"All we want for Christmas......"

Our number one wish for Christmas is a new liver for Ron. We know it's out there somewhere........

Ron had his monthly visit with the liver transplant team:

• Organ donation has been down - so fewer livers have been transplanted over the past three months.
• Ron is at the very TOP of the list.
• They increased his blood pressure medicine (his blood pressure has been creeping up over the last two months).
• They cut his lactulose due to stomach cramping; and suggested he take his anti-nausea medicine daily (before he becomes nauseous).
• They did the normal blood tests and he has another appointment in 4 weeks.
• If by chance, he doesn't receive a new liver......in February his MELD score will be raised to 28.

The house is full of boxes - waiting to be emptied - waiting for the house to be turned into a Christmas winter wonderland.

I fell in a hole at the farm in October and injured my ankle - after 2 months and 2 different types of braces - the ankle hasn't healed.....4 days ago, I was put in a hard cast for three weeks. The cast comes off December 28th.

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Thank you for your thoughts and continued prayers.

Moving on up!

Ron had a CT with contrast last week and met with his doctor today. The tumor hasn't gotten much bigger - and they won't be doing the chemoembolization (whew) right now. His MELD score has climbed from 22 to 25 (good thing). He was told it shouldn't be long now. Ron is showing signs of jaundice (yellowing of his eyes), and he was given new medication for his nausea. Ron is exhausted and spends a lot of time resting and sleeping.

We're still caught in 'the wheel' with the VA - they acknowledged Ron's Hep C and diabetes was caused by Agent Orange, and Ron has an appointment with another VA doctor next week - keep in mind we've been fighting with the VA and the bullshit paperwork for almost 3 years. It's very disheartening.

I try to keep Ron moving forward - whether he wants to or not - we'll make it!

Ups and Downs

Almost 2 months on the liver transplant list.........physically Ron is having difficulty; vomiting after large meals, the fatique has worsened and the newest symptom - which by the way - he totally denies......hepatic encephalopathy: a build up of toxins in the brain which causes confusion, slow response, difficulty with motor skills and personality changes. The liver can no longer filter the toxins - these toxins build up in the brain and cause it to go 'haywire'. Both of us feel disappointment and wonder if Ron's liver will ever come. We need some uplifting and positive news.

Kinda' News

Ron had an appointment with the transplant team Thursday. The doctor didn't tell us anything definite - but he did say - Ron may be further UP on the list because the surgeons performed a couple of liver transplants last week.....Ron was #5 on the list August 20th.

1 Month on List

It's been one month since Ron was listed on the transplant list. He has his final required "how to and what's up concerning liver transplant" class this afternoon. We're looking forward to Ron's 45th class reunion this weekend - and to top it all off - we have bats in our attic.

Are we there yet?

When I was little we used to vacation in southern Florida - I would lay my head in my father's lap as he drove, and watch the odometer - loudly announcing each and every mile as it ticked by (it must have been a long trip for my parents)........with the final question - we've all asked - are we there yet?

We can't go on vacation (at home) - we can't leave town - so this weekend - we're going on a mini vacation - no talk of liver transplant....

So again the question - are we there yet - we really want to have this ordeal over and done with.....no more talk of liver transplants until Monday.......that is....unless we receive 'the' call.

Things to think about

There's more to liver transplant than the surgery: our annual trip to Tybee Island, clogged gutters, tall grass, dog walking - but the thing I hadn't thought about until recently......where is Ron going to sleep. We live in a two story house and the bedrooms are upstairs....and he certainly can't spend his days and nights sleeping on the couch. Our sunroom will change again.

SLEEPING: The sunroom has had many uses: sunroom, diningroom for special occasions, photography studio when the downstairs studio flooded, and now a large bedroom equipped with grandkids' toys and Cheyanne The Wonderhorse. We've even worked out the TV issue - if we position the bed just right, he can see the TV in the livingroom, and use the remote control to change channels = Perfect!

DOG WALKING: Ron usually comes home at lunch and walks the dogs (2-Boxers and a Jack Russell) - but once he's home from the hospital - he won't be taking a 92lb Boxer for a walk. So, he's training the dogs to wait and go out in the afternoon once I get home from work - so far - so good - no accidents.

GUTTERS and GRASS: Ron spent his Saturday up on the roof cleaning gutters. It wasn't until tonight that he told me he almost fell off the roof - he won't be going up on the roof again....gutters clean and a riding lawn mower - I'm hoping the men of our family will spend a couple of their off days helping out with outdoor work.

TYBEE TYME: We can't go too far from home - our annual trip to Tybee Island is on the back burner until after the transplant and recovery time....something to look forward to.

Every weekend we hope for a call - and here it is - Sunday night again. Soon, I know, soon.