Darrin Falcon's Liver Transplant Updates

12/04/2022

POST OP DAY 365!!!!! One year ago today we were in a very different place in our lives. My precious brother was recovering in the CICU at UAMS
following his 8 hour liver transplant. As I’ve said so many times over the past year, we are so forever grateful to the person who chose organ donation and gifted Darrin with a second chance at life. So many prayers for peace and comfort to the family who lost their loved one, and a million thank yous to the transplant team who took such good care of our Darrin. There were so many unknowns, so many fears, questions, emotions, the list goes on. Darrin’s recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. He has overcome so many obstacles that we never imagined possible. One year ago he joked about filling a soup bowl with the amount of pills he took morning and night. Today- he takes one pill in the am and one in the pm. If you didn’t know he had been transplanted, you wouldn’t know. He looks and feels great. He’s healthy. He is back to doing what he loves….
Being present in LIFE!!!
He and Ashley have been attending Razorback games where they get to watch Anna on pom squad, they’ve traveled all over Arkansas to see Whit play Catholic High football this season, he’s cooking again 🙂, hunting, and tackling house projects, attending Sunday dinners at my parents house, spending time with friends and family, all the things that matters most to him. Darrin no longer has to sit back and watch anymore, he’s participating in life, and loving every minute of it. To everyone who has followed his journey, prayed for him, made donations, provided meals, THANK YOU. A HUGE THANK YOU. We are forever grateful.
💚💚💚

01/07/2022

Post Op Day 33

H A P P Y • B I R T H D A Y • D A R R I N

May this 52nd year be the BEST one yet!!!!

Darrin FalconTransplant Type: LiverWhat if you were living on borrowed time? Darrin Falcon is fighting for his life. In 2017, he went to his primary care physician for a routine checkup. His lab results came back alarmingly abnormal. This began a lengthy process of...

01/04/2022

Post Op Day 31
January 4, 2022
Exactly one month ago today, December 4, 2021, Darrin was in the operating room receiving his new liver! We are so thankful to be one month post surgery. Darrin is amazing us all! He looks good. He sounds good. All the things. His staples have been removed (all 70), he is no longer on steroids (maybe he will actually get some rest), and he is healing physically. We are all healing emotionally. This journey is scary. Initially the “what ifs” and “unknowns” were overwhelming. I asked him the other day what he was thinking when they were taking him to the OR. He said, “I just wanted to wake up!” He wanted to see Ashley, Anna, and Whit again, My Mom and Dad, all of us. Today we are grateful for where he is and how well he is doing. His journey is not over. He goes to UAMS every Monday and Thursday for labs to make sure he is continuing to trend in the right direction. Nurse Ashley is by his side every step of the way: managing meds, keeping blood sugar diaries, keeping him in check (that’s nothing new😉)
He will be on anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life. I asked how many pills he was taking daily… his response was, “a soup bowl full.” There are food restrictions as well as trying to avoid germs 🦠. He is still working to heal the wound on his foot, learning the sliding scale of insulin for blood sugar. (His pancreas is a little angry following surgery, so he is insulin dependent for now). I’ve mentioned before, he’s learning and adapting to his new normal, and we are so blessed he has been given the opportunity to do so.
💚Organ donors save lives💚
☘️🍀Be an Organ Donor🍀☘️

12/24/2021

Post Op Day 20- Merry Christmas to you ALL🌲♥️🎅🏼
We are so thankful to be where we are now than 20 days ago. It hasn’t been all easy, but oh so worth it♥️ Darrin goes to UAMS every Monday and Thursday for labs and clinic visits. They titrate the many many meds according to his lab results. We had a small scare yesterday. Darrin did not feel well Wednesday, not like he has been. He was fatigued and had some pain on his side. He then woke yesterday to a low grade fever and was advised to come in. He was admitted. They ran his labs, completed an XRay, CT, and ultrasound. Everything looks as it should. Thank you, Lord🙌🏼. He was discharged earlier today where he will get to spend Christmas with those who love him most. This year, Darrin is definitely one more reason for the season. We are celebrating his miraculous transplant, the donor who blessed him with a second chance at life. We are so grateful for the surgeons and medical team who have given sharp focus to every detail of his care. To his family who stands by him and wants to do all the things to help. He is our Christmas miracle.

12/14/2021

Post Op Day 9
We are still so completely overwhelmed by Darrin’s remarkable surgical outcome. He went today for his first clinic visit post operatively and labs. He was there for most of the day. He will have labs run twice weekly so his team can monitor his recovery and make necessary adjustments to anti-rejection medications. They actually lowered a dosage of one of his medications and removed his JP drains. His fight is not over, but his progress is beautiful. His liver is functioning. Anyone who has seen his photos would agree! He looks better. He sounds better. He feels better.
He has ups and downs and tires easily. He has to have someone with him at all times for now, but as I mentioned, his progress is truly remarkable. I know there will likely be some set backs, but we are oh so thankful for where we are right now.

Do you want to help? You could consider making a tax deductible donation to Darrin. We chose the National Foundation for Transplants as our platform. Your donation goes DIRECTLY to Darrin to help offset his medical costs, his income while unable to work, medications, etc. The Foundation cuts him a check! It’s amazing and he is worth every penny donated and more.

Thank you for following Darrin’s story. Thank you for your prayers and kind words, your texts, phone calls, meals, and to those who have donated!

