Transplant living and school.

And then in addition to that I always begin each year with an email to her teacher.

As you already know, she had a liver transplant when she was 17 months old (getting part of my liver). She had cancer shortly after that. She lived with a tube sticking out of her tummy for over a year. And then had H1N1 in kindergarten. She has portal vein thrombosis (blockage in a major vein) and hypertension as a result.

But none of that is who she is:

· She is spunky and full of energy.

· She is a rule follower and thinks everyone else should be too.

· She is fair and thinks everyone else should be too.

· She talks. A LOT.

· We (her dad and I) refuse to let her use her prior medical stuff as an excuse for anything. She can do whatever she puts her mind to.

I promise (hand on my heart) to do my best this year to be a good parent and not give you any trouble; I promise not to be that parent. I promise to let you do your job as the teacher. But as I have worked hard just to keep Natalie here with us it is hard for me to give up control sometimes.

Issues we know of to look for:

Portal vein thrombosis.

a. Portal vein is blocked but at this time there is only the potential for varicies – i.e., bleeding. (if ever she mentions blood is her stool, she knows to find [nurse].)

b. Portal vein hypertension (her doctors have said that she may have limited attention span – but we saw no such thing last year).

c. Enlarged spleen – only activity limit, per her transplant team, is no "contact" sports. I guess football is out :)

And then, well, having sent the letters and communicating all the fear, I have nothing left to do but pray for another fabulous year!

PS - I know I owe you all (if anyone really reads this :) ) first day of school pictures and pictures from the county fair pageant. Look for those, soon.