REDLANDS — The hope is that Ke’ala Thomas makes a full recovery.

The 6-year-old’s mother Candace and step-father Josh are optimistic that the worst is over.

But the ordeal of Ke’ala’s liver transplant surgery may linger for the Redlands family.

The exact cause of Ke’ala’s liver failure is not clear yet. Her condition resembled a bad cold in early December when she was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Ke’ala then began to experience symptoms of jaundice.

Ke’ala was sick for Christmas, and, after more labwork was completed, doctors discovered Ke’ala had a high sugar count and needed to return to the hospital.

Later that day, Dec. 30, Ke’ala was diagnosed with liver failure.

“I pretty much collapsed into tears,” said Candace Thomas, 25. “It was overwhelming. It all happened so fast. there was no time to think. I thought I could lose my daughter. will she die in my arms?”

Then doctors determined that Ke’ala needed to be transported to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Candace and Ke’ala were put in a helicopter and flew there.

Three days later Ke’ala underwent a 10-hour liver transplant surgery.

“It started at 4 p.m., and we didn’t get to see her again until about midnight,” Candace said. “I couldn’t handle it. you have to be prepared for the worst.”

Candace and Josh did their best to explain it to Ke’ala.

“I don’t know if she ever fully wrapped her mind around how bad it was,” Josh said. “It’s tough to explain to a 6-year-old.”

Ke’ala remains at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She had a rough time the day after surgery but she is recovering.

“She is very responsive,” Candace said. “She has her spunky attitude, if not more.”

On Monday Candace went to Smiley Elementary School where Ke’ala attends first grade, to arrange homework assignments.

“Her teacher was devastated,” Candace said. “We don’t want her to fall behind in school. If she is feeling good enough to do artwork, we feel she can do homework too.”

The surgery itself cost in excess of $230,000 and the family will need to meet costs that have come with the experience, including missed work and gasoline from commuting to Los Angeles.

The Thomases have been using the accommodations of the Ronald McDonald House.

Fund-raising efforts have begun and the family has started a blog starsforkeala.wordpress.com and Facebook page called starsforkeala.

“The cost was something I couldn’t even think of,” Josh said. “It was like it wasn’t real. It was like I was running from it.”

Reach Ed via email, or call him at 909-793-3221

my dad has got chronic psoriasis and although he doesn't admit it i know it gets him down, at the moment its (barely) controlled by several creams and regular baths (everyday) but, it still causes him pain, especially since the weather is so cold, if anyone has any advice to relieve the symptoms (or even a temporary cure) it would be much appreciated – seriously we live in the uk so things that we could get would be a bonus, thank you and have a merry Christmas and a happy new year x

Well homeopathy certainly will NOT do anything – it's nothing more than plain water or sugar pills.

There is no cure for psoriasis, and treatment options vary for each individual. I seriously doubt you'll find anything in ayurvedic because there is little evidence that it works for any condition. it is based on pre-scientific concepts, they do no research and probably have no idea of what psoriasis actually is.

I have psoriasis. I manage it with moisturizers and hydrocortisone cream when necessary. I use a product called Dermaid – I don't know if its available where you are, but it works very well and clears up outbreaks: mydr.com.au/medicines/cmis/de… but my psoriasis is not all that bad. good luck.

"Which one is best for psoriasis treatment ayurvedic,homeopathy or allopathy?"

You seem to be making a false dichotomy. The one solution you haven't seemed to consider is medicine.

I would give that a go.

The best treatment is to see and know.

In order to see, you'd better not be blind.
In order to know, you'd better not be stubborn.

For the blind-and-stubborn, try and see what allopathy does.