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.