Parker turns FOUR!

Four short years ago we didn't know what life would bring, but this week we will celebrate a lot of crossed hurdles, life accomplishments, and godly miracles. We are blessed beyond measure, and cannot wait to celebrate many more! We love you to the moon Parker Joseph, and don't you ever forget it.

Parker starts Pre-K!

I'm It's so hard to believe that we have a preschooler. These last few years have flown by. Our son is no longer our "baby", he is now our big boy going to big boy school.

Parker's first family vacation

Another milestone has been met for the Porche family. For the last four years life has been hectic to say the least. Between dialysis and transplant, our family hasn't been able to enjoy a vacation together. Those events not only took time away from us, but they took a lot of our financial resources as well; making luxuries like vacations a far away thought. This year is the first year that we are medically and financially able to take Parker away from reality to enjoy a week of family time, and he loved every minute of it. We are already looking forward to the next trip and making more memories with him. This year we got to enjoy the white sand and turquoise waters of Destin, Florida. And while I was a bit concerned on how his anxieties would handle the sand and ocean, he definitely surprised us. That child loved the water, and asked to go swimming as soon as his eyes opened in the morning. We are so thankful that we are in a place in our lives where we are able to enjoy these experiences!

Kicking off the Mardi Gras season

Today Parker had a routine procedure done at Oschner Medical Center. It's one of our first procedures done outside of Children's Hospital, but it was such a smooth process. Parker's liver condition, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, can cause what are known as esophogial varices. These varices can be extremely dangerous, and sometimes even fatal. Essentially, varices are abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus. It doesn't sound so bad, but the problem is that these particular veins are smaller, and not designed to carry large volumes of blood. The added pressure can cause the veins to begin leaking or rupturing. If this happens, the patient needs care immediately or they risk bleeding out. If the varices are found before they become critical, a doctor can "band" them. Essentially the doctor will wrap a band around the vein, preventing it from bleeding. 

Our area has finally gotten its first pediatric hepatologist. She wanted to take a look at Parkers esophogus and see if he had any varices, what stage they were at, and if any of them needed to be banded. We are extremely happy to report that they did not find ANY varices! she said that everything looked perfect, and that we would not be repeating the procedure annually, unless he begins having complications. Best. News. Ever! 

Kicking off the Mardi Gras season

Today Parker had a routine procedure done at Oschner Medical Center. It's one of our first procedures done outside of Children's Hospital, but it was such a smooth process. Parker's liver condition, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, can cause what are known as esophogial varices. These varices can be extremely dangerous, and sometimes even fatal. Essentially, varices are abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus. It doesn't sound so bad, but the problem is that these particular veins are smaller, and not designed to carry large volumes of blood. The added pressure can cause the veins to begin leaking or rupturing. If this happens, the patient needs care immediately or they risk bleeding out. If the varices are found before they become critical, a doctor can "band" them. Essentially the doctor will wrap a band around the vein, preventing it from bleeding. 

Our area has finally gotten the it's first pediatric hepatologist, and she wanted to take a look at Parkers esophogus and see if he had any varices, what stage they were at, and if any of them needed to be banded. We are extremely happy to report that they did not find ANY varices! she said that everything looked perfect, and that we would not be repeating the procedure annually, unless he begins having complications. Best. News. Ever!