January - March 2003 Updates
Most recent first. 

March 31, 2003

Othello is still at Wolfson's. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get the call. He is sick, he is in pain, and we just wait and wait and wait.......

The never-ending cycle of hospital life. 

He is vomiting more frequently. He has a lot of bleeding from his g-tube. Now the blood is in his stool and vomit again. He cries a lot. He seems to be in constant pain. And I cannot help him!! It is heart breaking. 

Othello needs this to end. He needs to get his transplant soon. Like TODAY! We can only hope. It is now over a month since he was admitted to PICU. They said it typically takes a few days to find a donor once the patient is a status 1. Well, Othello seems to be going for the record. 

Please someone help Othello!!! Help us. 

March 29, 2003

Hello everyone. Let's see.....Othello is still cranky, still in the PICU and still waiting. It seems almost endless.

Today he started bleeding again from his g-tube site. So, he received more platelets, Yippee. More blood products. Maybe soon they will get information from Miami on a med to help control the bleeds. 

Something very generous happened yesterday. Tom C. from WB 17 brought a laptop and a phone for us to use to keep in contact with everyone from the hospital. We are very grateful. Now we can update the web page more often and respond to emails more. Thank you very much for the gift, it will prove very useful.

Please keep Othello in your prayers. We need something and soon!!!

March 27, 2003

Othello is still waiting in the PICU. Yesterday he received more blood. The doctors in Miami are going to suggest a new med to help out his bleeding.  Hopefully it works.
Othello has been irritable, in pain and uncomfortable. He has been given morphine again to help him sleep. We just have to keep him comfortable.

Well, than you all again, so much.

Keep us in mind. Hopefully soon!! 
March 20, 2003 

 First, I would like to thank you all for your support, thoughts and prayers. Othello really needs all the positive energy he can get. 
    As of today we have been in the hospital for 3 weeks, this go around. Othello is still in the PICU at Wolfson's. He is still a status one on the UNOS list.
    New developments: They have changed his weight class. Now they are considering organs from people up to 50 lbs. They may have to "modify" the organs and may not be able to close him all the way at first. But, hey...as long as he gets a new set of the organs....right?!
    Othello is also getting another platelet transfusion tonight. He has received about 5 transfusions this hospital stay. Othello was bleeding around his g-tube site; we also noticed a touch of blood in his drool. He has not been sleeping well, and cries a lot now. He is no doubt in pain and discomfort.
    Dad and I have been staying at the hospital. Frequent visits from grandparents, friends and well wishers have helped to keep our spirits up. (As much as they can be.)
    Well, I must get back. Thank you all again....

March 2, 2003

Othello is now in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Wolfson Children's Hospital. He will now stay in the hospital until his new organs become available.  We will be going down to Miami as soon as the Dr. says they have a room in the PICU there for him to wait in. 

Othello will not be home until after his transplant and recovery in Miami. 

Thank you all for your prayers, lover and support. Please don't forget, he still needs all of you guys!!

Othello had to receive more blood this past weekend. He also had another surgery. This time the surgeons replaced his Broviac (central line) and circumcised (SP) him. The Broviac was necessary; his other one had a crack in it. But, he kept that one 6 months!!!! 

He is now really moody. He seems to be in pain. Othello is also playing the "I keep having fevers" game. Since his liver is very damaged, they do not want to give him Tylenol. But, sometimes it is the only thing that can be done. 

I will be updating the page as I can. Since we will not be at home, it will be more infrequent, but I will try to at least let everyone know something weekly. 
Thank you all!!!

February 25, 2003
Othello is still at home, still waiting for some new organs. The GI nurses/doctors do not feel it is necessary for a transfusion, yet. They are holding off on it. 
Today, he has been excessively fussy. I am not sure if he is in pain, sad, uncomfortable?! I cannot put him down for more than 30 seconds w/out him screaming! I am holding him right now and typing with one hand even.  He has been up since 6 a.m. usually by now he would have napped once or twice. But, not today. He is not playful at all either. I think something is wrong. If it does not change w/in the next hour or two, I will call the Dr. 
Again, we wanted to thank Channel 12 and Channel 4 for letting us come on the news and tell Othello's story. I am sure it will help us out a considerable amount.
Tooth number 3 is trying to sprout through...
We will update soon. Have a good afternoon!!

February 24, 2003

Othello had a BIG day today. He met the nice people at Channel 12 news and the nice people at Channel 4 news. He got to show off his people skills and get lots of camera time. Othello will be on the news tonight at 5:30 on channel 12, I am not sure when on 4. So, watch if you get the chance!!!

Today Nurse Deb came and drew some more labs. Blood work results are in.... His 

We are still awaiting the call for his transplant. Hopefully soon!!!!

Bilirubin is at 19, hemoglobin down to 8.5, hemat. is at 25.8, ammonia 47 and platelets at 45,000. We will know w/in an hour of he needs to go get some blood.... 

