Prayer Request

My cousin, Denise, is headed today to UAB to undergo a very risky surgery in hopes to correct a pancreatic anomaly that has caused her severe pain for the past 3 1/2 years. Here is her story below from her CaringBridge Journal:

"This nightmare all started about 3 1/2 years ago. I had my first of MANY bouts with pancreatitis. After the first attach I was in the hospital for almost 20 days. After alot of pain and more tests I was find to have a condition called pancreas divisum.

Pancreas divisum is a common congenital anomaly (an anomaly that is present at birth) of the pancreatic duct(s). The Pancreas is a deep-seated organ located behind the stomach. One of its functions is to produce enzymes that are important for the digestion of food in the intestine. The digestive enzymes, in the form of digestive juice, drain from the pancreas via the pancreatic duct into the duodenum(the upper portion of the small intestine) where they aid in digesting food. It also produces insulin. The majority of individuals born with pancreas divisum experience no symptoms throughout life, will remain undiagnosed and will not require treatment. A small number of patients with pancreas divisum will experience repeated episodes of pancreatitis.

Doctors are not certain how pancreas divisum causes abdominal pain and pancreatitis. In my case the minor papilla is too narrow to adequately drain the digestive juices in the dorsal duct. The backup of the digestive juices elevates the pressure in the minor duct that causes abdominal pain and pancreatitis.
The technique of a total pancreatectomy involves removing the entire pancreas along with the spleen, duodenum, gallbladder and distal common bile duct. Then they will isolate my islet cells from my pancreas (which produce insulin) and transplant them into my liver.

UAB is one of the few hospitals in the nation where islet transplants are preformed. Dr. John Christein (my surgeon) is the director of the Islet Auto Transplant program, and is specialized in pancreatic surgery. If this procedure works, I may only require small doses of insulin, and best case, none at all eventually. (If it falls, I will become a complete insulin dependent diabetic).
I will also, have to take digestive enzymes (tablet form) to break down my food, for the rest of my life.

The surgery itself takes about 7 or 8 hours...then I will be in ICU for at least 2 days and in the hospital for about 12 days. And then HOPEFULLY I will be home the last week of April....GOD WILLING!!!!"

I ask if you will pray for her as she undergoes this surgery and recovery. Please also keep her family, especially her little ones, Chandler and Cannon, who will miss their mamma for the days to come.

Her surgery is tomorrow and I will try to keep an update when I get word of the progress.