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.