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
February 23, 2003

Othello is doing alright. He is enjoying the easy life of a baby. Sleep, poop, and eat (20 hours a day) 
He is just waiting for time to get his transplant.

His latest labs show that his hemoglobin is down again, 8.8.  He may need another blood transfusion soon. The doctors are going to have labs done next Monday. So, we will probably be at the hospital for a couple of days while Othello gets some more blood. 

On the 3rd of March from 4 - 8 pm. Monty's Pizza in Callahan (on US1) will be holding a fundraiser for Othello. They will donate half of the proceeds they make from each dinner that night to COTA for Othello S. So if you like Pizza and want to help Othello. Head on out that way. 

If you do not want pizza, but you want to help....go to www.cota.org to the patient campaigns for Othello S. You can find out how to help there..
February 10, 2003

Well, Othello is doing well today. He has sprouted a new tooth. Tooth number two. He is such a big boy now.

We have gotten prearrangements made for the medic-flight to Miami. Once we get "the call", we will have a flight ready for transport. Hopefully soon the organs will come. 
We were giving an estimate of 1 to 1-1/2 months. Very soon.

Well, I hope you are all doing well. Come back soon!! Hopefully we will have nothing too exciting to report before the transplant!!! 

XOXOXOXOXOXO
February 7, 2003

Well, I know all of you are anxious to hear what has been going on with Othello. 

Tuesday night, Othello went back to the hospital. He was vomiting and pooping out blood. Not a good thing at all. Earlier in the day he had pulled out his G-tube. (Ouch)

We sat in the ER for a while, and then Othello was admitted to Wolfson's again. 

Othello had to receive another blood transfusion, as well as platelets. After getting the transfusion, Othello went down to the OR. In the operating room, the doctor's did an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. To our relief, nothing was wrong. There was no indication of where the blood was coming from though. They assume now, the g-tube coming out was the source.

Othello came home on Thursday. On Friday, we heard from the transplant hospital in Miami. They have recommended he be moved up on the transplant list. I was given an estimate of 1 to 1 1/2 months until his transplant!!!

We are going to get together to talk about Othello's COTA campaign this Saturday. Email me if you want more information   jennifer.gifford@attbi.com . 
January 19, 2003 

Othello is still waiting for his multi-organ transplant. Taking things day by day. It will give you an account from day one. An account of all the surgeries, hospitalizations, good times and not so good times. 

Well, Othello is up to 13lbs 9oz, according to his pediatrician! He is getting chubbier cheeks by the day. 

His doctor visit this past Friday left Othello a bit sore. Unfortunately for Othello's little legs, he had to get some immunizations. Painful, yet necessary. He received his polio vaccine early, just in case he goes to transplant land before he can get back into see good ol doc. 

This upcoming Thursday, Othello will go see the GI doctors. We will let you all know how things go! 

Hmm, what else?!! Oh yes, Othello found his tongue and is trying to cut some teeth. Baby oragel to the rescue!! 

Also, any day now we should have the meeting for the COTA fundraising. Once I get with Aunt Becky, Uncle Tim, Aunt Nina, John and the COTA representative, we will let you know what is going on. I know it seems like forever, but we will get it underway soon. Thanks everyone!!! 

XOXOXOXOXOX's 


1-14-02 

Hello all!!!! Well, not much to update with. Hmmm.Othello is holding his head up VERY well. The "professionals" at the EIP said to be realistic and told me that he would not be near crawling for a long time. But, Othello is proving them wrong. He is picking his cute little head up, looking back and forth and is probably two or three weeks away from crawling. (In my unprofessional motherly opinion) 

Also, for anyone out there suffering from sbs and needing a tip on how to keep your bottom from breaking down so bad: A D original ointment and balmex. We have been alternating every diaper change on Othello. His bottom looks great! Not red and broken down. It is amazing! So there are my product endorsements. haha. Trust me, it works. We have tried just about everything. Even prescriptions. 

Well, we see GI next week. We will let you all know what is going on!!!!! 
1-7-03 

Hello...Just a friendly update. Othello is doing well. Still yellow though. He has been tolerating his feeds, most days. Still vomiting a few times a day on other days. He does not seem as fussy...He is starting to coo and lifting his head very well. We have another scheduled appointment on the 23rd. Hopefully we will get some good news. Hopefully soon he will get his transplant and start on the road to recovery. 

1-1-03 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Othello slept through the New Years Eve festivities. At our house they included video games and television. WOOHOO!! There were people outside playing with fireworks and such. (Very loud) 
Othello is doing alright. He has been sleeping an awful lot though. He is awake maybe an hour or two here and there. I will call the GI doctors this week to see if that is something to be concerned about. It is not a normal behavior for Othello. 
Well, again: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
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