HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Be sure to click on the photos link and see the new pictures we added.  If you click on the arrows just below the pictures it will scroll so you can see them all. 

8:45 p.m.

Okay, so I spoke to Mallory"s kidney doctor today about the results of the DMSA test that was done yesterday.  Mallory"s right kidney is working at about 47%, her left kidney is working at about 53%.  Her right kidney has some scarring at the top of it and the left kidney has some scarring on the bottom. This could be from some type of  infection in the past or from the kidney damage that occurred during or after her transplant.  Dr. G. does not feel that anything should be done about this.  He said that most of both kidneys looked good.  He will do an ultrasound periodically to just look at things.  It will be very important for Mallory to stay hydrated and also for her prograf level (anti rejection med) to be watched closely, which is currently done on a weekly basis.  If her prograf level gets high it appears to have an effect on her kidney numbers. I asked him what were his thoughts on a kidney transplant and he of course said he cannot predict the future.  However, if Mallory has no major issues come up then he really does not think she will need one in the near year or two, but possibly in 5 to 10 years.  We think this is great news and we will just continue to pray!!

9:00 pm

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by.  Mallory is doing very good.  She had labs done today and they were GREAT, her liver and kidney numbers were perfect!!  Mallory had the DMSA test done today to check out her kidneys, we do not have any results yet but hope to have them by no later than Wednesday.  As for Christmas everything went great, it was so nice to see Mallory be able to actually enjoy this time of year.  Last year, she was still very sick and weak, we have so much to be thankful for.  Destin and Erika are here with us tonight and will leave tomorrow to go back to Alabama then on Friday to head back to Texas.  We were all so happy to see them and glad they were able to make time to make the trip up to see us.  Please continue to pray for sweet little Caroline, she did get to go home last week right before Christmas but is very sick again and was readmitted to Egleston today, www.carepages.com, and search for Caroline Clayton to read her story and updates.  I have been asked by several people to post some new pictures, and will plan to have some on here by the end of this week.  Thanks again for continuing to pray for Mallory, please pray for good news on the kidney test and we will post results as soon as hear something.  Lisa

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!

9:15 p.m.

Sorry it has been a while since the last update, I will say it is safe for you to assume that no news is good news.  Since our last update Mallory has been feeling pretty good.  She had a few days  where she was having some somach issues but now she is better.  Labs were done today and they looked great, both kidney and liver numbers were perfect, this is such great news!!!  Mallory will go next week on Monday to have the test done to check her kidneys, hopefully this test will help the doctors understand why her right kidney has gotten smaller over the past few months.  We have just been busy getting ready for Christmas, Michael has to work Christmas Day so we will have a big dinner Christmas Eve and open most gifts but save a few for Christmas morning.  This will be our first Christmas Day not having all 4 of us together so it will be different, but at least we are home and Mallory is so much better than this time last year and we will go visit him at the firehouse!!  Michael has a new girlfriend, Angela, (we all really like her) and she will be with us to celebrate also.  Thanks so much for checking on us and don"t forget to leave Mallory a note.  God Bless!!  Lisa

8:10 p.m.

Great news!!  Mallory had labs today and her liver numbers are PERFECT!!!  Her kidney numbers are very good also, still just slightly high.  She has a final tomorrow and another one on Thursday then she will be finished with her first semester of college.  My goodness, we are soooo proud of her!!!!!  Thanks for checking in.  Lisa

10:42 p.m.

Sorry we have not updated in a while, no news is good news.  We are disappointed that Bama lost today, they played a good game and had a great season!!  Michael and Mallory did go to the game today and had a great time.  So, ROLL TIDE!!   The funny thing about bama losing is how many folks that I rarely hear from decided to make contact tonight, after the game, of course. I call these obnoxious fans!!  I think it boils down to the fact that we now have Nick Saban, we are back and folks are scared.  But, you know in the whole big scheme of things none of the football stuff really matters.  There are more important things...such as Mallory, and since the beginning of last week she is doing GREAT, did you hear that GREAT!!!  She had her first college final and did great on it, she two more to go next week.  She has been feeling so good the past 5 days or so and it has been wonderful.  She will have labs again on Monday so we are praying for good numbers.  Thanks for checking in and don"t forget to leave Mallory a note she enjoys getting them.  God Bless!!!  Lisa

