Mandie

at 02/05/09 7:34PM
My cousin who recently had a liver transplant is not doing well. She has had some after surgery complications that do not seem related to her liver. The liver seems to be doing fine but she has had some clots form that have blocked off the blood flow to parts of her intestines and now other complications have come up.

She has been unable to move one side of her body and had a very hard time spelling "world" earlier and it took her several attempts. Neurologists are being called in because the doctors working with her now don't know what is wrong at this point.

Please keep her and the family in your prayers and thoughts. Everyone is starting to get very downhearted and they are breaking down with fear and anxiety.

I'll update as often as I can.
Thanks,
Ellen

The Story :)

at 01/25/09 10:55PM
Well everyone...

We're Engaged!!!!

Friday night, Josh and I had a date to go stargazing...but it turned out to be cloudy. So instead we grabbed our gloves and some baseballs along with a football and headed out to our favorite park. (This was about 10:30) So, perfectly typical of us, we threw the baseballs around for a while...Josh let me practice "pitching" for a while until we got tired of that (I bruised his hand...). So then we grabbed the football and threw it around for a while, eventually starting to take turns being the quarterback and receiver as Josh taught me the names to several routes.

After a little longer, we decided to put the sports equipment away and just go for a walk and talk to catch each other up on how our days had been. So we walked pretty much all the way around the park, pausing to sit on some slides for a while and then getting up again. We eventually found our way back around to the beautiful gazebo that was completely lit up (the only thing in the park that still had all its lights on). We stayed in there for a while talking and looking for the turtle that lives in the little moat around the gazebo. While we were leaning out watching it, Josh asked me what I would choose if I could have any three wishes. Of course, my third wish was that I would want to be married to him...so he said, "Well, there's a question I want to ask you, then."

At this point I began to shake as he pulled my ring out of his pocket and got down on one knee. Holding my hand he asked me if I would marry him and with tears beginning to stream down my face I said YES! Then after some long hugs I realized I hadn't let him put the ring on my finger yet so I let go of his neck long enough for that.

He spent some time catching me up on all of his stories about being secretive when he was ring shopping and going to talk to my Daddy. We eventually walked back to the car to find that the clouds had cleared out and we could finally see the stars! We started making phone calls at about midnight to tell our family.

So...we spent the evening being completely ourselves and it was absolutely perfect. It's been a little over three and a half years since the first time we held hands and now I'm engaged to my best friend. I couldn't ask God for anything more and I'll never be able to thank Him enough.

We love you all so much! I'll post a picture of the ring soon!
I love you.

In Him,
Ellen
  • rachel_jeanne
    YAY!!!!!! now i will have 2 older sisters!!! i couldnt have asked for anyone better for Josh. You are the missing piece to his puzzle and you have no idea how excited i am that its you!!!!!!!!!!!!! but, who else could it have been anyways? i love you so much girl and i cant wait for the BIG day!! there is going to be sooooo many people there! love you!
    by rachel_jeanne at 01/26/09 5:06PM
  • upintheclouds
    Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for ya'll!
    by upintheclouds at 01/26/09 6:07PM
  • angielee
    YAY!!!!
    by angielee at 01/26/09 7:00PM
  • lauralee
    Congratulations Ellen!
    by lauralee at 01/26/09 9:58PM
  • 6threads
    and I don't even know him. Congratulations and may God direct your new journey together.
    by 6threads at 01/26/09 10:58PM
  • callmehands
    What great news! Enjoy your planning!
    by callmehands at 01/27/09 9:15AM
  • bulie
    Congratulations! I'm so happy for you two! :D
    by bulie at 01/27/09 10:32AM
  • hottpinkblondi33
    yay ellen
    by hottpinkblondi33 at 01/27/09 5:34PM
  • yakattack
    Oh my stars!! Thats nuts!!! Congratulations!!!! Im so happy for you!
    by yakattack at 01/27/09 5:45PM
  • mkluvspink
    woo hoo! i can't believe it. it hasn't sunk in that you guys are more than boyfriend/girlfriend now. i love you girl!
    by mkluvspink at 01/27/09 5:59PM
  • jsco
    Congratulations!!!
    by jsco at 01/28/09 12:33PM
  • luke
    throwing baseballs. good stuff. im gonna have to write all this down
    by luke at 01/29/09 1:36PM
  • luke
    =P Congratulations Ellen!
    by luke at 01/29/09 1:36PM
  • tickledpink0421
    congrats girl!
    by tickledpink0421 at 01/29/09 5:24PM
  • heycat
    So happy for you!!!
    by heycat at 01/31/09 9:56AM
  • campmagicman
    Congratulations!!!
    by campmagicman at 02/01/09 7:59AM
  • koolkat96
    congratulations ellen this is laura cathey
    by koolkat96 at 02/02/09 7:19PM
  • aggieman
    32 older comments...amazing!
    by aggieman at 02/05/09 3:29PM
  • rachel_jeanne
    *praying*
    by rachel_jeanne at 02/05/09 7:39PM
  • jamiemmoon
    I am praying for everyone.
    by jamiemmoon at 02/05/09 7:47PM

