At the time that our Journey began, we did not have a webpage started. Below, you will
find our entire "Journey" through emails and notes that we kept throughout our trip.
If you are just interested in the "transplant" itself, then just click here and it will take you
to "the call". Hope you enjoy the ride.
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4/8/05
We are about to begin a new journey in the Gabehart family and know that prayers will be greatly needed on our
trip. I am sending this email to all of my email list asking you to be in prayer as we begin this adventure. I will be
updating you as we go along and if at anytime you would like to be taken off the list, please let us know!
As many of you know, Christena has taken a turn for the worse. Her lung functions have now dropped below
30%. She has once again been placed on strong i.v. antibiotics and is now tryng to adjust to life with her "new
friend" oxygen. It has become a 24 hour companion now and it is a big adjustment for her. After almost ten days
on i.v.'s, she is still having a really rough time, but like the trooper she is, she continues to fight.
On April 7,2005 we received a very important call. St. Louis Childrens Hospital called to schedule her evaluation
for a double lung transplant. At this point I don't have alot of details but will fill you in on what I do know. The
evaluation trip will be a 3 day evaluation, it will have to take place from a Monday thru Wednesday and we can
schedule it anytime after the 11th of this month. We at this time do not know how long she will have to be in St.
Louis before the transplant, but were told that we would have to relocate there that we cannot just wait until we
get "the call" and then come. We also know that we will be there for a minimum of 3 months after the transplant
if all goes well.
Now, here is where you come in......this is a very big decision for a 16 year old to make, it will also be very hard
on George III, added to his new diagnosis of insulin dependant diabetes. We are aware that God is in control of
this situation and know he hears our prayers. Please begin praying that if it is God's will he will give Christena the
peace she needs to go into this situation and make her decision, that she will feel comfortable with the transplant
team and that he will keep her strong enough to make it through until lungs are available for her. Also, please
keep George III in your prayers. This is going to be a very rough time for him. He is so close to Christena and
spending 6+ months away from her is going to be tough.
We know this journey is going to be hard on our family, but we also know that God can and will see us through.
We are hopeful that our precious girl will finally get the chance to take a real true breath of fresh air and get to
enjoy her life!
I will keep you updated as we map out our journey and you begin praying that the road will not be filled with too
many bumps along the way.
4/29/05
While this is an update for many of you, some of you have just been added to our list and some of this
information you will already know. Please bear with me, as my time is a little limited so I am sending the same
email to each of you.
We experienced a small delay in our journey, as Christena had to be admitted to the hospital three weeks ago.
After two weeks she came home and returned to the emergency room the following night with a partial colapsed
lung and pneumonia. We were released from the hospital this afternoon (Friday) and will be leaving on Sunday,
May 1st. for Saint Louis. Her evaluation will take place on May 2-3 and we will return home on the 4th.
George and I will take both Christena and George with us. George has been excused from school next week as
the transplant coordinator feels it is important that he attend the evaluation also.
Please be in prayer for a safe trip and that Christena will be able to tolerate our travel time and have the strength
needed to endure all of the tests and evaluation process.
We will update you as we are able to about the outcome of this evaluation.
For everyone that has been there to support us over the last three weeks, THANK YOU!! The past three weeks
have been very rough and we could not have made it through without all of the support and prayers we have
received from our family, friends, and our awesome Kosair family!! We feel very fortunate to have the greatest
medical staff in the world!! We love you all.
Please keep praying and know that miracles can and will happen!!
5/3/05
Wanted to send a quick update and let you all know that we have made it through the first two days of
evaluation. It has been an exhausting two days. We have learned much and have met some wonderful people.
Tomorrow will be our last day of the evaluation and we will then have our exit meeting with the entire team. At
that time we will go over all of the tests that have been done and they will advise us of what they have learned
about our sweet girl. While we have been told she will more than liikely be listed, we will not find out for sure
until they have their team meeting next week.
Our time away has given us the opportunity to spend time as a family and that has been very precious to me. The
meetings we have attended have been a little overwhelming, but the team has been wonderful in answering our
questions. They have done a wonderful job including Little George in the process and he has truly opened up and
asked alot of questions himself.
I will say the hospital is amazing here. It has so much to offer and we feel very welcome and comfortable here.
Thank you for all of the prayers that have been sent up, please continue to pray as these next few days are going
to be filled with alot of questions about how we move forward with our lives not knowing what the plan will be,
or how long we will be waiting in limbo when she is listed.