Saturday, April 21, 2007  8:00 p.m.

Over a month has passed since the last update.  Incredibly enough, Carissa spent most of that month alone in Pittsburgh and has done well overall.

Carissa's dad drove her Jeep to Pittsburgh before her mom went back to Harrisburg.  It gave Carissa a means of transportation to and from the hospital, CVS, and the grocery store.  They are all close by and are almost a straight shot from the Residence Inn.  Staff at the hotel know Carissa well and are available to help, if needed.  Several transplant friends and family members are also at the hotel, so it is a safe place for Carissa to enjoy being independent.  She's had her pet, Spunky, to keep her company, as well.

Carissa's liver counts went up for a while, so the doctors kept a close eye on her.  We weren't surprised because experience taught us that crazy things happen when they attempt to lower the doses of steroids.  Thankfully, the liver counts are dropping.

Carissa has also continued to battle thrush and is taking oral Amphotericin as well as Nystatin in an effort to clear it up before the reversal of her ostomy.  Carissa had her third enteroscopy on Friday and she is hoping they will tell her that she can discontinue the Amphotericin.  (It tastes worse than Robitussin!)  They won't be able to perform surgery until the infection is gone.  Surgery is currently scheduled for May 4th.

Thank you for continuing to pray for Carissa.  Her quality of life is so much better since the transplant.  For example, we got out this afternoon and shopped for some summer clothing, and she ate a steak before returning to the hotel.  Incredible miracle!  However, it was tough yesterday as I (Sharon) watched her get stuck eight times before an IV was successfully placed (for anesthesia during the enteroscopy).  We are so thankful for the blessings, but appreciate continued prayer support.

We praise the Lord for Jessica's second transplant and that she is doing much better this time around.  We pray for Gary and Angie who lost so much weight from the Rotavirus, and are struggling to regain it.  Our hearts are broken over the loss of our friend Jenna.