Update on Mandie

at 01/21/09 10:12AM
I got a phone call last night and an email this morning which
provided this information:

Mandie got out of surgery last night around 9:00 (11:00 here in
TX) and the procedure took about 12 hours in total. The doctors
said she did great and was stable throughout the surgery. They
gave her 2 pts of blood throughout the surgery, so she lost very
little blood.

She will be in ICU for the next several days and now our
concerns are about her recovery and we are constantly praying
that her body does not reject the new liver.

I don't have information on how long she'll be in the ICU and
then the hospital after getting well enough to leave ICU, but I
will keep everyone updated.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers!
Ellen
_________________________________________________________________
Update:

Mandie has been doing extremely well so we have not been getting as many updates, which is really a good sign. Her sister Mollie has been spending a lot of time with her in ICU and says that they have been having her move around some, she can see the swelling going down, and Mandie's eye color improving (her eyes and skin have had a green/copper color to them because her disease prevents her liver from filtering the copper out of her system).

She is expected to be moved from ICU this morning.
Thanks again for all the prayers!
  • aggieman
    her body should be THANKFUL for a new liver! :) I am very happy for her
    by aggieman at 01/21/09 10:59AM
  • krissie
    Great to hear the news! Isn't it amazing what they can do!!
    by krissie at 01/21/09 2:31PM
  • oldrupert
    Thanks for the update.
    by oldrupert at 01/21/09 5:43PM
  • seattle22
    So glad to hear it...I didn't want to ask in class this morning, so I am glad I logged on to pleo. Prayers are going up, love ya girl!!!!
    by seattle22 at 01/22/09 1:31PM
  • waynezworld007
    CONGRATS!!!!!
    by waynezworld007 at 01/24/09 1:40PM

Mandie

at 01/20/09 11:45AM
As an update to everyone who was at Benchley Sunday night and to everyone else on the nast :)

My cousin Mandie who has been long awaiting a liver transplant received the call Sunday morning from the hospital that they had a liver match for her. She and her family have been at the hospital since Sunday afternoon awaiting the surgery. Since the child who is donating the organs is donating multiple organs, it has taken much longer than expected for her to get into surgery, but she is getting a very healthy liver so we are all very excited for her.

Mandie went in to prep for the surgery this morning at 9:00 Central time (she's in Seattle, so 7:00 for her) and will be in prep for about an hour before they drop her immune system low enough to do the transplant. She will be in surgery for most of the day so please keep her, our family, and the family of the donor in your thoughts and prayers today.

Thanks so much!
Ellen
  • kirbyj2
    A prayer has been said.
    by kirbyj2 at 01/20/09 11:54AM
  • yost
    Praying for your cousin and your family!
    by yost at 01/20/09 11:55AM
  • potatoprincess
    Prayers prayers prayers!
    by potatoprincess at 01/20/09 12:05PM
  • bradford_rebekah
    SO glad for Mandie
    by bradford_rebekah at 01/20/09 1:41PM
  • anutty
    It is 1/21 and haven't heard anything. Our thoughts are with all the family and especially for Mandie's body not to reject the new liver.
    by anutty at 01/21/09 8:07AM

It's Official!

at 12/30/08 10:43PM
The family has finally gotten an official phone call from corporate...They will be moving to Chicago.