8:35 p.m

Hello everyone.  I am here tonight to ask for prayers.  Mallory is not feeling well at all.  She and I spent the afternoon at Egleston in the ER.  Labs, xrays and a few other tests were done.  Her numbers as far as kidney and liver looked good excpet for her Bilirubin....UGH!!  On Monday with her lab draw her BR was 1.2 which is on the high side of normal, lately Mallory"s has been running between 0.6 and 0.9.  Well, with today"s labs her BR had gone up to 2.8!!!  So, Mal was given some fluids and sent home, not much they would do over the weekend anyways.  She will have labs again on Monday, I suspect that if the BR goes up more she will admitted so they can find out why the number is going up.  We have noticed that her skin is slightly jaundiced and her eyes have a yellow tint to them.  So, if I could ask ALL of you to send up more prayers for her and ask all your prayer buddies to do the same that would be great!!  We need her to feel better and for the BR to go down!!!!!!  Her great friend Alyssa is here now keeping her company and they seem to be having some fun....much needed fun.  Also, if you are reading this...please take the time to leave Mallory a note, she loves hearing from everyone that is checking on her.  Well, we will just hang out here for the weekend and take it easy.  Bama plays tomorrow and we are hoping for another victory!!  ROLL TIDE!!!  One more thing....please keep my grandmother in your prayers too, she has not been feeling well these days.  Have a good weekend and I will update again in a day or so.  Lisa

Hey it"s Mal. i had labs today and good news is that everything is stable and even slightly improved. I am feeling good, but i am itching really badly. tonight mom and me wentto do alittle shopping but had to head home early because of the  itching. who would have thought that someone could actually itch so bad that they couldnt stand to walk.. or even shop! well thats really all that goes on today..just wanted to let everone know that things are goin good.

SPECIAL REQUEST****

Please pray for the Arrowood family.  Karen passed away yesterday late afternoon.  She left behind two precious little boys, a husband that loved her dearly and two wonderful parents as well as a wonderful extended family.  I know she is in a much better place and is now pain free and machine free.  However, that doesn"t make it any easier for those she leaves behind.  Thank you.

Before I do my update, I would like to request that everyone please pray for Karen Arrowood. She isn"t doing very well and she needs every prayer to be sent up. Please think of her and her family and pray for God"s will to be carried out as gracefully as possible.

Today I went to clinic, by myself. It was actually the first time that i drove myelf and went to clinic alone. I haven"t been feeling good, so the team decided to get labs and an ultrasound of my abdomen. Things are looking pretty stable. When i was heading down to radiology for my ultrasound, i met a patient"s parent who, upon telling her my destination, asked if i were pregant!!! I guess she didnt know that ultrasounds can be of other things too! Anyways, I am just relaxing tonight. Well i am trying to, but its hard because i am itching alot. For those of you who have never experienced liver related itching.. it is perhaps the most uncomfortable feeling ever! So i just wanted to update everyone. Don"t forget to pray for Karen. Leave a message and let me know you stopped by, i love to read them.

Mallory

9:15 p.m.

Please say some extra prayers for Mallory, she is not feeling well.  She did had labs yesterday and her liver numbers had dropped quite a bit, which is good news and her kidney numbers looked good also.  So, we are very thankful for good numbers but now need to pray that she will feel better soon.  She has clinic tomorrow so we will see what they have to say.  We did decide to cancel the trip to NYC until maybe some time in the spring, Mallory is just not up to a trip right now.  Well, thanks so much for checking on Mallory and be sure to leave her a note!!  Lisa

8:00 p.m.

Sorry we haven"t posted an update lately.  Mallory had labs again on Friday, her kidney numbers were good but her liver numbers were up.  The liver team added back one medicine and increased her prograf, she will have labs again on Monday and we will go from there.  Mallory has been feeling pretty good just seems to be getting tired quite often, I am sure this must be related to her numbers and will get better as her numbers get better.  She has been going to school and will try to get back to work maybe this week.  She attended the college program at our church this past Thursday night for the first time.  She came home very excited and is looking forward to going back.  Mallory and I have a trip planned to NYC...however, we have decided to see how labs are tomorrow and how she feels, we are supposed to leave this coming Saturday.  Depending on how the next 24 hours go we might postphone the trip until some time in the spring.  Michael has just gotten a new dog, he rescued a border collie from a place in Tennessee, he and I went to Knoxville and picked him up yesterday.  He is two years old and is so cute, so far he has been very good and seems like a great match for Michael.    ROLL TIDE, BAMA IS STILL #1!!!!  Happy Birthday Karen, we are still praying for you, keep fighting!!!!  Well, have a good night and God Bless you all. 

