Oliver's Story...
An Abundance of Faith

By Noreen Hyslop

(part 2 of 2, continued from last week)

Physicians informed Phil and Cindy Warren that there was not a great deal of hope that their small son would survive this invasion to his vital organs. The only hope for his survival, doctors told the Warrens, was a liver transplant. Ideally, a cadaver donor would become available inside a 48 to 72 hour window, which began at the time of Oliver's arrival in St. Louis. Shortly after his arrival at Children's, Oliver Warren's name was placed at the top of the region's donor list.
Oliver's father recalls drawing on his faith and putting his son's outcome "in the hands of God." He recalls one of the team of physicians saying to him, "Do you understand how sick your son is?" Reverend Phil Warren fully understood, as did his wife, but they jointly placed the outcome in "God's hands" and continued to draw on their faith and that of the many church members and friends who, by Sunday evening, filled the waiting room in ICU. 

As Monday progressed, Oliver's condition worsened. Cat scans were administered, since there was a possibility of the blood entering his brain, in which case the transplant would no longer be feasible. Liver functions continued to descend and his kidneys were further deteriorating. The option of using a live donor became a reality. In this scenario, a blood match is made and the live donor undergoes a life-threatening operation in which a portion of the donor's liver is removed and transplanted into the diseased body. (In just a few months, the human liver will regenerate itself). Ironically, Cindy Warren, though not Oliver's birth mother, was a match. Doctors, however, discouraged his mother from becoming the donor, citing the risk involved and the need for her care giving for Oliver during post-surgery. But amazingly, twelve individuals came forward, each willing to undergo the necessary surgery in order for Oliver to live. Two were accepted as possible candidates and the others were turned down for various reasons, including Phil Warren's own father, whose age deterred physicians from finding it an appropriate donor situation. The most appropriate donor to come forward was Stan Stille, a member of the Warren's former church in Illinois. He stood by at the hospital, along with a standby donor, Shirley Corlies, a Dexter resident and member of the Warren's church. 

Proceeding with a live donor is ultimately the least desired choice for physicians; it was explained to the Warren's. Doctors much preferred to use a cadaver liver, and much preferred that to be a blood match. However, Oliver's condition had declined so dramatically by Tuesday morning that the transplant team made the decision to accept "any" cadaver liver, even if was not a blood match. This, they explained, was a desperate attempt to save Oliver, or to at least "buy him time until an appropriate donor became available," according to Oliver's father.
Church members in Dexter kept in close contact with the Warrens and when the news of Oliver's decline on Tuesday reached the area, they (without Rev. Warren's knowledge) called what was termed an "emergency prayer service." At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, February 3rd, a congregation nearly overflowing Second General Baptist, got on their knees and asked for a miracle. The crowd, consisting of not only church members, but of teachers and local doctors and friends, prayed in earnest, not that a suitable donor be located, but for a "healing." A tearful, but hopeful gathering dispersed with high hopes and promises of continued prayers for Oliver. Unaware of the proceedings in his church at home, Oliver's father fell to his knees aside Oliver's bed and what he now recognizes as his "lowest point," begged for his son's well-being. "We were physically and emotionally drained," Warren recalled. "It was time to have a heart to heart with my God and plea for understanding." "Our place is not to ask ‘Why?'" "It was time to turn it all over to God and to put faith in the knowledge, once again, that God is good," he added.

Some encouragement came through the night Tuesday. With a team of doctors involved in his treatment, vitals were constantly analyzed and blood drawn for analysis. Although a margin of improvement was noted, Oliver continued in his drug-induced comatose state and continued breathing with the aid of a ventilator. On Monday, Oliver had been administered nearly 100 percent oxygen, able to draw only four breaths per minute under his own power. By Wednesday morning, however, those numbers changed drastically. He began to take in more room air and less oxygen. His liver enzymes, once an unprecedented high, were cut in half, then by Wednesday afternoon, in half again. He began to open his eyes and remain awake for short periods of time and by the end of the day, doctors made the decision to remove the ventilator and the suction tube. For the first time since his admission, Oliver attempted to speak. Surprising his mother while she was stroking his neck, he most assertively, to everyone's amazement, cried out, "STOP!" Doctors outside the room were drawn inside to respond to this most unexpected of sounds. Liver functions continued to improve to the point that the transplant program's Medical Director, Dr. Ross Shepherd, informed the family that if Oliver's progress were to continue through the night, his name would be removed from the transplant list early Thursday morning. 

At 7:30 a.m., five days after being airlifted and admitted in critical condition in liver and renal failure, Oliver Warren's name was taken off the transplant list. His condition was dramatically improved. Although weak and tired from the experience, Oliver was alert and recognized all family members. After continued progress, he was released last Wednesday; eleven days after his ordeal began.
It would not be fair to state that the Warren's faith has been restored, because it never faltered throughout Oliver's ordeal. They are quite certain that a miracle occurred through the power of prayer, as are a multitude of area residents, family members, and friends. Phil Warren recounted recently having experienced hearing God's own words to him once Oliver's recovery was imminent. "I heard Him say to me, "Rev. Warren said, "Thank Me." When asked how Oliver's team of physicians explained his remarkable recovery (which doctors initially said was only at best a 10- 20% chance of occurring), Warren stated, "Doctor's don't speak in terms of miracles." He continued, "They simply said, ‘We can't explain what happened here,' and they smiled." 

Phil and Cindy Warren are smiling, too. And although they cannot explain why God chose to deliver their son back to good health while other children continue to suffer, the Warrens can only profess their faith and continue in good grace to "Thank Him." There is not a doubt in their minds that they are the recipients of a miraculous event, and one would be hard-pressed to find someone to argue the point!

Oliver will return to regular kindergarten classes this week, but in the meantime, he is enjoying sitting in his bright red, battery-operated truck and driving it around the family room of the Warren house!