Just to give you a peak at what they're looking forward to, I thought I would mention that today's weather forecast is:

Light Snow and Windy
32 degrees, Feels Like 19
Winds 22 mph with gusts up to 35 mph :)

Definitely will be a White Christmas next year!


Kevin is doing well. Today in therapy he walked down a long hallway with only one hand supported the whole way! :) He is improving much faster than expected so we are all excited! Another surgery is scheduled for May to remove the plates from his legs that are currently making sure his legs heal back together properly.

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and inquiries, but especially your prayers.

In Christ,
Ellen
  • anutty
    For some reason you haven't been "my friend", but never fear, you are now!! Hey girl, good to see you the other night. You are beautiful as usual! Happy New Year!
    by anutty at 01/02/09 11:51PM
  • seattle22
    Hey, so great to hear your brother is doing so well!! Answered prayers I am sure! :) I love ya girl, can't wait to see you soon!
    by seattle22 at 01/04/09 12:57AM
  • soccerchic
    Good 2 find out Kevin !!! Hope they have a safe move 2 Chicago
    by soccerchic at 01/04/09 6:09PM
  • rachel_jeanne
    well, actually school was fine... boy drama. ughhh.
    by rachel_jeanne at 01/05/09 6:40PM
  • rachel_jeanne
    i will most likely call you sometime in the near future so you can help because i have a feeling you kinda went through the same thing.
    by rachel_jeanne at 01/05/09 6:53PM
  • orangecrush
    i did! i'm trying to decide if i can find a use for them lol... i'll let you know soon. thanks so much!
    by orangecrush at 01/05/09 7:36PM
  • oldrupert
    I thought the picture was 'just me'. :)
    by oldrupert at 01/05/09 8:05PM
  • cascadingharmony
    She's doing better, though still in the hospital. We made a day-trip today to go see her, and she gets very emotional very easily. She has had several mini-strokes, but the bloodthinners seem to be helping. There's the possibility of her going home tomorrow, but nothing is certain. She can't live on her own, and that really upsets her. Please keep her in your prayers...
    by cascadingharmony at 01/05/09 8:38PM
  • waynezworld007
    allright kevin!
    by waynezworld007 at 01/05/09 9:39PM
  • lilooshortay
    lol apparently when you were young you double dipped some chips and your mom said you shouldnt do that cuz boys will find it gross on dates. Then one day you came home and found out what french kissing was and i guess you said something about well if boys like that stuff then why would they care about double-dipping?? LOL I dunno but thats pretty much what buddy told me, zach, elliot, and Aaron.. haha
    by lilooshortay at 01/06/09 1:55AM
  • potatoprincess
    Hey Ellen! Glad to see you on pleo! There is already talk of planning a trip to see your parents in Chicago! Am glad Kevin is doing so well. Love you!
    by potatoprincess at 01/06/09 11:05AM
  • jamiemmoon
    You had a good answer to my little game. I think mr, h should use that for a sermon soon. He is doing a series on "God Is King" I think it is going to be great. Have a good week.
    by jamiemmoon at 01/06/09 12:30PM
  • shouldabeenatexan
    yea i will i just got home ill call you 2mrw
    by shouldabeenatexan at 01/07/09 1:27AM
  • muldoon202
    we're still waiting on our letter of intent, but things seem to be progressing really well. If all goes well, we'd open this summer right before school starts!
    by muldoon202 at 01/09/09 2:26AM
  • rachel_jeanne
    enjoyed talking the other night! :) haha we have to do it more often :)
    by rachel_jeanne at 01/12/09 7:16PM
  • lilooshortay
    haha hmm i dunno yet. lol love you! sorry the girls thing didn't work out :( I really wanted to go and i would have gone even if it had only been 4 of us but it is a bit expensive so maybe we can try again later. Let me know cuz I REALLY want to help out.
    by lilooshortay at 01/13/09 11:59PM
  • alwaysmilin
    has anyone ever told you you're wise? i mean i doubt it :) ...junk ellen, you're amazing :) i love you so much.
    by alwaysmilin at 01/14/09 4:16PM
  • fallacyofthemind
    I'm in town!
    by fallacyofthemind at 01/17/09 11:45AM
  • alwaysmilin
    don't psha me
    by alwaysmilin at 01/19/09 6:24PM