7:00 p.m.

Be sure to read Mallory"s post below, it is sure to bring a smile to your face and will probably make you laugh out loud.  She did have labs yesterday and her numbers are pretty stable, liver numbers did go up a tiny bit, but otherwise they are stable.  Mallory will go for labs again on Friday.  I have posted two videos on www.youtube.com one of them is of Dr. Heffron and Dr. Romero speaking at the gala and the other one is of Mallory speaking.  If you go to www.youtube.com and search for transplant gala 2008, it will bring up both videos.  Check them out, I am sure you will love them!!!  Here are the links also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=033vDknB5bE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSyVlQyVATM

So we had a great weekend!! On saturday was the Gala. mom and dad had to go down early because they volunteered but i got to stay home and watch most of the bama game. dad came back home to take me and when we got there to the gala there were a few valets listenign to the very end of the game so we stayed out side and listened with them, as we heard tiffin"s kick get blocked. As if i werent stressed out ENOUGH, we decided then to go inside because i had to get changd into my dress. when i walked in i saw momma and she was freaking out just like me. picture this: the smith family, NO TV, alabama and lsu going into overtime! yeah thats a pretty stressful picture! so we went down to change and called bridget, my aunt, on the phone and listened as rashaud johnson picked off lsu"s pass into the endzone! then she tells us whats going on... and we finally hear  screaming TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!! me and mom SCREAM so loud !i wonder who all at the BLACK TIE EVENT heard us screaming at the football game hha. it wwas amazing. aside from BAMA and their amazing ability to decide how the next week will go for for the smiths, the gala was a ton of fun. we raised so much money and i met so many people who were there for the special reason of donating to CHOA. I did my speech. I was allowed 5 minutes but i spoke about 10.. but i just couldnt shut up! i mean how could i stop? with all of the wonderful things to say about my docs, nurses, the unit, and georgian bank... i could have gone on for the entire night!! but anyways, that was a blast. sunday was a nice lazy day, and today is a busy day for me. i do have labs. i cant wait to see the look on their faces when i roll my sleeves up and they see all these bruises on my arm! well we are praying for LOW numbers. its like on deal or no deal... "STAY LOW STAY LOW.."  haha wow sorry this update is messy but its just how i am! hah. okay i have to let the doggies inside and go to class! g"day matees.

Mal

8:15 p.m.

Home Sweet Home!  Dr. Heffron did let Mallory come home today, GREAT!!  Her numbers had just slightly gone up today and she felt pretty good.  The liver team will keep a very close watch on her, she will have labs again on Monday so please pray for good numbers.  Avery is doing much better, thanks to everyone that has prayed for her!!!  We will be able to attend the gala tomorrow night and hopefully raise A LOT of moeny for the transplant unit!  Have a good weekend!!  Lisa

10:30 p.m.

Hello everyone!  So, today Mallory"s numbers went down again, her liver and kidney numbers both improved.  The IV fluids were stopped and they did an abdomianl xray just to be sure everything looks okay.  The itching is still there but does appear to be getting better, it will probably continue to get better as her numbers improve.  The plan is to check labs again in the morning and if everything continues to look good she will be discharged.  Mallory went down to the gift shop today to do some shopping and found a stuffed animal (she LOVES stuffed animals) a donkey and decided to purchase it.  Well, while she was at the gift shop she ran into one of her Interventional Radiology buddies, Mike, and they chatted for a bit.  When she tried to pay for the Donkey, she was told that Mike had already taken care of it.  Mike, thank you so much that was so very nice of you!!!!!!  Well, I hope to update from home tomorrow night.  God Bless and good night.

10:45 p.m.

