Hope is the Thing with Feathers

[peggysue2]

I wanted to wait this time, not preempt a a Good News story before it was fully hatched.

Cassandra's received her liver transplant Thursday evening. Surgery finished up before the sun rose Friday.

No sooner had her parents returned to Philly, exhausted, thoroughly bummed out, that they got the phone call.

Another liver was available, a five-year old donor.

There's tragedy mixed with this miracle, of course, because another child died, a little boy, in order to provide this spectacular gift. For Cassandra, a pediatric transplant is the next best thing to a living donor.

The surgeons were very happy. Not only did the surgery proceed without a hitch but Cassandra had clean margins (no evidence of cancer) around the liver or lungs. Not anywhere.

The journey isn't done. Cassandra is in a medically-induced coma until Monday to give her body a chance to rest and heal. Weirdly enough, physicians did the same thing to her father after his traumatic brain injury 20+ years ago. She'll be closely monitored for infection and rejection or any other mishap.

I am completely humbled by the donor family. I raised little boys, can easily remember them at age five. I'm not sure I would have had the strength or grace to offer my child's organs while steeped in profound grief.

But this family did.

My daughter-in-law is committed to remembering this little boy as if he were one of our own. He'll be part of Cassandra and the rest of us, another child to cherish and remember.

[Hekate]

1. 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Love and hope to you all

[peggysue2]

11. Thanks, Hekate!

The whole thing has been pretty incredible. The number of healthy, available livers is low to begin with, but a pediatric liver (one that meets all the criteria) is very hard to find.

As a family we will be forever grateful to everyone involved.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Thank you, my dear peggysue2, for this amazing and wonderful news! ♥

[peggysue2]

13. Oh thank you, Peggy!

Giving updates is the very least I can do after all the support received from our DU family.

You guys, rock!

[Bayard]

3. Glad everything went well for your family

[peggysue2]

14. Me too, Bayard

This has been a true rollercoaster ride as is often the case with catastrophic illness or injury. I've been on this road before. It never gets easier.

Thanks for the good wishes.

[Deuxcents]

4. One family's heart break is another family's miracle

Thanks to unconditional love, medicine, science and technology. It’s wonderful what can be done now but the real reason is the grieving family’s gift to save a life(s). I’m sure this little boy will be remembered and celebrated by both families and I hope the message will help others to talk about the “what if it happens to us” and be donors if that day ever comes. Peggysue, my heart melted when I read your post and hopefully, Cassandra will recover and live a healthy and happy life. 🌺

[peggysue2]

15. Big thank you for that, Deuxcents

I suspect this little boy will be celebrated by several families, all gifted as we were. A friend of my daughter-in-law referred to the donation as a tragic miracle.

That about sums it up.

Appreciate the words and good wishes.

[Solly Mack]

5. Hoping for the best.

[peggysue2]

16. The more hope and good wishes the better, Solly Mack

They've been working like a charm thus far.

[electric_blue68]

6. May she stay compatible with her new liver, be infection-free, never be subjected to any cancer...

ever again, living a healthy, long life!
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[peggysue2]

18. That's what we're hoping for, electric blue

This was her last, best chance. So many things could have gone wrong but didn't.

It's renewed my faith that all things are possible. I'd been wobbling badly over the last few weeks. This turned me around.

Thanks for the good wishes!

[electric_blue68]

24. YW

[lamp_shade]

7. Thank you for continuing to keep us posted.

[peggysue2]

19. Ahhh, you're welcome, lamp_shade

Makes me happy to do it!

[thatcrowwoman]

8. Sending love and hugs and sweet Shalom, peace be with you all.🩵💫🕊

🕊thatcrowwoman

[peggysue2]

20. Thanks so much, crowwoman

I'll take that to heart.

[Lonestarblue]

9. Wishing you all the very best.

[peggysue2]

22. Thank you, lonestarblue

The family's feeling optimistic. At last!

[spanone]

10. 👍🏼...K&R...👍🏼

[peggysue2]

23. Thank you for that, spanone!

[spanone]

45. 🥰

[Cha]

12. Ohh PeggySue.. I'm so grateful 🤷‍♀️💕

That Cassandra received her liver transplant and that the little boy whole liver was donated is being honored by your family.

Hope is the thing with feathers.. the Power of Hope!

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

Emily Dickenson

[peggysue2]

28. I love Emily Dickinson

I've always loved this poem. I discovered it as a teenager. Wasn't sure why I liked it but it always made me smile. I rediscovered it as an undergraduate, later still as a mother myself. I couldn't know as a 16 year old or later as a 20-something or later still as a 30-something mother of small kids that my future granddaughter was running through those lines:

The tune without the words; the little Bird, determined, refusing to be silent while providing warmth in the chilliest land, asking nothing in return

And now there's another child skipping through those words.

Astonishing! Gives me chills thinking about it.

Thanks for putting the poem up, Cha!

[Cha]

32. You're Welcome, PeggySue..

It's wonderful you loved this poem by Emily Dickenson so early in life.. and it beautifully applies to your granddaughter and I would imagine you son 20 years earlier.

