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Discharged Again – Continuing the Journey of Recovery

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Posted on: July 11, 2025 5:15 PM
By: James Long, Jr.

We’re thankful to share that Amy has been discharged from the hospital again and is now back at the transplant house with me here in Philadelphia.

This step forward brings great relief, but we’re continuing to navigate some ongoing challenges. The increased medications she’s on to manage the acute cellular rejection (ACR) are affecting her blood sugar levels significantly. As a result, Amy now needs to take insulin three times a day. The transplant team is hopeful this will only be temporary and that the need for insulin will go away once the dosages are lowered in the next two or three weeks.

Today brought some encouraging moments as well; her headaches, which have been troubling for days, were much better. And she had her final surgical drain removed, which is another step toward healing.

We continue to remain here in Philadelphia for the next two weeks to stay close to the transplant team for monitoring and follow-up care. We are still keeping a close eye on her liver numbers. One number has improved significantly, while another has not progressed as hoped. Amy will have additional bloodwork done on Monday and a clinic visit on Thursday. If her numbers do not continue to improve, the team may need to perform another liver biopsy.

Please continue to pray with us:

  • That her liver numbers would steadily improve
  • That there would be no bile duct stricture or structural complications
  • That her body continues to respond well to the medications
  • That her blood sugar stabilizes as medication levels decrease
  • That she gains strength and rest in these next few weeks
  • And as always, please continue to pray for the donor and their healing process. Their sacrificial gift is never far from our hearts.

We are so thankful for each of you, for your faithful prayers, kind notes, and unwavering support. The Lord is sustaining us, and your encouragement is helping to carry us each day.

With gratitude,
James

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1)

Note from James:
As we’ve walked through these intense weeks with Amy’s surgery and recovery, I haven’t been able to post regular content on the site. Thank you for your grace and continued prayers.

If you’re new here and would like to explore more of our ministry, over 1,000 resources are available on this platform, including blog articles, podcasts, and tools to support emotional, relational, and spiritual growth.

If you’re interested in deeper engagement, I’d love to invite you to join our free Navigator-level community at community.jameslongjr.org. For those looking for more focused support through membership or group coaching, you can learn more at jameslongjr.org/signupnow.

Thank you again for being part of this journey with us.

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