Well, last night after 5 nurses and 6 sticks Mallory finally had an IV!!  She had a pretty good night and is still getting continuous IV fluids.  Her labs this morning were better, kidney and liver numbers all had gone down some, which is very good news.  She is having some pain on her right side possibly another kidney stone so she has gotten morphine a few times today.  Her itching is still off and on so she is getting benadryl for that.  As far as we know right now the plan is to keep the fluids going and monitor labs.  I would think that if her numbers continue to go down she will get out of her and head home by Friday.  This weekend is the big Georgian Bank Gala to raise money for the transplant unit here at Egleston. It is a black tie event with a silent and live auction.  The event will have two guest speakers, Dr. Heffron will be one and Mallory is the other.  We are expecting about 300 people for the event and are very exctied about it!  Hopefully, we will raise a lot of money for the unit.  Thanks for checking in and don"t forget to leave Mallory a note!!!  Lisa

Read blelow for update on Mallory....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUNCHKIN!!!!! 

7:00 p.m.

So, Mallory is back at Egleston.  She had labs yesterday and her numbers had not improved, a few had gone up.  Dr. Heffron and Todd both seem to think that this COULD be linked to the new medicine that was started 2 weeks ago.  The medicine is to help prevent her from getting headaches, so this medicine has been stopped.  Also, her prograf (antirejection med) level was very high with her labs yesterday so it has been decreased.  Right now the plan is continuous IV fluids and labs tomorrow morning.  The issue she is dealing with right now is that they are having a very difficult time getting an IV in.  Three nurses and 4 sticks and still no IV.  They have put numbing cream basically all over her arms and hands and will try again in about an hour.  Please say some extra prayers for her numbers to get back to normal and for her to be home again very soon.  Please also pray for Karen.....www.karenarrowood.com and click on post surgery updates to read what is going on with her.  She has been through so much and is not doing well.  Thanks and will update again tomorrow night.  Lisa

5:00 p.m.

Sorry we have not updated in a while, just been a hectic week.  Mallory went to clinic on Wednesday, she was given some IV fluids.  Labs were done while she was there and her numbers had gone up, both kidney and liver, remember we need them to go down.  She has been very tired alot lately so they decided to decrease her methadone to just once a day hoping this will help with that issue.  Todd called me Friday to check on her and to decrease her prograf dosage, even though her liver numbers are too high, we are hoping this decrease will help her kidney numbers go back down.  Mallory will go for labs again tomorrow, please pray her numbers start the downward trend.  We left Friday afternoon for Alabama, my neice Morgan got married on Saturday and Mallory was one of the bridesmaids.  Congratulations to Morgan and Paul, we hope you have many happy years together and that God will bless your marriage with all good things!!!!  Mallory looked beautiful in her dress, we will try to post some pics soon.  I know I am late on posting some updated pictures but I promise to do it very soon.  Munchkin does not travel well at all, she acted physchotic....Jude did good on the trip.  Oh yeah, I almost forgot.....ROLL TIDE!!!  Bama is #1~~~~~~~~  We are so excited!!!!!!!  Have a good evening.  Lisa

Hello it is Mallory

Today i went to have labs done, and it was a nightmare. I had to get stuck five times! it hurt, and after drawing a few cc"s of blood my vein decided to stop giving blood so we didnt get enough for cmv and ebv tests. we did already get the results back. my liver numbers are still high, and my kidney numbers were pretty high, showing i am dehydrated. ive been drinking about 2.5 liters but now i think im going to go back to 3 liters.

So this weekend my cousins brooks and brantley came to spend the night here and it was so much fun. they are too funny and too sweet.

I will be sure to update the next time i know anything!

