December 21st, 2012

    It's been two months since I last posted. It's been rather calm in our lives. Eldon has been so good about getting his blood work done on a monthly basis. All the blood levels show he's holding good, nothing going downhill.
   On December 11th we were seend at the Transplant Clinic and the doctor said that Eldon was either #5 or #7 on the list, he said he couldn't remember for sure. I am beginning to see the beginning of the end. Then I guess we start a new path of being a post transplant patient.
   As Christmas fast approaches I am grateful that my husband is doing well. He's sick but he's not sickly and he's able to do most of the things he has to do and wants to do. We will defeat this disease and we will still have many more years together here on this earth.
  

It's been some time since I have posted any information. Eldon turned 60 on October 1st and we made it a weekend of celebrating. On Friday we went fishing and caught our limit in one hour. The lady and her husband down the shoreline from us, says "What's up with you people". They were struggling to catch fish and we just pulled them out left and right. So funny, we shared with her our Salmon Peach power bait, within 5 minutes this woman was pulling out a fish. On Saturday we went to the Bingham Copper Mine. It was a place that Eldon had never gone before. Sunday we had a party in our front yard and then on Monday, Eldon's actual birthday we had a taco dinner and then off to the new boys store, Scheels. At this point we are waiting to hear if we have been given our additional 3 points. We should be scheduled soon for another CT scan of the chest and abdomen. On Monday we will be at the hospital early in the AM for blood tests. I will work to upload some pictures of our weekend.

October

     It's October and we have had a good end of summer. No problems with Eldon's health and we have been able to do some fun things. Eldon's birthday is October 1st so we made it a weekend of celebrating. We went fishing, Bingham Copper Mine, a Sunday afternoon party in our front yard and then on Monday we went to the new boys store, Scheels.
     We had blood work drawn on Monday October 8th. It came back a little out of whack. His White Blood Cells and his Platelett count are very low. I talked with Lori at the Transplant Team and she said we are beginning to see the right side of hisliver start to fail. We have a CT scan on Friday the 12th at 7AM. I am hoping that it will be okay. Then in November, on the 12th, we have an Endoscopy to see how the Varices are doing.
     I want to enjoy the end of the year. The doctors are thinking we will be looking at a Spring Transplant so I am sure after the first of the year things will start to progress even faster. I just want Eldon to get this done and be better so we can go on living our lives and serving our God and others.

Another blood test

Well, it's September and time for another blood test. This is only routine and I hoping for only a few tubes to be drawn  and no fishing for a vein. He hates that the most. Maybe the results will be back tonight, we are looking for good results. Eldon is doing remarkably well except for being really tired. I am waiting outside the hospital, he should be here soon.

END OF SUMMER

     It's the end of August, two-thirds of the year is gone. It has been truly one wild year. We started it off with the attitude that this was going to be a very good year. Then we received the terrible news that Eldon had a liver tumor and his liver was diseased. He now needed a liver transplant. Up until June it seemed  like we were always at the hospital for one thing or another. The first of July brought good news that the tumor was shrinking, then in August the tumor marker blood test showed the blood result had gone from 121.4 in February to 1.8 in August. This is very good news. So we have 22 points now and are on the transplant list. In September we will get another 3 points and that brings us up to 25. The transplant team is going to ask for more points at that time. A transplant candidate needs to be between 30-40 points before they are truly eligible for a new liver. So now we are in the waiting game with monthly blood tests and CT scans when scheduled.
     Eldon is doing good, with the exceptions of June when he fell out of his truck and in July he ran a screw-driver through his finger and needed stitches. He's very tired and sleeps alot and at this time that is the only side effect of this liver disease that we are seeing.
     Thank you everyone for all your love and support and prayers. It has sustained during these trying and difficult times. We love and appreciate all that we have been blessed with. We know that our Savior is with us and watching out over us.

We received some wonderful news this morning. Our nuse coordinator, Lori, at IMC called to stay that this UNOS board approved their request for additional points. We were given an additionl 11 points and we are now at 22 points, with three more coming in September. She also said that in September they will ask for additional points again. If this is granted we could be in the point range by the end of the year. Weird as this might sound, this will be a great thing.

