Day 57 - Daniel To Undergo Emergency Surgery This Evening

26 May 2009, 4:10 pm MST

We were hoping the blog had served its purpose and that there would be no more entries -- which would mean Daniel is getting better every day and moving forward with his life. Daniel has indeed moved forward with his life and plans for the future, but it appears his body is not quite ready to catch up.

Yesterday, Aubrey's sister Karen had a Memorial Day pool party at her house for the entire family. Daniel and Christine were there along with Daniel's immediate family, lots of cousins, aunts and uncles and Grandma. It was a fun time. Daniel had been doing great, but wasn't feeling as well yesterday and mentioned that his liver tube was no longer draining like it should. He of course did not get in the pool, due to the liver tube, but spent the afternoon visiting with everyone.

Today the tube was still not draining, so Daniel went to see his doctors to have it checked out. They injected something (we don't know what) into the liver tube to try and dissolve whatever was preventing it from draining. During this procedure, the abscess in Daniel's liver ruptured and spread poison into his abdomen. This resulted in peritonitis.

The doctors have given Daniel antibiotics and he will undergo surgery sometime in the next few hours at the University Hospital. Aubrey and Mendy are of course concerned and asked that we all pray for Daniel. It is possible this latest problem with Daniel's liver may require extensive surgery, and Aubrey and Mendy are hoping the surgeons will be able to clean up the liver and infected areas with the least invasive means possible. If you read this, please let Daniel's friends and loved ones know that he is in need of everyone's prayers. We will update the blog as soon as Daniel is out of surgery, and will probably keep the blog active for a while until Daniel is past this latest challenge.

5:20 pm Update:

Aubrey called to report that the doctors discovered Daniel has not eaten since before midnight last night and an operating room just opened up, so Daniel is being taken to surgery immediately. It is a very good thing that Daniel was already at the hospital when the rupture occurred. The surgeon said he will be opening Daniel "from stem to stern". This will be the most extensive surgery Daniel has undergone so far.