Loganville-GraysonPatch
After being on the organ transplant list for exactly three weeks to the day, Kathleen Terrell’s wish was granted yesterday – she was the recipient of a new liver. The 15-year-old Walnut Grove High School student had been awaiting the transplant at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, which was performed last night during about an 8-hour surgery.
Kathleen is now in the PICU at Egleston and resting comfortably according to family members. Doctors expect that she will remain there for up to four days in recovery. They hope to move her to back to a private room after that for a couple of weeks before she returns home.
Her mother, Rhona Terrell, used social media to keep family and friends notified throughout the long night, posting status updates on Facebook. She even asked that everyone change their profile picture to that of a sparkly “Princess” tiara in honor of Kathleen, whose supporters evolved into “Team Princess” as the night progressed.
One status, posted around 5 a.m, read “Surgery Over! Everything looks good! The Surgeon just came in and said it'll be an hour or so before we can see her. Thank you God for taking care of my baby girl... Thanks to everyone who has been there for us as we have gone thru this...”
"Pancakes for the Princess,” a fundraiser hosted by Walton County Fire Rescue (WCFR) personnel and the Loganville Masons, will take place Saturday, June 11th from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Fergus Lodge on Rock Street. Tickets will be $6 per person.
If you can’t make it for pancakes but would like to help this family out, Paypal donations are being collected through WCFR’s Facebook page. Click on the icon “Donate to the Terrells” on the left of the page under the profile picture.
Would you like to add well wishes for Kathleen? Tell us in the comments.
“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”
In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at organdonor.gov (Go to top right to select your state)
In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register
In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register
Your generosity can save or enhance the lives of up to fifty people with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves
Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You
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