We went to Downata Hot Springs this past weekend and had a wonderful time at the Auger Family Reunion. It was so much fun to be with so many wonderful people and everyone smiling and having a great time. This was one of the best weekends ever.

We have great news today. This morning at 7AM we went to IMC to have some blood tests done. The transplant people ordered a tumor marker blood test. It shows if cancer is present. In Feb the tumor marker was 121 and today it's 1.8. This shows that the treatment is working and we are going to beat this liver cancer. Now we have to do the "waiting dance" until we become eligible for a new liver. Thanks everyone for your support.

July 16th, late last week the IMC transplant office called. They need a chest CT before the write and request additional points on the transplant list. That is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday at 7:45AM. We stop at IMC before going into work. Once the transplant office has those results hopefully we will get additional points and it will move us up on the list.

July 10th, We had an appointment with Dr. Fishbach. She's such a wonderful and caring doctor. She's very happy with the tumor and how it's responding to the radiation. SHRINKING! We are to have another CT scan in three months and see her again in three months.
Blood draw again....Eldon is collecting the tourniquets they use. We have a nice orange and blue collection at home.

Later that night....the blood work looks good. I believe it's because of the prayers being offered that he's doing so well. Thank you everyone.

Happy 4th of July 2012

Happy 4th of July. We had a wonderful day today. We went to Smith and Morehouse to do some fishing. Eldon caught two, Heather caught two and I just fed the water fowl.

 

Beautiful Wildflowers

 

Our view from our fishing spot.

WONDERFUL NEWS! the tumor has shrunk. The report shows the tumor has gone from 5cm to 3cm. There is no evidence of the cancer spreading. He still has to have a liver transplant because the liver is diseased. However, this news is so good and we are feeling wonderful.
Now the transplant doctor will take these results and apply for for a consideration to get more points. This will move us up on the transplant list. After that it's waiting game, monthly blood tests and hoping the liver comes before things get worse.
I am so grateful to all those that have prayed and sent positive thoughts our way. I love the people in our life and most importantly I am grateful for a Father in Heaven and an elder brother, Jesus Christ, who watches out over us.

It's July 2nd, we are waiting at the hospital for the IV contrast CT scan. Eldon has to drink this stuff that looks like "pee", one cup every 20 minutes, with the size of the bottle it takes about an hour and a half. After that he goes in for the CT scan. He wants me to come back with him. I can't go in the room but I can sit in a small waiting room outside the room. Yesterday afternoon he was very emotional for some reason. I asked if he was worried about today, he said no, but something was bothering him, very emotional.
Things have slowed down as for the testing. After this scan today, the transplant unit will write for an exception and hopefully we will get more points for the transplant list and we will move up a bit. I still believe this is going to be a good year, my sweet husband is doing well and handling things so great.

Half Way Through 2012

     It's been six months since we started down this road of liver disease. On January 25th we got a definite diagnosis for hepatacellular carcinoma with underlying liver disease. Up until June things were moving pretty fast and now it seems to have slowed down. We won't be seeing doctors until December. Until then we only have blood test on a monthly basis and a CT scan here or there. Our next procedure is a CT Scan on July 2nd. We are hoping to see a significant schrinkage of the tumor, although the doctor said it could be 9 month before we see something big.
     Now the biggest challenge is to keep Eldon from hurting himself. Last night he fell out of the truck while he was trying to single-handedily take his motor bike out of the back of the truck. He's complaining of right knee and calf pain, this might become an ER visit after all. The doctor said to just live his life like normal but I may need some kind of protection suit. LOL!

Friday was a busy medical day but it turned out to be a good day. First our visit to the Liver Transplant Clinic. They were happy with the fact that Eldon is doing so well. We don't have to go back for 6 months, we did have to get some more blood drawn. Not as many tubes but still uncomfortable for him. Then we visited with our Primary Care doctor, Dr. Tipton. Seems Eldon's thyroid levels are a little high. So she adjusted his medication and we don't have to come back for 6 months with her. Things are going well. We were told to live our lives as normal as possible, nothing too whacky or crazt but to enjoy our time together. So we are gardening and fishing, it's one of Eldon's favorite things to do.

