Surgery Day

8:45 a.m.

Good morning everyone. As you know today is surgery day!

For those of you not on Facebook Cliff and Dani posted this this morning...

Thank you to everyone praying. Almost time. God really does have this under control. We really have had His favor through this walk. I truly believe He will be guiding the docs through this

Dani went down at 5:30 this morning to be prepped. Her mom and Cliff were able to go with her while she was in the prep room.  They were expecting the actual surgery to officially begin between 8:30-9:00. Once Dani surgery begins they will get Cordelia and begin prepping her. 

When I talked to Katie (my sister) at 8:45 Cordelia was still in the room with them and they were just waiting for the staff to let them know when she should be taken down to be prepped. 

Here is little Miss Cordelia this morning...

I will try to post updates every couple of hours on this page...Please check back throughout the day. 

10:30 
First Update from Cliff-They got to Dani's liver and liked what they saw as far as bile ducts. They are staring on Cordelia and expect about two hours to get to her liver. They will update us every hour. 

12:30
Text from Cliff: "They have a good look at Dani's liver but haven't cut it yet. They are working on Cordelia's drainage so its ready for her new liver. Both of our beautiful angels are stable and doing well." 


So sorry, for the delay...there was a long period of waiting today where everything was going well, but it just took some time for the Doctor's to secure the section of Dani's liver and then pull it out as carefully as possible. 

That said, the 1/4 of Dani's liver that they needed was successfully removed and is being given to Cordelia as I type this. Praise God! Truly, all of this is such an incredibly blessing and miracle...the doctors, the procedure, everything! 

Here are the updates Cliff sent over the last couple of hours...

4:11
Still working on getting Dani's liver out. Cordelia is waiting patiently. 

4:52
Dani's liver is finally out. A couple more hours for her. She's a beautiful, strong and wonderful mother. Cordelia's hour to start healing is close. Praise God. 

5:21
Stitching up Dani now. Cordelia will have a new liver soon!


More to come...continue your beautiful prayers. Thank you for all of your words of encouragement and thoughts throughout the day!!!

8 p.m.
My Dad called to say that Dani is out of surgery and that Cliff and her mom are with her right now. She  is doing very well considering what her body has been through today. Cordelia still has another hour or so of surgery-- the surgeons are currently tying up and connecting the last of the veins/arteries. 


10 p.m. 
Cordelia's surgery is complete, but it sounds like some things are up in the air. She was in a post operative room and was having some leakage from one of her incisions. According to my dad, they needed to do a few tests on her and were considering the possibility of needing to take her back into surgery. My Dad promised to call as soon as he knew something. 


10:40 p.m.
Cordelia is in her room in ICU for the night. The surgeon's report is that everything with the liver went as well as it possibly could, but that her (Ascites- swelling and accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) was causing some challenges. They did say she may need to go back into surgery, but that it would not be until tomorrow if it is necessary. They're going to watch her through the night, let her rest and re-evaluate in the morning.

Apparently the surgeon also said that Cordelia's liver was so badly damaged that within a few days to a week there may have been little they could have done...Praising God for His timing and for Dani's courage. 


Good night...more updates to come tomorrow.