Rodrigo and Joy » Operation

Transplant photos, and an update

Rodrigo — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:28:56 +0000

Close to a week since the operation and Joy is doing well. It has been a time to get rest, and stay close to home. The incision is healing well, and the pain is going down every day. It is now again a waiting period. Waiting and getting regular monthly blood work to see what the hormone levels are, so that we can figure out if it is all working as expected. As we settle down back at home, it all feels very right, and hope for success is in the air
It should be right around the 1 year mark of the first attempt/transplant that we should have some confirmation that it is all working as expected.

Dr. Silber took some photos of the operation last Monday, and was kind enough to pass them along to us. I have uploaded them and wanted to share them here.

PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE GRAPHIC IN NATURE. IF THE SIGHT OF BLOOD MAKES YOU ILL, DO NOT CLICK TO SEE

This one shows the ovary exposed and ready for the graft.

TThis one shows portion 1 of the graft in place and stitched up, on the right had side of the photos, the white part.

This one shows portion 1 and portion 2 of the graft stitched up and in place, the second portion is the one on the left hand side of the ovary, next to the white portion.

This is the work complete. All portions have been grafted.

The day after

Rodrigo — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:21:48 +0000

Got discharged from the hospital today. Already a quicker recovery than last time
Also Joy can eat regular food, all good things.
Today we got a visit from Dr. Derosa, Dr. Silber, and the Dr from Japan that developed the vitrification process that was used to freeze the ovarian tissue. (will get her name soon).
All the reports are good, the surgery was a-ok. The incision which is about 1/2 the size as the one from February is looking good, and the pain is lower than yesterday. We got to leave the hospital around 2pm and after a quick stop at the local Trader Joe’s spent the rest of the day in the hotel. We fly back home tomorrow, during Joy’s most favorite holiday halloween .
A much mellower day today than yesterday, yay for that.

A good day

Rodrigo — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:05:28 +0000

A long day today. Joy is feeling ok tonight, with some pain but not as much as last February. They have her on some pain medication which puts her out, which is good since it has her get some needed rest. Dr. Silber came by in the afternoon to check up on her, and to talk to us a little bit. He gave his account on what he saw as they removed the ovary this morning. He mentioned that the artery that was supplying the ovary was crimped by other tissue, and was most likely the reason why the last transplant stopped working. Those are sad news, and at the same time very good news. It all points to today’s procedure being a success. We still have to wait 12 weeks to find out that it worked, which will again be a good opportunity for us to practice patience. I guess that is some good training for our future parenting.

Something feels really different about today than what we did in February, it is as though I have a certain knowing that this time it will work for sure.

In the upcoming days I will post some more about what we have been going through in the past few months in coming to the choice of returning to St. Louis.

thanks all

Out of the OR

Rodrigo — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:04:14 +0000

Joy is out of the OR. I spoke with Dr. Silber who said it all whent very well. I got to see some pictures of the procedure, and the new implanted tissue. I have not gotten a chance to see her yet, but will be able to soon.
Dr. Silber had some preliminary feedback on why the previous transplant didn’t work as intended which rules out rejection, and that is great news! since it assures that this procedure will be a sucess. I will post the picures and more information very soon.

The next step in the journey

Rodrigo — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:53:28 +0000

It has been a long time since we have posted any news. We have been waiting a bit to post. The last few months have been ones to given to figure out what has been happening with the transplant from February. From the results of all the test we can only conclude that it didn’t work as we intended. The reason for this we don’t know yet. We are going back to St. Louis tomorrow morning, to work again with Dr. Silber and have some of the frozen tissue transplanted. This is to have another try at what we started earlier this year. At the same time the transplanted ovary will be taken a look at to find out more information about what happened. We chose to keep very quite the last few months to give us a some time to decide what we wanted to do. If continuing on this path was what we would choose, or to try another. We both chose to continue this journey. So we are off bright and early tomorrow, and Joy will have another surgery on Monday morning.

10 days and counting

Rodrigo — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:17:03 +0000

Just about 10 days since the surgery. Recovery for both Joy and Maeapple has been going well. Joy has been doing better each day, and she gets somewhat restless that she can’t do some of the things she is use to doing, like driving, or picking up things.
Today i cleaned up some sticky tape residue left on her skin from the surgery. So i got really up close and personal with the incision. I am just blown away at how fast the body heals, the actual incision looks great, closed nice and even. I ran my fingers along it a few times and it feels smooth, as i looked really close to Joy’s skin i could see just where the skin has reformed and closed up, just neat. At one end it feels like a stitch is slightly poking up, besides that, its smoooothe.
This week has been really hectic, with Joy recovering and me working, and a new roommate moving in while we were in St. Louis it feels like everything is happening all at once. My head has been foggy from a cold, and i just have not been getting enough sleep. I really should have planned on taking this week off as well, hindsight is 20/20. It jut feels like we have no regular routine right now, i imagine next week will be much better. It was also valentine’s day today, and i just didn’t feel prepared to do a “big thing”. I ended up cooking dinner, which was great, beside the fish being a little too salty.

Happy valentines day Joy!!

Our story on the media

Rodrigo — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:57:36 +0000

The Associated Press (AP) article that was written yesterday has gotten picked up in lots of markets. We are happy that it has gotten attention and more people are reading about it. Thank you everyone for all the great emails and comments. It really makes us all happy to know this is reaching others, and that it may bring as much happiness to other as it has already brought us.

Two San Francisco local TV stations did interviews with Joy last night (Maeapple lives about 4-5 hours away). I have put them up for you to look at. The AP story is in so many online outlets that you can read that one by searching for Joy Lagos or Maeapple Chaney on any search engine news section.

How the surgery day started

Rodrigo — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:55:49 +0000

I put together a video to show you how the surgery day got started. This is a few minutes of what the prep looks like. They both are so nonchalant about the whole thing.
There are so many other nurses and doctors we met and talked to, but i only shot part of it. And they just would not allow me in the OR going to have to wait for the official surgery video on that one.

Fox piece

Rodrigo — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:06:12 +0000

I got a hold of the FOX piece tonight. Take a look here.

closer to home

Rodrigo — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:00:14 +0000

We are now at the hotel, which is home sort of, not quite SF yet, but it sure feels more closer to home! On the way home we picked up some food and some things of the drugstore, and then headed to the hotel trying to avoid as many bumps on the road as possible. Once we got in, and ate we both took some much needed sleep. Its funny, but even though one is suppose to rest and heal at the hospital it is really hard to get uninterrupted sleep. It felt soooo good to just snuggle up with each other and rest. I have soooo missed sleeping next to my Joy. The little things like feeling her skin next to mine, or feeling her breathing on the pillow, of waking up and smelling her hair. Its been just a few days, but it has felt like longer than that. After our naptime we are both feeling really good. Joy is doing great, the pain is a lot less, and she is comfortable, no more IVs, or nurses prodding her! I do want to say that the nurse staff at St. Lukes was AWESOME!! they really took care of her (really everyone) with the out most professionals & tender care. All the nurses that came into her room were nice and had a great attitude.
We are both looking forward to going home, and being closer to all our community and friends there and we are happy that we have made some new friends here in St. Louis.