Yesterday was the first of three doctor appointments this week. Dr. Fischbach has been so wonderful to us. When Eldon told her that he has a motorcycle he rides she kindly reminded him that most of the donors come from motorocycle riders. I told her his "bike" is a 110 Honda Trailbike and that he calls it his "hog". She laughed and said it sounded more like a "piglet". That's exactly what I called his "hog". He's doing well and she's pleased. In July we will have a CT scan and that will show us more about the liver tumor. I asked if the tumor could be completely gone at that time. She said it could be probably not. She told us it could take 9-12 months before we see the tumor completely gone. We can live with that. So the doctor told Eldon to live his life, within reason, nothing wild and crazy. She also told us to expect to wait at least a year before the transplant takes place. She's saying maybe next spring. I wish we didn't have to wait so long but then it shows that Eldon is doing well and all the blessings and prayers are working. Thank you.\
Tomorrow we have two appointments, one with the Liver Transplant Clinic and the other with our regular family doctor. Dr. Tipton, the one who found this tumor and saved Eldon's life.

Yesterday was the day for the third Endoscopy. The procedure began early. They took Eldon back around 9:10 AM and by 9:23 AM I was getting beeped that he was in recovery. I felt walking down the hall that it must be good news because this was the shortest time for all three. The doctor came in and said there were no varices and he didn't need to do any banding. There are some varices starting but he said he could push on them and the fluid would go back into the system. So now we don't have to have another one for another 6 months. This was very good news. The first thing he said to me when I walked into the room was "it doesn't hurt". He was very happy and so was I, this is good news and gives us a more positive attitude.
Now we can wait until next week to see any more doctors. On June 6th we see the Radiologist and on the 8th we see the Liver Transplant Clinic and at 4 PM we see our regular doctor. It will be nice to have some time off.

We got a phone call yesterday and Eldon needs to have another Endoscopy. He had one about a month ago and he still had some esophageal varices, the doctor said at that time that he wanted to do another one within a month to check to see how things are doing. Hard to believe it's been a month already. So next Wednesday we get to be at IMC at 8:30AM for this final procedure. The doctor, Dr. Freech, said he can only do three of these procedures. I am not sure what will happen if there are still varices. I guess we will find out at that time. Eldon isn't too thrilled about this, he said he hopes they are gone. When the doctor bands this varices it's very uncomfortable for Eldon. It causes problems with swollening. Please, keep positive thoughts.

     IT'S OFFICIAL! We are on the transplant list. We were at the liver education training for about an hour and a half today. It's very overwhelming, it's more overwhelming than when we went to the Orientation training.
     Poor Eldon, the tech who drew his blood today missed and his arm is going to be one big bruise. Finally they got the blood about 9 tubes only this time.
After that it was up to the transplant clinic for the listing meeting. They had a drawing of how they remove the liver and then transplant the liver. They told us what to expect and gave handouts of the entire training. The nurse coordinator kept saying "Here we go" or she would say "This is it, the real thing". I can hardly believe it all the information they gave us. She did say that we had an option, if we didn't want to go through all of this and not work towards getting a liver then we could say so at any time. I think the benefits out weigh the possible problems.
     It feels like up when you are going down a big water slide, it's all the anticipation as you climb the ladder and then when you get to the top and realize this is it all the nerves come to the surface. It's very nerve-racking. They explained all that could happen, I realize they have to do that but it sure is sobering when you here it. There are things I am not sure that I thought about. So now we do the blood draws, follow up visits at the clinic and we wait for a new liver. The bad part will be watching his health go down. Right now he's doing pretty good so we will enjoy all the good days we have.
    I still think 2012 can be a good year. I am hoping that we will get this all adventure under our belt and look forward to 2013 as being an exceptionally wonderful year.

