Jess Tpiat Journey

28/10/2023

It's been 2 years since Jess surgery. I cannot thank enough the surgeon and people that made tpiat an option. How our lives have changed. Cannot believe the jess 2 years after and the jess 2 years before the op. She is doing so well and getting ready for uni next year to study nursing. Health wise the transplant they did has worked so well she is off insulin. Unfortunately she does get low sugar often and has ended up back in hospital to treat it. But looking back would rather have this than all she went through before the op. The one thing that sticks with me is jess would be in so much pain and I have been told by the surgeon, pancreas pain is one of the worst pains and we would be told by drs they can't give her painkillers because she will become an addict. How can you let a child go through so much pain and tell her to live her life. The best thing was finding out about this surgery. Never give up!

23/07/2022

Well it's 9 months since Jess op. She is doing so well. The nausea she had after her oo at long last has almost gone. She has had another bout of appendicitis which brought back memories of hospital which Jess didn't like. She is playing hockey and playing tennis and no excruciating tummy pain afterwards. Hardly missed any school. Great news is the transplant has worked and she is off insulin just has issues with her sugara going low. I am so proud of how well Jess is doing and especially at school. Looking back a year ago none of this was possible. Ronald McDonald have also been fantastic in helping Jess with tutoring and a study program to help her catch up.

01/01/2022

Jess is looking so much better. She has started walks now. Still battling with nausea and sugars going too low. It's all part of it and will just take time.

06/12/2021

Yay Jess is finally home. Had a good few days doing well.

23/11/2021

Unfortunately Jess back in hospital. She has been vomitting and bad pain. Done tests but can't find anything wrong other than an appendix in the wrong area and swollen. So going to observe. Been put on antibiotics.

14/11/2021

Look who's out. Doing so well. Has her ups and downs but it's still early days.

10/11/2021

This is fascinating. Shows what was done on Jess.

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/pancreasWhat is TPIAT?This medical animation explains Total Pancreatectomy and Islet AutotransplantationFamilies from acro...

09/11/2021

Yay look how well Jess is looking. She is amazing. Just has a headache from new pain med so we made an ice pack. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since op.

06/11/2021

Jess doing a bit better today. Spoke to surgeon and decided it's too early to be trying to eat so she is back on fluids. Gran has arrived and Jess very happy. Jess has learnt to inject herself 4 times a day. She is a trooper at it. Still on very minimal insulin. Will be getting a pump so it will be a lot easier.

04/11/2021

Day 8 update. Not a good day. In a lot of pain. Not sure if pain clinic putting meds down to quickly or if something else going on but she is crying a lot today. Surgeon told Jess she is the 11th op they have done so far at westmead. Only other hospital they do it at is Adelaide and think altogether 36 done in Australia.

03/11/2021

Day 7 improving everyday. Had a shower and walked to it. Got her nice pj's on. Started solids today had pineapple. Thanks for the beautiful messages will read them to Jess tomorrow.

02/11/2021

Day 6 update. Jess doing so well today. She is more awake and talkative. Physio came and got her up from bed and took a few steps and sat in chair for a bit. She had 3 spoons of ice cream. First food ha ha. Hayley has decorated her room and drawn a pic of her favourite cat Sass.