Mackenzie's Updates

Here's a quick recap for anyone reading this for the first time.
As many of you know Mathew & Sarah's little girl Mackenzie has been hospitalized since Monday. Mackenzie is 14 months old. Last Sunday, Mathew & Sarah were concerned b/c her skin and eyes where looking yellow. Monday morning Sarah took her to the pediatrician and they sent her over to CHKD. Her billy rubin level was high and the doctor's believed she had Hepatitis. She has been in CHKD all week and her condition has started to get worse. Her liver is just not processing. On Friday morning she had a biopsy and the preliminary results showed she has Hepatitis A but which strand is still unsure. It is viral which means there are no antibiotics to help. The biopsy showed that there was No scar tissue which means this is a new problem not something that has been going on for a while. Her liver is not processing so last night Mathew and Mackenzie were sent by helicopter to Georgetown Medical Center near DC. Only one parent could go so Sarah had to drive. Georgetown specializes in pediatric liver transplant. The transfer is just precautionary in case her liver does not start fighting this disease but they have started the beginning procedures for a transplant by testing Mat to see if he could be a donor. Either her liver will start working or she will need a transplant. As of Sat. morning, her blood count has not changed but a positive is her ammonia levels are coming down. The ammonia levels put her brain in danger so its a good thing they are coming down. Another positive is she is a little active and has eaten and eating helps the ammonia levels come down. On top of all of that, Sarah is due w/their 2nd baby in 6 weeks her due date is the 1st week of March.

Sunday Morning News:
-Mathew asked Mom and Dad to go straight from JMU (they were at Scotty's senior football banquet) to Georgetown this morning
- Her fever she came down w/Sat. night spiked again over night and they had to use a cooling blanket which helped bring it down
- B/c of the fever the PIC line which is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time so Mackenzie wasn't having to be pricked daily for blood had to come out
This morning she will undergo a few different test. Number one will be a bone marrow. This is to see if there is any underlying cause of the fever or if she has caught a rare germ. They are not looking for cancer. Please pray that the bone marrow gives the doctors some answers.
She will also have a CAT Scan and MRI. This will be prep work for surgery. Her ammonia levels have continued to stay down which is good news. Tuesday will be the earliest Mathew will be approved for the transplant but it appears he is a match. Recovery for him will be b/t 1 and 2 weeks. He is still thinking there is a 75% chance she will need the transplant.

Thank you for all the offers for help. As I hear of any needs I will pass them on.