We were thinking about how we have 4 weeks without any doctors appointments, tests or procedures. Then at 5:05PM that all changed. We meet with the transplant team on Tuesday at 11AM and then we will be OFFICIALLY ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST! We are so happy. Then it will be just a waiting game. Poor Eldon has to have a lot of blood work drawn that day. I was hoping today we would hear from someone. I have been checking our voice messages for the past week and then finally the call came.
This can still be a good year. I know our Savior and Redeemer is watching out over us. I am grateful for all the love and support that everyone is showing us. I thank you all for everything. We are so lucky to have a wonderful support system.

Friday night was a rough night, poor Eldon was sick. He was running a fever of over 101. Complaining of nausea, body aches, being hot and then cold. I slept in my clothes so in case he needed to be taken to the hospital or needed any other help I was ready to go. This morning around 6AM, I took his temperature and it was 102.9. I called the Nurse Practitioner at IMC radiation center and she said to take him to the ER at IMC. So off we went. We were there for over 3 hours and there is nothing definitive about the problem. Blood cultures were taken so we will see on Monday if there is anything more serious. Today is rough day for Eldon I can only hope that he will make big improvements tomorrow. I really liked IMC ER they sure were very nice and helpful to us.

It's Friday and it's been a good day until Eldon gets home from work. He says he's tired, is nauseated, feels like he's getting the flu. He does have a fever of 101. I will watch him through the night and if we don't see a major improvment in the morning, it's off to the doctor's office. If it wasn't for the liver disease I wouldn't be so concerned. Guess it's just wait and watch!

     Today was some kind of day. We had to be at IMC at 8:00 AM so I can have one of my yearly female exams, then off to the lab for Eldon so he can have some blood drawn. Only three tubes this time, not 14. After that it was upstairs to have a CT scan done. We were finished earlier than we had expected. So we came home to rest and get something to eat. I did a fairly stupid thing, I got on the computer to see if Eldon's results  were done and sure enough they were there. I read that the tumor was the same size and after that I stopped actually understanding. I was so upset, I couldn't tell Eldon because I was afraid that he would be upset too. So we left to go to the doctor's appointmentand I kept quiet about what I had done. We didn't wait long until we were takend into the room. Dr. Fischbach came in and I kept telling myself I had to keep a stiff upper lip. Then came the news I didn't expect. She said the tumor was doing exactly what they expected. It was a little bigger because it's irritated from the radiation. The best part was next, the middle of the tumor is necrotic, that means it's dying. YEP! that's what I said the middle of the tumor is dying. She's very happy with the results. She said it will take about 3 months to see the final results. So we go back in July to get another CT scan, we see her in one month just for a check up. She told Eldon he could do whatever he wanted to do. Nothing too crazy but the doctor said he should go fishing, golfing, anything that isn't too difficult. He was so happy, just like a little kid.
    We didn't get the results we were expecting but then no one told us what to expect and how things should go. We just figured the tumor would shrink to nothing in one month, seems that isn't how it goes. He was so brave, he didn't complain about all the testing so I was okay when he stopped at Harbor Freight to buy himself "boy toys".
   So now we are waiting to hear about getting on the transplant list. 2012 is still going to be a good year. I am feeling that the new liver could still come in 2012. I am grateful to our Lord for being with us and sustaining us as we go through this experience.

Here we are the end of April, what an interesting 4 months this has been. Wednesday the 2nd of May is a big day for us this week. We have blood work to be drawn, a CT scan on the abdomen and a visit with Dr. Fischbach, the radiologist, to see how much the tumor has shrunk. We are hoping for good news, that the tumor if not gone is shrunk considerably. After that we will wait to hear from the Translant Team for our Liver Education Meeting and then it's a wait for a new liver life. It's so wild how something like this consume your entire life. I guess it's like riding a roller coaster, you just hang on and do your best to enjoy the ride. We are looking at doing a popcorn fund raiser, this company sent us two small samples and the popcorn was fresh and very delicious. Watch for this fund raiser to begin early this summer.

Tonight we got the mail. In there was a letter from IMC Transplant unit. The letter read that after all the medical information was reviewed they have decided that Eldon is a good candidate for transplantation. All they are waiting for is Eldon's main insurance company to send in their approval. Then we are to attend a Liver Transplant Education class and then WE WILL BE ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST. YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! I have asked Eldon to call the insurance company tomorrow and talk with the nurse case manager. I am hoping in the next few weeks we will be on the list and then the count down begins. 2012 is proving to be a quite a learning experience for both of us. I still believe things will work out and I know that our Savior Jesus Christ is with us and caring for us as we journey down this path. Thank you everyone for all your love and support.

