One year ago today we sat in Dr. Anna Beck's office and she told us that Eldon had an enlarged spleen and liver. She ordered a contrast CT of the chest and abdomen for the next day, January 25th. This the day that our lives changed forever.
As I sat in her office as heard her say enlarged liver I did my best to push the though of luekemia out of my mind. I know we weren't the best eaters so I worked to convince myself that it was just a fatty liver. Even the doctor thought that's what we would find because Eldon just didn't look sick. She said she didn't think it was cancer.
We were only into this process for three weeks and I had no idea what was about to happen.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Today was the first procedure for the new year, 2013. We had an IV CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. I just read the report and nothing has changed. This is good news. The report does show that the tumor has responded to the radiation treatment and it's dying/dead. Now we just need to get a new liver.
I am planning to re-organize "Team Eldon" so we can start some fund raisers. I also need to be better organized for the surgery, my businesses and my house. We are moving forward. I am grateful to everyone who has been there to watch out over us and help. I owe more than I can ever repay to my God in Heaven.
I am planning to re-organize "Team Eldon" so we can start some fund raisers. I also need to be better organized for the surgery, my businesses and my house. We are moving forward. I am grateful to everyone who has been there to watch out over us and help. I owe more than I can ever repay to my God in Heaven.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Today started off as any other Saturday, we had the day to ourselves and we decided to help out Heather by helping her get her new snowblower home. We went to Heather's house and as we were heading out the phone call came from the IMC Transplant Team. They asked us to stay in town, asked how Eldon was feeling and said they might have a liver for us. So we started on this "stand-by" adventure.
Heather was with us and so she was first to hear the news. We made the phone calls we needed to make to family, close friends and church leaders. Everyone was so excited and praying that this would happen.
We were suppose to go out to dinner and then to the hockey game with some friends. We just didn't know what to do. At 4PM I called the transplant team and asked if it looked like a go. Rosemary, the coordinator, said it was a slight chance. There was a patient at the University of Utah that was in greater need. She said we could go ahead with our plans for the evening. Then she asked us to wait until she called the doctor, about 15 minutes later she called back and said not to go out to dinner and that Eldon couldn't eat anything. So the anxiety level goes up and we wait again. Around 7PM they called and said to go ahead an eat. The liver was going to a patient at the University of Utah.
At the Orientation class we were told this could happen. We even heard of some people this happened to three times. So now we are on the waiting list again.
I didn't think it could/would happen now. We, Heather and I, were thinking maybe April but now there is a good chance it could happen much sooner. I didn't think I would be so emotional over this. I so want this operation to happen so Eldon can heal and we can move on with plans in our lives. I also thought of the fear of the surgery, what if something goes wrong. There is such a range of emotions, happiness and fear seem to be the biggest and strongest emotions.
Now, I believe we are better prepared. We have some knowledge of what to expect. I think I am better prepared now.
To all our family and friends, thank you for your love and support. I know we couldn't get through this without everyone's love and support. Also, without our Father in Heaven watching out over us and caring for us this would be something I am sure I would not be able to endure and handle.
All I can say is "Thank you"
Heather was with us and so she was first to hear the news. We made the phone calls we needed to make to family, close friends and church leaders. Everyone was so excited and praying that this would happen.
We were suppose to go out to dinner and then to the hockey game with some friends. We just didn't know what to do. At 4PM I called the transplant team and asked if it looked like a go. Rosemary, the coordinator, said it was a slight chance. There was a patient at the University of Utah that was in greater need. She said we could go ahead with our plans for the evening. Then she asked us to wait until she called the doctor, about 15 minutes later she called back and said not to go out to dinner and that Eldon couldn't eat anything. So the anxiety level goes up and we wait again. Around 7PM they called and said to go ahead an eat. The liver was going to a patient at the University of Utah.
At the Orientation class we were told this could happen. We even heard of some people this happened to three times. So now we are on the waiting list again.
I didn't think it could/would happen now. We, Heather and I, were thinking maybe April but now there is a good chance it could happen much sooner. I didn't think I would be so emotional over this. I so want this operation to happen so Eldon can heal and we can move on with plans in our lives. I also thought of the fear of the surgery, what if something goes wrong. There is such a range of emotions, happiness and fear seem to be the biggest and strongest emotions.
Now, I believe we are better prepared. We have some knowledge of what to expect. I think I am better prepared now.
To all our family and friends, thank you for your love and support. I know we couldn't get through this without everyone's love and support. Also, without our Father in Heaven watching out over us and caring for us this would be something I am sure I would not be able to endure and handle.
All I can say is "Thank you"
Friday, January 4, 2013
Today is an interesting day, it's been one year today that we began this journey learning more about liver disease. One year ago today we first met with Dr. Anna Beck. She ordered some tests and had her office draw 8 tubes of blood and then the next day another 10 tubes of blood. We both had no idea what was ahead of us and we certainly did not expect that Eldon had cancer. We had momre testing to be done and then the truth slapped us in the face.
It was such a whirl-wind when it all started and I felt so overwhelmed. This was something I never thought I would face and I can imagine how Eldon felt. He had such few episodes of sickness and to have all these tests and monthly blood work. This has totally changed our lives and our plans.
So now we wait, we are the point where we watch and make sure there are no complications and then hope and pray that everything will go according to the Lord's plans. Things still are a bit unnerving and uncertain. We can only trust in Jesus, lean on each other and wait.
It was such a whirl-wind when it all started and I felt so overwhelmed. This was something I never thought I would face and I can imagine how Eldon felt. He had such few episodes of sickness and to have all these tests and monthly blood work. This has totally changed our lives and our plans.
So now we wait, we are the point where we watch and make sure there are no complications and then hope and pray that everything will go according to the Lord's plans. Things still are a bit unnerving and uncertain. We can only trust in Jesus, lean on each other and wait.
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