The Big Day!!

Wow!! What a day it has been. Phil and Beth went to church this morning as usual and were at home this afternoon watching TV when the phone rang. They received a call from the transplant coordinator at Baylor All-Saints Hospital in Fort Worth saying they had a liver for Phil. Justin and Melanie were in the middle of the Pink Panther 2 when Beth called. They left the movies and we all headed for the hospital. We checked in at the Emergency Room and they were expecting Phil. We then went to the transplant floor where they checked him in. They could not tell which of us was the patient because Phil looked so good. They were running around getting him ready because this was a STAT surgery because the liver was already on its way from Houston. When it arrived they did a biopsy of it and it looked great. We were surrounded by many friends and family who all gathered around Phil and prayed for him. We all sang "Amazing Grace" together. It was a very special time and we are all have such a peace that is only from God. This is truly amazing. Most people undergo many "false runs" to the hospital before they actually match, and many people are very sick before they get a liver. We feel very blessed and are amazed at God's perfect timing in this. We didn't even know he was back on the list. Every little detail has been perfect. Phil's sodium level was at 128 which is the lowest it can be for you to get a transplant. It was just where it needed to be and we thank God for this!!

Phil was taken to the operating room at 10:15 PM and then we got a call at midnight that they had just started the operation. If all goes well, the surgery could last as few as 5 hours but could take as long as 12 hours. He will then be in the ICU for 24 hours-ish. If all continues to go well, he will be back on the transplant floor, 8th floor of the A building, for 7-10 days.

Pray that God's name would be made great through this and that the gospel would go out through this. Please be praying for the donor's family during this time as they have lost their loved one. All we know is that the liver came from Houston. They are unable to tell us any other information. Please be praying for the transplant surgeon, Dr. Ruiz, and all of the other medical staff that we come into contact with that they would see Christ's love though us. Pray for Phil's body- for strength and that his body would accept the new liver and would not reject it. Please pray for Judy, a lady we met on the floor, who is also awaiting a liver.

Thank you for all of your prayers, support, and encouragement. We will be posting updates to the blog as we receive them
.