A Little Update on Dad

I have a lot of people ask me how my dad is doing. My answer is pretty much always the same,

"He's doin' alright!"

Truth is...his condition was sort of freaking us out there for a while. He was swelling up like a balloon! Since then he has quit his job which means he doesn't have to be on his feet for hours at a time and he can rest whenever he feels tired...which is often since he doesn't sleep well at night due to his PSC . He has also been on a low protein+low sodium diet. Making these changes has helped to keep his swelling under control.

My dad had his first appointment at Mayo Clinic today. My mom and dad met with a Hepatologist there. My mom called me after the appointment. From what she told me, it sounds like the appointment went well! They explained to her their evaluation process and the process of being put on a donor list. He said that a new liver goes to the worst case scenario first...and that my dad will be evaluated to see where he is at. I guess they have some scale they "grade" your condition by. If my dad is a 15 or higher, he will be listed. (I hope I am getting this information right!)....and his place on the list is determined by how good or bad off his liver is. His place on the list can also change as they do follow ups and lab work. They were also told that people with PSC (scaring of the bile ducts) do better with a cadaver liver instead of a live donor because you can't take as much from a live donor...but that they will look into his candidacy for a live liver donor as well.

This is the first time I have really sat and thought about someone having to die in order for my dad to live.

This liver disease and organ transplant stuff is no cake walk...but dad is doing it! He still has a good quality of life. He's sick but we are getting answers. Mom said that the staff at Mayo seems to be very supportive. The doctor told her that they will be getting to know each other (my parents, him, the surgical team...) very closely and will work closely together. That support is so greatly appreciated! He will have a full evaluation to check his over all health soon and we will find out about him being listed for a liver after that.

One thing my mom and a couple of my siblings have been concerned about is having people judge my dad...and think that he "did this to himself" by doing drugs or drinking alcohol. That isn't the case. He doesn't know how he contracted hepatitis or if that is even the reason for his PSC. He has also been on prescription medication for years to keep his Chron's disease under control and that could have contributed to his PSC as well. But you know what? There are people out there who are bad off because they drank or did drugs or were immoral...and maybe they are still doing those things while knowing that they have an incurable disease. I don't think that is a reason to be any less compassionate. (that's my personal opinion)

Thanks again for your prayers, your donations and your support!

~Jen

Sam is awesome and made this flier...

If you are interested in handing out fliers or selling tickets please contact us!

Thanks! :)

Breakfast+Auction Info.

You can now find information for this fundraiser in the side bar of this blog!
Be sure to leave a comment if you have any quetions!

Thnx! :)

The Pancakes Are Coming!

I know you have been craving pancakes since my post about them.

Don't worry....the day is almost here!

Mark this is bold on your calendars!

November 19th 2011
at Skyline High School
from 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Breakfast will be served from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Live Auction will be from 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Skyline High School's "Honor Society" is sponsoring the event. They will be selling tickets. Tickets will also be available to purchase from family members. Or you can purchase them by emailing us at murraysnewliver@yahoo.com. We can mail them to you or you can pick them up from my parents house or at the door. You will also be able to pay at the door.
Prices have not been set yet.

I will get more details (schools address, prices, stuff like that) to you as they become available! :)

This is going to be fun. We are planning to have some good items to auction off. If all goes as planned there will be a silent auction (smaller items) and a live auction (bigger items). Some of the items include: teeth whitening, message certificate, fresh flower arrangement gift certificate, 2 hour house cleaning certificates...and MORE!) You wont want to miss it. Think "Christmas presents!"

If you are interested in donating an item or service to be auctioned off, please send an email to murraysnewliver@yahoo.com or call me! (Jennifer) 928-536-7991!

Thanks! :)

And a big huge "thank you" to Bruce Green and his family for their generous donation to my dad's account. "Thank you thank you thank you!"

October 13th, 2011

Do you like pancakes?

We do!

The Barrett's sort of have a "thing" for pancakes. I don't know who started it for sure. But, my Grandma Barrett made the very best pancakes ever. Light+thin+fluffy too. I don't know who taught her...maybe her mom? But her pancakes were super yummy! She was the type of person who didn't have a measuring spoon or measuring cup in her kitchen. She just instinctively knew how to make great food! That made it kindda hard to ask for a recipe!

I remember how my mom got Grandma's pancake recipe. She stood there while grandma was making pancakes one morning and before my grandma dumped an ingredient into the mixing bowl, my mom caught it and measured it...and that is how I am able to make the same yummy pancakes for my kiddos! :)

So...since we all love a good pancake breakfast....we are planning one as a fundraiser for my dad!

The details are still being worked out. So far, the plan is to have the breakfast at Skyline High School sometime in November. Skyline H.S. is going to try to get some of their clubs involved to help out. The High Priest in my dad's High Priest Group are going to help also.

Plus, we plan to have an auction! This will be a great chance for you to donate an item or service OR to buy an item or service { or both...we're okay with that too! :) } We are looking into having some pretty cool stuff. We will give you a sneak peak soon.

So...keep a look out for more information!

~Jen

TRUTH:

"The way to resolve difficulty is always the same-to seek the guidance of the Lord; to live to merit personal inspiration so you will know what the Lord's will is; and then to have the strength and ability to carry it out. When you do those things, you feel stronger and better supported by the Lord, and you can then understand other people's challenges far better. The more you live the commandments of the Lord and understand the principles of the gospel, the more positive you are that the challenges that come can be worked out-and the more effectively you can also act as an instrument in the Lord's hands to help others."

~(Elder Richard G. Scott: Putting God and Family First-Ensign Jan. 1985)

I believe this is true for everyone in any situation. Click HERE to read the full article. ~Love, Jen