We have a boy sweet boy in town named Zach. He was just diagnosed with leukemia a few weeks ago. He is in Phoenix for chemo treatments right now.

Zach also has autism. He is such a sweet kid. One time, when we were visiting his ward (for a baby blessing for missionary farewell...not sure which)...we sat behind his family and Zach held my hand for part of Sacrament Meeting. How sweet is that?

So, when Brandon and I were at a restaurant today and saw a donation jar with his picture on it...I just had to make a donation. I know from experience that every little bit helps...and although "money is not everything" is sure helps relieve some stress when you are facing not only medical bills but loss of income having to miss work.

Meet Zach HERE!!! ...then tell your friends about it!

(There's an awesome video of him downing a taco in less than a minute!) Like I said...he's a pretty cool kid! :)

~ love ya!~Jen

What's a MELD score?

My dad's testing at Mayo went well last week. His MELD score actually went down...again. A year ago, he was at a 17 or 18. Last time he had testing done, he was at a 15....now he is at an 8.

SO....what is a MELD score anyways!? MELD stand for Model for End-stage Liver Disease. So, basically, they have this formula (click that) that they use to determine your number and that determines where you get placed on the transplant list. The higher your number, the higher you are on the transplant list. Scores range from 6-40.

The doctor told my parents that with liver disease...it is common for your score to go up and down.

My dad had more blood drawn today.....not sure what for.....but hey, they are keeping a close eye on him so that's good right? I read that if you have a MELD score under 10 that you only have to get labs done every year. So, we'll see if that's the case with my dad.

Also! Other good news. My dad's insurance deductible dropped!!! I am just so grateful he has insurance and is getting good health care.

Really...it's such a miracle that he's doing as well as he is. I know it is because of the faith and prayers of family and friends....and strangers too.

Thanks for all of your support! Love ya!

~Jen

update

Sorry I didn't post sooner. But my dad is out of the hospital (since Saturday afternoon). They never did find out where the infection was coming from. ???

My dad was supposed to have a couple days of testing over at Mayo Clinic last week...but he had to reschedule it. SO...hopefully he'll be seen by his specialist soon.

This "waiting for a transplant" is such a terrible game. I don't like it. We have to wait for dad's health to get worse so that he can get bumped up on the list....which means he's getting a liver before someone else who is waiting....(weren't we all taught in school that it's not nice to cut in line?)....and then that means that MY dad gets a chance at better health while someone continues to suffer (not to mention the person who is walking around, going to work, spending time with their family right now who is going to die so that my dad can live.) Or dad can get part of a liver from a live donor (I feel much more comfortable with this option)...but these things take time and testing and....more waiting.

The thing that helps is knowing that the Lord has a plan. Things are easier when we can trust in Him and His timetable.

So, I am sort of feeling like the procedure they did yesterday was a total waste of time and money.
The doctor looked in the large bile duct...to check to see if that's where the infection is coming from...well it's not. They reported that there is no stone in there (great! we already knew that!) The gallstone is in the small bile duct...and they didn't even look in that duct or try to get the stone out.
SO....I don't know what they are thinking. (I know they are doing their best and I am greatful for it...) They did drain almost 3 liters of fluid off of my dad's abdomen (toxic stuff that isn't being processed by dad's clogged up liver). So, that helps!

Stoned!

It is for sure not the pnuemonia that has caused the infection that my dad is trying to fight off right now...it's that darn gallstone that's been stuck in a bile duct for 9 YEARS!!!

My dad came home from work on the night of our family Christmas Eve party in 2003...doubled over in pain...white as a ghost (seriously...have you seen my dad? People think he's hispanic.) He had worked a full day...bearly able to walk he was in so much pain. So, he got to spend that Christmas in the hospital, recovering from a Cholecystectomy. (Don't think I'm smart...I googled that! )And although they removed his gallbladder this sneaky gallstone didn't want to leave...not then...or anytime since! But, they're gonna try again tomorrow morning.

So...pray tonight and tomorrow and anytime in between that by some miracle they will be able to get that stone out tomorrow!

Admitted :(

I haven't been posting on my this blog lately. My dad has been doing so well...(by that I mean not getting worse.)

Well. Yesterday, my dad had a really bad fever...the chills and shaking and all that (Ibuprofen wasn't helping). My mom took him to the ER. They ran some tests and blood work and determined he was in the early stages of pneumonia...gave him an antibiotic and sent him home.

Today, he got a phone call from the hospital telling him that results came back from another blood test. They said he has an infection in his blood (something called cocci...which I think is a form of staph or another word for staph? I'm really not sure.) anyhow...they told him that he needed to go back to the hospital for a few days of IV antibiotics. (My mom just called to say that the infectious disease doctor said that he thinks that infection from dad's pneumonia has spread to his blood.....but the pneumonia isn't a very bad case....they are going to run more tests and see what they can find out.)....so basically....we just have to wait and see....but he is on IV meds and under Dr. care.

Dad was supposed to have a few days of testing done over at Mayo Clinic this week....but that's going to have to wait.

My dad has been having abdominal swelling again (even with his special diet.).....this swelling and the infection he has now could be from a clogged bile duct. ????

So anyways. Just thought I'd let you all know what's going on.

~Jen

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love my parents!!!

Thank you for the pictures Elizabeth Curtis!