This is the hospital that we are working with regarding Eldon's care. It's such a big place and yet the people are so nice and wonderful to work with.

After looking at some of the test results it appears that Eldon also has a disease called Osteopenia, this is a precursor to Osteoporosis.
Seems his bones aren't very dense. So that better explains the huge doses of Calcium and Vitamin D. One of the medications he has to take on an empty stomach and after he takes it he has to sit straight for over 30 minutes. I just don't know how much more he can take. He made the comment that we thought he was healthy and actually his falling apart. I like to think we found things before they became a death sentence. I'm just hoping we can get this liver transplant soon.

It was 6:15PM, the phone rings and it comes up on the TV that it's from Intermountain Medical Center. Turns out it's our transplant coordinator, Lori, she tells Eldon that his case was presented today at tumor board. They are getting ready to put us on the list. We have to get documentation about some shots, tetanus and pneumonia. We are to start taking some medications to fortify the bones. We have the number 22 when we enter the list. Every three months we will be in for testing until we can get a liver.Yesterday we were a little down because of the varices still being in the esopahgus and today we get news that we are almost there, on the transplant list. The coordinator says it could take 1 to 1 1/2 years to get a liver, however, I still think we could get a liver before then. The Lord does move in mysterious ways! 2012 can still be a great year.

We had the second endoscopy this morning. We got there early so the doctor was able to start the procedure earlier than planned. The nurse came out to get me and said that the doctor was there and wanted to speak with me, seems Eldon did a great during the procedure except we have hit a Minor Setback. He has 5 varices again that needed to be banded. The doctor said this is not unusual for someone with a bad liver, it is disappointing though. Eldon is really down about this. He said a few times on the way home that he was hoping they would be gone. I kept telling him that this was only a minor setback and that we will continue to move forward. I guess things have been doing so good and when this happened it really bummed us both out. I won't let it get me down, we are going to beat this. I still think 2012 will be a good year and we will get a new liver.

Here's "Team Eldon", at least some of us. We had our first meeting on Saturday and these are the family and friends who were able to make it. We are planning a huge fund raiser in October. Watch for details later!
Tomorrow is the second Endoscopy. We will see how much the esophageal varices have shrunk, then in two weeks we will see how much the tumor has shrunk. Stand by for a big YAHOO! if the tumor has shrunk significantly

Team Eldon Organized

Today we are organizing "Team Eldon". We have invited family and friends to come and help us develop, orgainze and implement fund raisers to help finance the needed medication and any other medical care that might be needed. We are so happy for all the support we are receiving and we thank everyone who will be there today or in the future as we battle and win this fight against cancer and liver disease

Good News

Good News:

  We got some great news this morning. Aetna, Eldon's insurance has contacted us to let us know that the transplant team has sent a request for pre-authorization for the transplant. We now have a nurse case manager, her name is Monica. We are moving one step closer to being on the transplant list. The transplant team sent us a letter about two weeks ago going over the process. The letter stated that once all the lab work and other testing was in they would review it and if we looked like a good candidate for transplant then they would send a request to the insurance for pre-authorization. This is a good thing. We are hoping to hear from the transplant team so we can be called in for the "listing meeting". Once that's done then we are officially on the list. This can still turn out to be a terrific year. Things are moving along great. It's so amazing to us how well things are going, we are surely being watched out over by loved ones from the other side and from our Savior Jesus Christ.

First Entry

April 11th, 2012: 

    This is the first blog and I hope we are doing this right. I think it will be easier to let people know how they can follow our journey through treatment of a liver tumor and a liver transplant than to try and send out emails weekly. It's been a week now since the liver treatment. The only side effect we have seen has an increase in fatigue. No nausea! No vomitting! No pain!. It's incredible. Next Wednesday is the second Endoscopy. The doctor needs to see if the medication is working to bring down the eosphageal varices. I sure hope so.