Mallory

9:45 p.m

Mallory has felt okay the last few days.  She did have labs done again yesterday and her numbers are stable.  Her liver numbers are still too high but are staying pretty much the same.  One number is pretty high however so far no news from the liver team with any changes.  Labs will be done again on Monday so please pray for Mallory"s numbers to be heading downward.  Bridget and her family are coming tomorrow, Brooks and Brantley will spend the day and the night with usso Bridget and Derek can get away for an overnight trip to the Dillard House, we are so excited and have big plans.  For those of you that do not know, Brooks and Brantley are my nephews they are 7 and 3.  We do not get to see them too oftem so we are looking forward to their visit.  Bama plays TN tomorrow night so we will be in front of the tv, yelling I am sure, which means Jude will spend the evening upstairs hiding!!!  Well, have a good weekend and I will update after labs on Monday unless something new develops over the weekend.  Lisa

Hey! So we went to clinic today. We called Todd earlier and he told us to prepare to stay, we are trying to figure out the source of the itching still.  Luckily i did not have to be admitted! Dr Romero came in and did my clinic today and he had a few suggestions. First of all he took away the actigall, because that can raise bile salts which make you itch. Also he added methadone incase im itching from not being on the pain meds i was on previously.  And tomorrow i will go get labs and we will check a few additional levels like certain vitamins that could cause itching. Also, today  on our way in we saw Avery and her family getting ready to leave... they got a pass to go out for a while and they were taking her to the zoo!!! im sure she had a great time! p.s. if you have asked me to make a necklace im sorry its taken me so long to make them, ihave been feeling unwell for a whil, but i am getting on it!

Mallory

12:20 pm

Hey everyone, this is Mallory updating today. The past few days have been preetty eventful. I will start with ROLL TIDE. Alabama managed to hold on to their undefeated status and number two spot. Saturday we went to meet Michaels new girlfriend, she is a very sweet and adorable girl. Saturday i started itching really bad and it continues into sunday. The only home treatment we had was benadyl and atarax (PO) so it was hard to control it. around 7 pm or so i got a sharp pain in my upper right quadrant of my abdomen (where the liver sits.) I took alot of pain meds at home and nothing could touch the pain so thats when i knew i would need somehing strongwe. So we headed to the ER and i got somepain meds and itching meds, although it took a while for thr itching to get even remotely better. They did an xray and it is normal and my labs were stable... one went down and one went up... creatinine went up but i have my self to blame for that for not having enough fluid. So we think the overall diagnosis includes a virus of some sort, "bowel insufficiency" and the sourcce of the itching is unknown. We are going to call Dr Greenbaum (kidney doc) today and see if he knows what to do about the itching, because the type of itch i have can often times be related to renal damage. I have not heard an update of Avery, but please continue to pray! Also, pray for my family as they work on Michael"s house, making it a home

Mallory

9:00 p.m

Mallory had labs today, her liver numbers were stable, which is good we are happy they did not go up.  She will get labs done again on Monday.  Mallory has really not been very well lately.  It seems like she has a cold, or a virus of some sort.  Please keep those prayers going for her!!!  Thanks and have a good weekend.  Lisa

9:00 p.m.

This will probably be a long update as I have a lot to report.  I will start this with some very good news....Michael became a homeowner today, the house is perfect for him!!!  He signed all the paperwork today to purchase a new house, the house is a foreclosure so we have a little work to do, he should be able to move in the house in about 10-14 days!  Michael, we are SO proud of you!!!!  Now, on to Mallory, she had labs done on Monday and her liver numbers were slightly elevated.  Today Mike took her to clinic and she had labs again, the numbers had gone up just slightly again.  Todd suspects she has a touch of rejection and cholingitis (infection) so she was given an IV and a round of salumedral, she was also put back on two of her medicines, cipro and difulcan and the plan is to check labs again on Friday.  With her bile salts being kind of high, this could be part of the problem causing the itching.  She also saw the pain management doctor for her shoulder pain and was given three injections in the areas of pain and the doctor prescribed some lidoderm patches for break through pain. We will call our regular doctor tomorrow to ask for something to help her sleep at night as this is an issue that needs attention as well.  Her kidney numbers remain perfect!!! So, please say a few extra prayers for our sweet Mallory that the meds work and that she will feel better very soon.  I would also like to ask for some extra prayers for Karen and Avery.  I will put their website here again so you can check in on them if you have a moment and also maybe leave them a note in their guestbook.  Avery, http://www.carepages.com/choa you will need to take a few minutes to register, her page name is AveryW.  Karen, http://www.karenarrowood.com/5.html.  I will update again in a day or so, please keep those prayers going!!  Have a good night and God Bless you all!!!!   Lisa

7:00 p.m.

