Kelli with Christine Galan, the first person in the western U.S. to receive a simultaneous
heart-liver transplant at Cedars-Sinai in 1998.  What an amazing thing it is that these two
have so much courage and such a positive outlook in the face of adversity that most of us
would crumble under. Their inner strength is awesome and their spirits sing out to all of us.
Never give up, think positive and keep the faith.

Breaking News... (Dec. 2005) After two years of going through a record number of paracentesis procedures, multiple
evaluations and tests, Kelli has been informed that she will be listed for a heart and liver transplant at Cedars-Sinai.

 
 

SPECIAL UPDATE - January 27, 2005

We have received a report from UCLA, dated January 7, 2005, that explains why they will not do her transplantion.  We have been told during Kelli's last visit to UCLA that her chance to survive the procedure is too low and it will most likely kill her.  A copy of the report follows this update.

It was thought (beginning with the Loma Linda doctors) that the answer would be a combined heart-liver transplant.  Later, after very extensive testing and evaluations, UCLA determined it would be better (and safer) to just do a heart transplant and see if the liver would recover.  Now, they have decided that no transplantation will be possible due to Kelli's very complicated and delicate health status.  Even if a transplant could be done, they say, her antibodies would attack the new organ and we're talking 90% of the antibodies in her body doing this.  Also, all her previous open-heart surgeries would make internal bleeding very likely.

Now the question is:  What do we do now?  First of all, we won't be giving up, certainly not Kelli.  We will do everything imaginable that can be done to find a way to halt her cirrhosis and those awful paracentesis taps that drain the ascites fluid.  We believe a miracle will happen.  We believe that physicians from another medical center will have the courage to help Kelli and accept the challenge her case presents.  We believe the world is a better place with Kelli in it.  We will continue to think positive and, as always, keep the faith.