Lifeline To A Liver Transplant For Jeff

05/03/2024

My 2 year liverversary. A different kind of birthday. So thankful for the gift of life but can't help feeling sorrow for the family of my donor. My donor checked the box but the family had the decision.
To the family and my donor, I am forever thankful. ♥️

12/19/2022

08/06/2022

HEY GUYS!!! SO EXCITED FOR THIS SONG! MY SECOND ONE TO RELEASE THIS YEAR! This song will forever be the most special one i've written. Enjoy! Thank you to th...

05/26/2022

Jeff got his staples out today and . . . HE’S COMING HOME!!!! He’ll have to go back to see his doctor once a week for a while but he’s doing so good!

God is so, so good! Please continue to pray for Jeff and his parents, especially Peggy! I know she can’t wait to sleep in her own bed.

Woo hoo!!!!

05/18/2022

So grateful to Godfather’s Bar and Grill for hosting a benefit to help with costs associated with Jeff’s recent liver transplant.

WHEN: Saturday, June 4, 2022
WHERE: Starts at Godfather’s Bar and Grill
3261 Hwy 9 East
Dillon, SC 29536

For more information, call 843-627-4424.

Please share this post with your friends!

05/14/2022

Jeff is being discharged today! He and his mom will go to their home away from home when they leave the hospital.

Jeff’s bilirubin levels were erratic for several days. Starting yesterday, they began to drop and were down even more this morning. He has some swelling in his feet and legs but that should improve over time.

Please pray as Jeff and his mom start Phase Two of this journey. Thank you to all who have prayed and donated to help.

We serve a mighty God!

05/04/2022

This morning when I talked to Peggy, she was a mess and so was I. A nurse had called and told her that Jeff’s new liver wasn’t getting enough blood flow. We prayed together and when I hung up, they were taking him for an ultrasound. And then, God…

David called me around 4:30 p.m., laughing and crying! Peggy had FaceTimed him and there sat Jeff!!! He’s still in SICU but he is off the vent and they’ve already had him up walking!!! Jeff passed the swallow test, so he’s been able to have some water. I’m guessing he’ll be on a liquid diet tonight.

The doctors from the transplant team will consult with one another because there’s still some concern about sufficient blood flow. But for now, be thankful and praise the Lord for His goodness!!! Oh, happy day!

05/04/2022

I tried to update around 8:30 last night after I talked to Peggy but was too addled to get it together. So much to take in and frankly, I was worn out from worrying about Jeff and his parents.

The transplant took about 7 hours. Jeff lost a lot of blood (the liver contains 13% of the blood in your body). The nurses were still hanging units when Peggy left the hospital at 8:00 last night. He is in a medically induced state of paralysis and on a vent. Typically, transplant patients are in the SICU 2-3 days, but because of the blood loss, Jeff may be in the unit a little longer.

Let me see if I can explain this complicated procedure . . .

1) The surgeon makes a BIG incision that stretches from one side of the rib cage to the other. The vertical portion of the incision that extends up to the breastbone is 3 to 4 inches long. The incision from one side of the rib cage to the other is 12 to 16 inches long. (The picture is NOT Jeff.)

2) Several lower ribs are cracked so that the diseased liver AND gallbladder can be removed and replaced with the donor liver. The donor liver comes with the gallbladder attached (it stores bile for the liver) but since you don’t need a gallbladder, both gallbladders are removed.

3) The transplant surgeon replaces Jeff’s old liver with the healthy donor liver and places it in the same exact location as the original liver.

4) Next, the vessels are reattached and blood flow is restored to the transplanted liver. The transplant surgeon uses the donor’s veins to do this.

5) The last part of the operation is to connect the donor common bile duct, to Jeff’s own bile duct. HERE’S WHERE THE SURGERY GOT A LITTLE COMPLICATED. The donor’s bile duct didn’t hold so the surgeon had to make a duct for Jeff. This is where some of the extra blood loss occurred. (see picture)

6) The transplant team closes the incision and covers the area with a gauze dressing. Peggy will learn how to keep the incision clean and change dressings.

Please continue to pray for Jeff and his family. I don’t think Jeff had any idea about how involved or painful the surgery would be. He was just thinking about getting well! That will come but he has a difficult recovery ahead.

Your prayers are appreciated more than you know!

05/03/2022

FROM PEGGY:

Jeff is out of surgery. I’m waiting to see him in the ICU. Everything was a bit tougher than they thought it was going to be.

He still needs lots of prayers! Thanks for all that have been said already! Love all of you!

Martha Sessions Davis
David Sessions
Peggy Brock Sessions