Well, today was the liver walk at Stone Mountain.  Mallory was the speaker and did a GREAT job, as always we were so proud of her.  The event rasied just over $51,000!!  I would like to say Thank you to:  Mawmaw and Robert, Melissa Faklaris and family, Nancy Johnson and Family, Lawanda Mitchell and Molly Burleson for your kind donations you helped Team Mal to exceed our goal and contirbute to this wonderful cause.  Mike did walk the 5 miles but Mallory and I decided to stay behind.  We had a great time and met some wonderful folks.  We were told that the American liver Foundation wants to do a national press release on Mallory and her story, we will let you know how to read it as soon as we know more.  Thanks for the prayers for Avery, her numbers are headed in the right direction.  Have a great weekend.  Lisa

10:00 p.m.

So, Mallory seems to be feeling better and had a pretty good day.  Her headaches are almost completely gone!! She has an appointment with the neurologist next week on the Tuesday.  Great News for Avery.....her labs were much better today!!!  Saturday is the Liver Walk at Stone Moutain, it is not too late to make a donation...click here...

 https://secure3.convio.net/alf/site/Donation2?1283.donation=form1&idb=376283213&df_id=1283&FR_ID=1091&PROXY_ID=1058961&PROXY_TYPE=20&JServSessionIdr001=rrbs432mu1.app305b

Thanks for checking in and have a good night.  Oh yeah, Munchkin will have her surgery tomorrow, we are praying everything will go well for her.  Lisa

7:25 p.m.

Awe, Home Sweet Home!!  We arrived home today around 2:00 and have just been laying around taking it easy.  Mallory"s headaches are not as intense as they were so we will try to treat them at home.  I will call tomorrow for an appointment with her neurologist.  Jude was sooooo happy to see her when we arrived home today.  Please send up a lot of extra prayers for Avery, she is experiencing rejection and is a very sick baby.  Her family is so sweet and very concerned about their little princess.  If you would like to send her a note or keep up with her progress you can visit her carepage.  The website is www.carepages.com I believe you have to join in order to view a page but it is a very simple and quick process.  Avery"s page name is AveryW.  Thanks for the concern, notes and most importantly the prayers!  Lisa

8:00 p.m.

Mallory had a CT scan this morning, the results were good, everything looked normal.  We are not sure what is causing all these constant headaches.  A new medicine was added and one was increased, both meds are as needed for the headaches.  Her labs still looked great.  The plan is to concentrate on finding something that will get rid of the headaches.  We will also make an appointment with her neurologist in Marietta so he can maybe put her back on the medicine she was on last year before her 2nd transplant.  The medicine is used as a maintenance drug to help prevent the headaces from happening.  So, I am not sure when we will go home but maybe as early as tomorrow, it really just depends on the pain control.  Thank you all so much for checking in and don"t forget to leave Mallory a note.  Lisa

7:15 p.m.

We are at Egleston, Mallory was admitted here today.  She has a headache that we cannot seem to get rid of.  The good news is that her liver and kidney numbers are perfect.  They are giving her IV fluids and IV meds to try to help with the headache.  Tomorrow she will have a CT scan of her head and to get a good look at her sinuses.  Please say some extra prayers for her!  Thanks  Lisa

9:40 p.m.

Well, today has been much better for Mallory.  She did have a headache for little while tonight but is feeling good right now.  Bama won, not pretty, but it was still a win so we will take it!!  Please continue to pray for our sweet little princess Avery!!!  Have a good night.  Lisa

10:00 p.m.

So, Mallory is still not feeling well.  She has been sleeping alot today.  I am hoping after another good nights sleep tonight she will wake up feeling better tomorrow.  Michael is getting a house!!!  He was supposed to close on Tuesday of this past week but it has been rescheduled, we hope he will close by the 15th of October.  Also, we found out today that Munchkin (our miniature schnazer) has a small tumor on her tummy, she will have surgery to remove it on Friday.  It is possible that it could be cancerous, but we are going to remain optimistic that it will not be, she is my sweet sweet baby and still is not warming up to Jude!!  Speaking of Jude, he is doing great, loves his Mallory.  Please say a prayer for Avery, a two year old sweet little princess that had a liver transplant as a baby and is now going through some rejection.  We love you Avery and are praying for you.  Have a great weekend.  ROLL TIDE!!!!  Lisa