Simple Joys in Life: No More Pencils, No More Books....

Friday, December 21, 2007

No More Pencils, No More Books....

No more teachers' dirty looks! I graduated today!!

My little family
Photobucket

My parents, sisters, grandmother, etc
Photobucket

Mark's parents, etc
Photobucket

We ate at The Chimes Restaurant for dinner. Anthony enjoyed some blackened alligator as an appetizer.
Photobucket

Snuggling with Kri Kri
Photobucket

With our pretty Mom
Photobucket

One of the most important people in my life: My Daddy
Photobucket

CAKE!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...: I'm so upset I couldn't be there! I can't wait to see you to congratulate you in person and give you your gift!! I love you and am so proud of you!; December 22, 2007 1:20 PM
Renee said...: Congratulations, Laurie! I know you're happy to be out of school. Good luck with your new career!; December 22, 2007 7:43 PM
Anonymous said...: YAY .. I am sooo proud of you! Not to mention you look SOO pretty! that blue is your color! I love the photos, and I won't take it personal that Anthony was eating Gator. Mayeb it is a sign to come?? Do you think he look good in Orange and Blue?? Chomp chomp.

I love you and you amaze me! ALL you have been through and then accomplishing THIS! AMAZING!; December 23, 2007 9:53 AM
Anonymous said...: Congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment! Merry Christmas! Tell your family hello from Nebraska :o); December 23, 2007 12:19 PM
Anonymous said...: You did it! Congratulations Laurie - you are super!; December 27, 2007 1:19 PM
Sarah said...: Great pictures! Congratulations Laurie!; December 28, 2007 12:48 PM

Post a Comment

About Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a progressive inflammatory process that begins very soon after birth. In the most common form, called extrahepatic biliary atresia, the delicate ducts outside the liver are affected first. White blood cells invade the ducts, which become damaged and may whither or completely disappear. Bile is trapped inside the liver and rapidly causes damage and scarring to the liver cells. Further scarring of the liver tissue may result in cirrhosis.

On average, there is one case of biliary atresia out of every 15,000 live births. Females are affected slightly more often than males. In the United States, approximately 300 new cases are diagnosed each year.

The cause of biliary atresia is unknown. Auto-immune mechanisms may be partly responsible for the progressive process that takes place. Recent research suggests that a viral infection in susceptible infants could result in biliary atresia. About 10% of cases have other associated congenital defects in the heart, blood vessels, intestine, or spleen.

Although the cause is uncertain, it is known that biliary atresia affects only newborns; it is not hereditary; it is not contagious; and it is not preventable.

A surgical procedure called the Kasai (hepatoportoenterostomy) can be performed in hopes of saving the liver. With the Kasai, the liver is connected directly to the small intestine, circumventing the gall bladder. The Kasai is usually successful in 1/3 of cases, while the other 2/3 result in the need for a liver transplant. Anthony's team of doctors were unable to diagnose Anthony with biliary atresia, and the Kasai was never performed. We learned after his transplant that the Kasai would never have worked, and we would have traveled the same road to transplant.

Friday, December 21, 2007

No More Pencils, No More Books....

6 comments:

Simple Joys in Life

My Two Men

Followers

Blog Archive

Blogs I Read

Sign up to be an Organ Donor!

40 Reasons to Donate Life

My Flickr Photos

About Biliary Atresia

How Many People Love This Site???