Fran Needs a Liver

Fran Needs a Liver The idea is not to live forever, but to maybe help another live a little longer

WE'RE GOING HOME THIS MORNING!!!! HOORAY!!!! 🖤
02/11/2026

WE'RE GOING HOME THIS MORNING!!!! HOORAY!!!! 🖤

02/06/2026

Today was Fran’s 3 week post-op visit…. All of her staples are GONE!

We also did get confirmation that we’re all able to go home next Wednesday, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Physical therapy has gone very well the last couple of weeks, and all of Fran’s lab levels are where they want them to be!

Thank you again for all of your thoughts and well wishes these last few weeks- we’ve definitely felt them! And we’re excited to watch Fran get to live her life again.

01/28/2026

It’s been TWO WHOLE WEEKS since we came up to Chicago for Fran’s liver transplant… can you believe it?? We can’t!

Fran is still doing incredibly well. This week we started seeing an in-home physical therapist, and today an occupational therapist will also come and do an evaluation. The PT seemed pretty impressed with her mobility considering that she’s only been out of the hospital for a week! She’s walking really well without a mobility aid and she’s been doing a great job at doing her physical therapy homework.

This morning Fran also filled her own weekly med organizer as I quizzed her on what each medicine did for her. She has been taking the medicines very seriously and has been able to remember what all of the important medicines are, which bodes well for her going home and getting back to her regular life.

We also recently found out that we may be able to go home sooner than we thought! We’ll need to check with Fran's doctors on Friday, but there’s a good chance we’ll all be back home by Valentine’s Day. 💖

01/24/2026

Fran's first post-transplant follow up went really well today!

She needed an additional magnesium drip but otherwise, the doctor said the rest of her levels look PERFECT. The new liver is doing it's job!

Here is a little peak into post-transplant life! While Fran's new liver means she was able/had to stop taking a lot of h...
01/21/2026

Here is a little peak into post-transplant life!

While Fran's new liver means she was able/had to stop taking a lot of her older prescriptions, a whole lot more have been added.

On the left are the medicines she took before transplant that she will continue to take, and on the right are all of the additional meds we have to add to our daily regimen. Once more time has passed, she will be able to stop taking 2-3 of those new medicines, but most of them will be lifelong medications.

Fran is only complaining a little bit during big med times 😉 But she knows and understands how important these medications are for keeping her new liver safe and healthy.

Fran has been sprung!!! Now onto the real work!
01/20/2026

Fran has been sprung!!! Now onto the real work!

01/19/2026

It sounds like someone is doing so well that she should be making an escape from the hospital tomorrow afternoon! 🤫

01/19/2026

Not a whole lot to report today, but Fran is still doing well! She ate three whole meals today and all of her vitals look good, and she's moving the way the nurses and physical therapist want her to.

01/18/2026

We are officially out of the ICU and up on the recovery floor!

All of the staff seem thrilled with the progress she's making. When transfer time came, mom was able to use a walker and walk herself to the transport bed. She's allowed to eat and drink at least a little bit at a time!

She's also started some light physical therapy, mostly just short walks and moving to the reclining chair from her bed. Everything is looking good!

We got into Fran's room this morning and she is up, sitting in her chair, and she's talking! We are all thrilled, and sh...
01/17/2026

We got into Fran's room this morning and she is up, sitting in her chair, and she's talking!

We are all thrilled, and she immediately asked for her glasses because she couldn't see the remote to change the channel.

They're moving her out of the icu and into a recovery room sometime today!

(Photo posted with her permission)

01/16/2026

I just met the surgeon who performed the transplant! He was kind and said that the procedure went great and that she's recovering well.

Fran was able to answer all of the questions he asked her, and when he asked if she knew where she was she answered, "Chicago, at the hospital... I'm getting... no, I GOT a transplant."

That's right Mama Fran, you DID get that transplant.

01/16/2026

Day one with the new liver!

Fran is still pretty much asleep, but the nurse said that her vitals are all looking good otherwise and that she did fine overnight.

She is having some trouble answering when they try to wake her up and ask cognitive questions, but the nurse thinks that has to do with her reactions to anesthesia (she has a history of being very slow to wake from anesthesia)and just her body trying to rest and recover from the physical trauma of the surgery. Other than her altered mental signs, her other vitals are where they want her to be.

When I (Ashe) came in and said hi, she was able to say "Hi baby" back, and I've gotten a couple more short sentences from her. So I am hopeful that we're making more steps towards recovery.

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Chicago, IL
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