Transplant Surgeons Meeting

The transplant surgical team, in Boston, took a look at Landon and had a meeting with Jeremiah and Shelly before they left Boston. They gave Jeremiah and Shelly their opinions about Landon's situation and discussed what the future might hold for Landon. They agree that Landon needs a small intestine transplant. The fact that Landon has virtually no small intestine means that Landon cannot eat and absorb nutrition. He cannot survive without intravenous feeding. His only chance at a long, some what, normal life is with a transplant. They also noted that Landon's liver is already slightly enlarged and that is likely that he will need a liver transplant as well as a small intestine transplant. They noted that we are doing everything possible to save Landon's liver and to delay a transplant as long as possible. They agree that this is the best approach. The bigger and stronger Landon is when the transplant is done the better his chance of surviving. If we can save his liver and only do a small intestine transplant and then the small intestine transplant goes bad we have the option of removing the transplant and looking for another small intestine. If his liver gets bad and we have to do a liver transplant then the option of a re transplant is not available. The surgeons then brought up this option. If Landon's liver goes bad and we have to seek a liver and small intestine transplant then we should consider doing a small intestine, liver, stomach, and pancreas transplant, all from the same donor. They stated that the survival rates seem to be better for patients that have the multivisceral transplant done.

They also discussed the research that is currently taking place. Researchers are experimenting with growing organs for transplant. We don't know what the future holds and the longer we can put off a transplant the better.

Kathy and I drove down and attended services at the Stoney Point Baptist Church with Jeremiah, Shelly, Roger, Ezekiel, and Landon, today. This is the church that Shelly's family attends. The Pastor from Stoney Point Baptist Church, Reverend Phil Addison, was with us, at Baptist Hospital, when we first learned about Landon's condition and were told that Landon was going to die. Reverend Phil prayed for Landon, that day, at Baptist Hospital. The congregation at Stoney Point Baptist Church has been praying for Landon ever since, as have dozens of churches around the country. We would like to thank each and every church and visit with each and every church. Thank you.