back awake. I am guessing she is missing home just as much as we are.

Other than that we are still just waiting for a phone call!