I'm always at a loss for words at these times. But your sister is in a better place and no longering suffering the terrible effects of liver failure. You remain in my thoughts and prayers. Take care...
Barb ...
My Friends, I don't know what the Lord has in store for Gene. Perhaps it is to give us all hope. Perhaps he is too contrary and the Lord is not ready for him to stir things up. Or maybe it is to...
Barb...
Dear Friends, Gene is again in major decline but this time hospice is around us and finally doing what they need to. There seems to be an agreement that this may be Gene's liver finally being...
Dear Friends, Thanks for your kind words again and excellent suggestions. Gene lost nine pounds of fluid with the combination of Aldactone and Lasix. Unfortunately, the Lasix has made him weak due to...
Dear Friends, Thank you all for your kind words and support. This is not an easy road we travel and at times I need reminders that I'm not alone and that there is still hope and light at the end of...
Dear Friends and fellow travelers, It's all quiet on the western front. Gene is about the same; he has his good days and more bad days with overall slow decline. The word finding problems and...
Hi, End stage liver disease is very frightening and unpredictable. It's one thing after another and vigilence becomes imperitive. Yes, a durable power of attorney for medical decisions is necessary...
Connie, Sending you healing energy. Your surgery was a long time coming. It sounds like everything is under control; pamper yourself and allow your healty liver to rejenerate. You remain in my...
Dearest Friends, I don't know if I am over-reacting or whether my Gene has reached a new stage in the course of his illness. For the past week, I've noticed new and different subtle symptoms. Gene is...
Connie, I am intensifying my prayer for you. Wishing you a glass half full. Barb...
Welcome, Questions are always encouraged but we don't always have the answers. The risk of developing liver cancer with cirrhosis is higher than normal but not everyone develops it. I don't know if...
Samantha, Praise God, wishing your Dad an uneventual recovery. This gives hope to others awaiting a transplant. Hugs, Barb...
Hi, Well, our week has not started out dull. My Gene remains stable for which I'm blessed. Yesterday, I finally received a phone call from someone with real authority at Vitas and some things are...
So sorry Connie, I understand that bit about being psyched up and ready for something and the frustration of having your surgery delayed. I'm sure God had a purpose for having scheduled the end of...
Welcome Marisa, You found the right place. The doctors are correct that only God knows how long someone with end stage liver disease has to live. It's often the complications that result in death and...
Pink Grandma, My heart breaks for your loss. You have been a source of comfort and support for me; now I want to be there for you. May the good Lord bless and keep you, Barb...
Thanks Guys, I truly was doing great with God's help. But yesterday the Chaplain and Social Worker came by again trying to limit services and to get me to sign away rights we have with Hospice. They...
Thanks Connie and Pink Grandma, I'm still keeping despair at bay and find myself calm and spiritual. At the Memoriall Mass yesterday for my dear friend, I went for a healing following Communion....
Dear Friends, Things have gone from bad to worse and then I snapped out of my black pit where I wanted to die. You could say I've been to hell and back. Everyone's encouraging words and prayers have...
Dear Friends, It's time to update everyone on our situation and I don't know what to say. Imagine, me at a loss for words. Gene is hanging in there and actually breathing better. I get differing...
Hi Venita, That's wonderful news. I'm glad you and Jim have your lives back again. Your story gives hope to others also. May it continue for many years. Continue doing all you can to keep Jim's liver...
Teresa, I rejoice with you for Mark's new liver and his amazingly rapid recovery and pray for the family of the donor liver. I too share tears of joy for you and tears of sadness that Pa is nearing...
Thank God! This has been such a long and rocky wait. I'll call you tonight or tomorrow, Donna. Tell Teresa I haven't forgotten them. Ma...
Dear Friends, I feel you lifting me up. Gene continues battling to stay around another day, another week, another month. He is defying all odds still being alive. But for those of you who know our...
We feel your spirit lifting us up. Thank you all for your kind words and prayers which mean the world to me. Vicki, Gene's nurse told me today that she didn't expect Gene to survive another day when...
My Dear Friends, I'm numb and in disbelief today. Gene's hospice nurse informed me this morning that Gene's liver has finally given out. It may be that the EC finally spread to his liver or his liver...
Hi, Sorry your Mom is battlilng ESLD; it's not a pleasant disease. There are a few other points you might want to bring up with her Doctor. Iron supplements are very toxic to a cirrhotic liver. My...
So sorry Pink Grandma. You are in my thoughts and prayers. It seems that life is so uncertain and life can change in a heartbeat. Wishing you peace, Barb...
Hi Venita, May Jim's miracle continue and I pray one lies around the corner for you so that you can complete your implants. Your story gives hope to others who are struggling with end stage liver...
Connie, I love miracles; let the miracle continue. Thank you for sharing. Don't rush into the liver surgery until you have regained your strength; you need all your stamina for a quick recovery....
Hi, Others have provided a very detailed descript ion of hospice services. The only thing I want to add is about the recertification process my husband has to go through because he is on Medicare....
Hi Pink Grandma, What a wonderful turn of events; I'm so thrilled for the both of you. May your wait be short and the new liver be a gift from God. Prayers do work. Peace, Barb...
Dear Friends, The last week has been Hell but we won this round with Hospice. After all their threats to discharge Gene, the team came over this afternoon and said Gene was medically appropriate to...
Hi Friends, We are a few short weeks away from the third anniversary of my husbands diagnosis of esophageal cancer and it's almost four years since being diagnosed with end stage liver disease....
Hi Loving Daughter, First let me start by welcoming you to our forum and offering my positive thoughts and prayers for your father's continued fight and survival. It sounds like your father's doctor...
Hi Teresa, I'm glad you got some much needed rest; it's amazing what even a few hours of sleep can do to our stressed out, overwhelmed and depressed minds. It's a wise move to look into...
Honey, There is no way Mark can see the impact of his behavior on others. He is not himself anymore than if he were possessed by the devil. That doesn't make it any easier on you however. This is a...
Hugs Teresa, Wish I could make it better for you and the rest of us fighting this insideous encaphalopathy. And poor, sweet Michael caught in the middle of this. I can tell you are at your witts end....
Dear Mara, I'm always at a loss of words at these most difficult times. But you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm glad you and the family were there with your sister at the end and that her...
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my beloved friends. May the New Year bring peace and hope and blessings to each and every one of us. May cherished moments outweigh our pain, sorrow and fears. May our glasses...
Welcome back Connie, I'm glad your hip surgery was a success and that you are again on your feet with just the use of a cane. It's wonderful that your tx killed most of the cancer cells in your...
Hi Little Sister, You are a wonderful sister indeed. My heart is breaking for you. My husband Gene is also receiving hospice services for hils end stage liver disease but is realatively stable for...
Hi Venita, I read through your blogs on you and Jim. You both have been through a lot and you both are survivors. My husband seems not to respond to the usual medications and procedures and gets good...
Hi Welcome, I'm one of the members who follows threads but has difficulty finding time to post. You have a lot on your plate between Jim's ESLD and your breast cancer. I wish you both the very best....
Hi Everyone, It's been quite a few months since I've posted. I've been in a shell and feeling overwhelmed. Gene's rollercoaster ride continues. He's had one major crisis after another and somehow...
Wonderful Teresa, I'm hopeful this will be the turning point for Mark. That he will remain stable until the call comes for the new liver. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed...
Hang in there Teresa, That new liver will be available soon. I know this is a very difficult time for you and Mark. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I enjoyed the pictures you shared with me. Talk...
Hi Gale, High blood pressure is not the same thing as portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is high pressure in the veins coming from the liver due to cirrhosis and increases ones risk of having...