Hayden’s journey

My youngest grandson, Hayden, is 19 years old. At 13 he was diagnosed with kidney failure, liver fibrosis, an enlarged spleen and heart. He was on peritoneal dialysis 7 days a week and 10-12 hours a day. He’d go to school, come home, shower, and go to bed. He received a kidney from a very special woman in 2018 and it was a successful transplant until he contracted Covid in 2022. It attacked his new kidney and in February 2023 his immunosuppressant infusion was discontinued and he went back on hemodialysis. Since August 2023 he’s been hospitalized twice for sepsis. The last time was February 7th for acute pneumonia as well as sepsis. Thankfully, the antibiotics worked. The first 2 days were scary and that’s an understatement. Then we learned that the left ventricle of his heart was only functioning at 35%. He now potentially needs a triple transplant- heart, kidney, and liver. We were told yesterday by the liver transplant specialist that he is not a viable candidate for transplant due to his heart failure. If only the liver and kidney were done simultaneously, he would not survive the surgery. For surgery to occur, he would need to meet all requirements for each organ to be anywhere near the top of each list at the same time. Each organ donor list has a different set of criteria that must be met that will then become one number to be used on the organ donor list. It’s quite complicated. I told him I would gladly trade places with him and he told me no, he wouldn’t want me to have to go through this. He’s quirky and has such a dry sense of humor. He loves seafood, especially crawfish! He loves the beach but can’t get in the water due to his catheter. He’s excited to have just passed the written part of his driving test and is looking forward to getting his permit and drivers license. He never got to be a “normal” teenager. For several years pre-transplant he had a catheter hanging out of his abdomen which prevented a lot of activity. He now has one that is in the chest. He never complains or whines about being ill. He has dreams. Although he may think it at times, he never asks “why me?”. He humbles me. There’s so much more to this, but I’d be writing pages. I have a very strong faith and belief in God. I know that He is in control and loves Hayden dearly. I know that this world is full of pain, sorrow, and evil; that bad things happen to good people. I know that there are things that I will not understand. I know that all of these things are not caused by God. I don’t know why children have to suffer. I know that my heart and his mother’s are broken. I know God hears and answers prayers. I know that He doesn’t always give us the answers we want. But I trust Him. I know this hurts. He is now in the hospital at Houston Methodist. He was admitted with pneumonia and fluid on his heart. He has a medical team consisting of cardiology, nephrology, hepatology, rheumatology, infectious disease, hematology, and the hospitalist. In less than one week his weight has dropped from 123 to 118 pounds. On Friday evening they began the evaluation and testing process from all of the doctors. He’ll be in the hospital for at least a week longer and possibly more. When he’s discharged , he will probably have to stay in Houston since Victoria is 2 hours away. There’s a house there that is used for this purpose if you’re accepted and mom is definitely going to try to get in. This has taken not only an emotional and physical toll, but a financial toll as well. His mom had been out of work for several months and right before this happened, she got a job as a substitute teacher at VISD. Her partner just started a new job but has taken time off to be with them. I’m on a set income but I help as much as I can. Parking is expensive as well as food and gas for the back and fourth trips to Houston. This is going to be a long journey. Please pray for Hayden. And if you find it in your heart, please help.