I just heard about it in one of my Hallmark movies and didn't investigate it.

Then I see you referencing it and I looked it up and read the poem. It's definitely something I can strongly relate to in spite of eveything.

So Thank You

[peggysue2]

41. Yeah, the poem has something of a magical draw to it

It speaks to something we all know or think we know, and it's open enough to find other, more personal interpretations.

I love when that happens. LOL. Glad you enjoyed it.

To Miss Emily.

[Cha]

44. Well said! And, to Miss Emily..

[SpamWyzer]

17. I am

crying.

[peggysue2]

29. I was crying, too, SpamWyzer

The whole experience has been wrenching but the child donor did me in. I tear up every time I think or write on it.

Nothing short of awe-inspiring.

[elleng]

21. "Hope" is the thing with feathers BY EMILY DICKINSON

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

[peggysue2]

30. That's the One, elleng!

[rurallib]

25. Organ donation - the greatest gift

Knowing that the organs of a loved one will now be used to keep someone else alive must be a great comfort that loved one dies. Like others on here, I too am crying right now both for Cassandra and for the family that gifted her with the greatest gift.

This is such a great story - it just has to end well.

[peggysue2]

35. It Just Has to End Well

That's where I've landed, rurallib. Not that there are any guarantees out there but my faith in a good outcome really has been renewed within the last week.

I've done my share of crying but the few details we have on the child donor literally brought me to my knees.

Thanks for the note!

[calimary]

26. It's the ultimate gift.

Love, and sacrifice and love.

[peggysue2]

36. It really is the ultimate gift, calimary

Humbling in nature.

[calimary]

43. Btw - so considerate of you to take the time to answer every post here.

I know you're already carrying some emotional extra weight. Thanks for being - well - YOU.

[Jean Genie]

27. heart-wrenching

Whenever we think our life is tough, overwhelming, painful, let us pause to think of Cassandra, her family, and especially of the parents of the little boy who so generously gave a piece of their own beloved child, so that some other child might live. There's a special place in heaven for all of you.

[peggysue2]

37. Awwww. Thank you for that, Jean Genie

Not so sure I'm heaven material but I know Cassandra and this little boy truly are. And the parents in both families for their faith, strength and grace.

The story continues.

[MuseRider]

31. Such very good news.

I had been wondering but knowing you would post soon. So far so good and it sounds like the possibility is a good one. Rest up, they have a long road and will need you. I am so happy you got this news.

[peggysue2]

38. It does sound and feel good, MuseRider

I'm far more encouraged than I was a few short weeks ago. And yes, the story and the long road continue.

But we're getting there.

[Karadeniz]

33. So wonderful... my eyes are wet!!!!!

[peggysue2]

39. Yours and mine both, Karadeniz

Incredible journey!

[Hope22]

34. My heart goes out to all of you!

Sending love to both of your families. 💗💗💗💗🙏🏼💐

[peggysue2]

40. Appreciate the kind words and thoughts, Hope22

[Ms. Toad]

42. It's weird how it happens that way.

You wait, and wait, and wait - and the first liver falls through - and almost immediately a second arrives.

If you've been around your granddaughter recently, she may have noticed she was orange. You'll be amazed at how quickly the orange disappears (it may have already).

I wish her a trouble-free recovery. But there will likely be glitches - just remember that rejection is almost always easily overcome by adjusting medications. My littlest liver transplant buddy received a new liver shortly after birth and is now 14. He's had occasional rejection scares - but mostly is just your normal adventurous kid.

[peggysue2]

47. Appreciate the heads up, Ms Toad

The rejection factor is something we saw first hand with my brother-in-law's lung transplant. For him, the struggle was too much. He died this past March having only a year extension to his life, and frankly, a lot of suffering. My brother-in-law was 72 and had had by-pass surgery before the lung transplant. I was surprised the second hospital accepted him into the program. But they did and he was gung-ho. It just didn't work out.

We're all hoping Cassandra's young age and incredible stamina will prove to be an asset. It's taken her this far, so hopefully it continues.

Thanks for the note.

PS: Yes, the timing on this was very strange. In a good way!

[Faux pas]

46. Kickin' & Rec'n

HALLELUJAH

[peggysue2]

50. Hallelujah indeed, Faux pas

[a kennedy]

48. AND THIS....this 5 year old donor will contribute to a life. A life of remembrance, a life of living.

How awesome is his family for giving their boys life to another human being. ?️ ?️ ?️ ?️ ?️ there really is a higher being for them to do this.

[peggysue2]

51. I still haven't wrapped my head around what this family offered

Not in a moment of profound loss and grief. It's almost too much to expect anyone to do with a child this young.

And yet, they did.

Forever grateful.

[haele]

49. Hope and love to both families.

Glad to hear about your granddaughter, sad to hear about the little boy's family. We are all stardust in the give and take of the universe.

Haele

[peggysue2]

52. Thank you, Haele

The child donor is indeed a sad event. For Cassandra, this donation was the greatest gift of all. Our family will remember this small boy in our quiet moments and our joy.