When you use the link below, it goes directly to Darrin’s fundraiser.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST! Help us help Darrin💚

Darrin FalconTransplant Type: LiverWhat if you were living on borrowed time? Darrin Falcon is fighting for his life. In 2017, he went to his primary care physician for a routine checkup. His lab results came back alarmingly abnormal. This began a lengthy process of...

12/10/2021

Post-Op Day 5

Ummmm, Guess who left the hospital today? In the words of my oldest brother, David Falcon, “I’m not sure I have ever been so happy to see Darrin”.
There were so many unknowns when he went in last Friday. Today we thank God for his many blessings. What better Christmas gift could we ask for!

He is tired. He is sore. He has to adjust to his new normal, but he is home♥️

There was a pit stop to my parents house on the way home so he could shower without climbing the stairs.
I was able to take a few pics!
Gah, I love these people♥️

12/07/2021

PostOp Day 3
Darrin is doing amazingly well. He was sitting in a chair, in the unit, less than 24 hours following surgery. Ashley Knight Falcon has been by his side acting as his personal nurse. My mom, Pamela Falcon, was able to go in Saturday evening after surgery and see her not so little boy♥️. He was moved from the Surgical ICU Sunday evening. Yesterday he took two strolls through the halls with PT (Physical Therapy). His first adventure, they allowed him to use a walker. Second time, his therapist said NO to the walker so he walked on his own!!! He also showered without assistance and spent time in his chair! My dad was able to sit with him yesterday. I know it’s been a huge relief for BOTH my parents to see him and spend time with him. Saturday was a HARD day emotionally with so many unknowns. Today he’s been back in his chair…He mentioned if he didn’t get in said chair, his doc might take his bed away, LOL! His eyes are not yellow… his skin looks great! He’s eating a little! He is truly doing better than any of us anticipated! His new beautiful liver is working! Your prayers are working!
And here’s a little sneak peak of my precious big bro.

12/05/2021

Post-Op Day 1-
SO this morning when Ashley was getting ready to head to the hospital, her phone rang. It was a UAMS number. She was NOT expecting it to be Darrin on the other end! He was just calling to see what she was doing.... said he had been out for a jog.... He's a mess!
He may have told the nurse yesterday evening that he needed to blow off his driveway...
To say we are overjoyed at Darrin's progress in the past 24 hours is an understatement. Thank you for EVERY. SINGLE. PRAYER.
Darrin has been out of bed this morning and up in his chair. He ate a small breakfast. He's had most IV meds discontinued, catheters removed, and is only taking oral pain meds. Considering he was in surgery yesterday at this time, is amazing. They have even put orders in to move him from the Surgical Intensive Care Unit to Transplant floor. What a relief to be over this first hurdle.

Many have questioned Darrin's Fundraising page wondering whether monies donated will go to Darrin or the Foundation.
If you use the link provided, you are making a tax deductible donation directly to Darrin for his medical expenses.

Darrin FalconTransplant Type:   LiverWhat if you were living on borrowed time? Darrin Falcon is fighting for his life.  In 2017, he went to his primary care physician for a routine checkup.  His lab results came back alarmingly abnormal.  This began a lengthy process of...

12/04/2021

💚He’s out of surgery💚

Thank you for your prayers. Darrin is out of surgery. (Surgery ended at 4:00) He is in the PACU and already extubated. His surgeon said his new liver is beautiful…. of course it is!
He will be in the surgical ICU for the next few days where he will receive constant monitoring and care. If all goes well, he will likely be moved from SICU to the transplant floor at UAMS.
Please pray for healing, pray for his body to accept this new organ and pray for zero complications.

12/04/2021

2:30- Darrin has been in surgery a little over 6 hours. They have recently come out to let Ashley know his new liver is in and all is going well.

UPDATE- Surgery started at 8:11. Nurse just let Ashley know all is going well. Thank you for ALL the kind words and prayers.
It feels very strange wishing and praying for an organ- knowing what it meant for the person who gave it. This donors very last gift was the gift of life for Darrin. We are so very grateful for the donor and pray for their family.
Ashley is in the Surgical waiting room at UAMS, where she will continue to wait until surgery is over. There should be an update given once Darrin’s liver has been removed, and then again to let her know the new liver is in. She is alone. COVID restrictions allow one person per patient, per day. I know she could use a few prayers as well. Keep up the positive thoughts and prayers💚💚💚. They are working💚

Darrin was taken to pre-op just before 6:00 this morning. His surgery is scheduled for 474 minutes. Please pray over Darrin and his surgical team.
We are so grateful to the person who chose to donate their organs to help save others. We pray for peace for their family. 💚

12/04/2021

UPDATE- Darrin was called this afternoon to come in. He is the PRIMARY for a liver. (We are so grateful for the person who blessed Darrin with this opportunity)
If all goes well, and it is a match, he should be having his transplant early tomorrow morning.
Please say a prayer that this is HIS liver and that Darrin has a successful surgery. Your prayers are so greatly appreciated 💚

11/24/2021

There is no better time than now to be thankful for those we love and to give to those in need. As mentioned in an earlier post, we have partnered with a nonprofit foundation to help give Darrin his second chance at life. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation to the National Foundation for Transplants in honor of Darrin Falcon. Please use the link below.

Darrin FalconTransplant Type:   LiverWhat if you were living on borrowed time? Darrin Falcon is fighting for his life.  In 2017, he went to his primary care physician for a routine checkup.  His lab results came back alarmingly abnormal.  This began a lengthy process of...