J-Manuels Road to Recovery: Juan's Story

It was a very Happy Birthday 🥰

Thank you everyone for wishing him a Happy Birthday, he was soo happy today 🫶🏼🥳

Happy 12th Birthday to the babyboy who made me a Momma! You may look like me, but every year I’m reminded so much of how much like your daddy you are 💕 You’ve become a very artistic and creative young man and I can’t wait to see what the year brings you! ❤️

Better watch out y’all, he already said he wants to be an engineer when he grows up 😻😻 I can’t wait to watch him do it, too! 😽🫶🏼❤️

Y’all.. my son is a dang savage.. They are playing Frozen trivia and he’s calling in to Child Life and just straight wrecking it 😂 I told him he needed to wait and let other kids call, he looked at me like this was his time to shine 😂😂 We are Disney movie addicts, can you tell? Just look at his face! He calls and now says “Hi, this is Juan, AGAINN..” 💀😂

The smile of sweet food.. 💚
Drs rounded, he does have a bacterial infection within his intestines. But the plus side is he has had it before and we KNOW which medication works best, so it’s been started immediately. We’re going down on fluids today and Drs gave the thumbs up to restart food. And no vomiting since yesterday (whoooohoo!) 🙌🏽 So now we watch and wait for his body to react to the medication. Taper down on fluids and get him to stay hydrated on his own, then he’ll be home free.

Man, his face looks so much better 😭🙏🏼 Thank you lord! 💚

Quick Update 💚
We were admitted to the GI floor a few hours ago. Loads of labs done, some are still pending, but thus far mainly just showing that he’s severely dehydrated. 2 Bolus Bags and a current maintenance bag later, he’s finally starting to perk up a bit. I can still see sunken eyes though, so it’ll be a day or 2 till he looks himself again.

He’s been pretty quiet all day, napping here and there. And no fevers either! 🙌🏽 Just a whole lot of yucky stomach bug symptoms so far! It’s wild hoping for it being the culprit, how something so small just puts him out- he literally looses lbs in the matter of hours when he vomits- all fluids. 😞 But if there is a cause- I hope this was it. The rest of his studies will begin coming in in the morning.

So for now, just plenty of rest for him through the night. His brother starts school in the morning, then I’ll have to drop Baby Benjamin off in order to get here. Covid protocols restrict him from having any siblings or visitors, which I understand. But as a mother- it makes it even harder to be here for Jmanuel. 😖 But we got this. We WILL pull through! And hopefully sooner than later he can be home in his own bed 💚

Thank you for all the prayers, texts, and calls! Jmanuel is blessed beyond words with such a big supportive family 💚💚🙏🏼

The things that go on behind closed doors no one speaks on…The hidden battles people fight... The reason we try to live each day to it’s fullest and tuck away to pretend we have a normal life- are the exact same reasons why we cherish absolutely every waking moment.

Prayers for Jmanuel, as he’s not feeling good. He can’t hold anything down and so far from his history I know he’s dehydrated. It’s always the question “is it his transplant? Is it okay?”. I’m just thankful he’s not in pain. We just got an X-ray to check for obstruction. Headed back to the room for labs and fluids.

If there’s one thing we were blessed with, it would be the strong family that Sisco and I have grown. Lord please place your hands on my son and heal him from any discomfort, in your name 🙏🏼💚

Here at the ER, getting Jmanuel checked out. He started having output issue over the past 2 days- pedialyte just isn’t putting a dent in the dehydration issues. 😔 His first Camping trip was this Friday and I really hope he can rebound from this quickly.

A weeks worth of pre-op appointments nearly complete! Radiology today, covid testing, and final consult with Dr Mercer Monday- and after that no more Ostomy bag! Juan goes in for his Ostomy reversal surgery Tuesday. Something that’s supposed to happen within 6 months of his multi visceral transplant has taken a little over a year and a half- but we made it! Jmanuel made it 💚
He cried when we showed him his plane tickets last weekend to Omaha. He’s such an emotional boy, but knows exactly what he wants. He’s a child who’s known nothing but this life for 10 years. He never asks for material items, he asks for his health. A few months ago at the dinner table, we asked him if he could choose- would he go on a Vacation when school gets out or get his procedure? He was quick to respond “My procedure! THEN a vacation!” 💚 I am so proud of how long he’s came! 😭
Due to Covid restrictions, Dad has to be by his side this time. With school nearing an end for little brother and Baby brother getting into everything, having them in a hospital setting wasn’t an option for us this time. We are thankful that Dad has an amazing job that allows him to work remotely so we are able to take him on his surprise vacation when he clears surgery! Yay!
These stays can last anywhere from a few weeks to a month, depending on how well Juan does- but I know in my heart, there are great things to come! My baby wants to go to school without that Ostomy bag so bad and to play with his friends without worrying about his complications- well, that’s finally about to happen. So lots and lots of prayer requests this week and this month are much needed! Prayers for a safe procedure, and a fast and healthy recovery as our next Chapter begins! 💚💚💚💚💚💚

Helping mommy package orders for allowance monies 💜
Jain packed, Cameron put stickers, then Juan took over stickers when he decided Cameron was too slow 😂 And Benjamin, was putting them into the bag- then taking them out 🙈

Oh, the places you will go. This little boy is growing into a fine young man 💜 Take down coming soon- He'll get his Ostomy reversal and be 2 years out of transplant in August 💚 Juan has been such an amazing big brother- especially, with Little Benny. You'd think that baby was his own the way he loves, rocks, and puts Benny to sleep, they have such an amazing bond. I couldn't be the luckiest Mom, blessed with boys who love echoer so unconditionally.

Happy Halloween!! And Sweet Dreams!