LIVER QUESTIONS ANSWERED~Day 1 in the Journey

Update on my liver… warning… this is gonna be long…

Before I get into the doctor appointment I want to thank you all for praying!! I cannot tell you how special you have made me feel with your comments, calls, and texts!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Down to biz… I went to the liver transplant doctor today. I had so many questions and very little information which was bothering me. The dr I went to see was super nice, patient, and very informative. He is part of a team of doctors. In this team, from what I understand, is a surgeon, an oncologist, a radiologist or two… and I can’t remember who else. Anyway, they get together on Tuesdays for a conference about the patients. He wanted my CT scan and MRI on discs so they could all look at them to see if possibly one of them had seen something similar and I wouldn’t need a biopsy. If no one has seen it then they will determine if they want another scan or a biopsy. (If one of them agrees to do the biopsy as it seems to be made up of a lot of vessels and poses a risk of bleeding.)

If they ok the biopsy they will then have to decide which of the two ways to get the biopsy. One way is the traditional way of using ultrasound and locating the lesion and going through the skin with a needle with a clamp thing and clipping the tissue of the lesion. The second way to get a biopsy would be to go in the jugular and travel down to the liver and get the biopsy that way. They both have risks with them so idk which they will do. Either way, results should be back in two to three days. Once we have a diagnosis we can decide on treatment.

Typically, if the lesion is benign he would just recommend scans every 6 months to a year and keep a close eye on it. Am I ever traditional? Nope! So, because my liver is diseased, he wants it taken care of. Meaning that whether this lesion is benign or malignant I will be having chemo to shrink it. I can’t remember what they call this chemo but essentially it is placed directly into my liver and it will burn that part of my liver. This will shrink the lesion and we will then watch it closely to make sure it doesn’t start to grow again.

If the lesion is malignant then the options change. It will then depend on the size of the lesion and if it is all contained in the liver or not. At this point it is 3 cm so still small. Options for malignancy are

• To put me on the transplant list and do chemo while we wait for a liver to make sure it stays small (must be 5 cm or less for a transplant).

• To try and cut it out making sure the margins are clear and watch it.

• To do chemo then try and cut it out if possible. If not possible then transplant is necessary.

I will be having lots of dr appointments in the next month or so (on top of my daughter’s wedding… yes please because I have all the time in the world. Lol) My dr wants me to meet all of the team so I will be going to the surgeon (this does not mean I will have surgery.) I will be going to the oncologist (this does not mean I have cancer but I will have chemo either way so I need to meet him.)

God is in control of everything!! He has brought me back to that place of peace with the knowledge I learned today and the kind doctor!! I told y’all from the start that I am completely flawed and might have peace one minute and the next be a mess… I will never ever doubt His power, love, or abilities to heal me completely! Also, I will not turn away from Him during this hike up this mountain for I know that He is the Almighty Father, the Everlasting King, the Prince of Peace, and the Great Physician! (Among so many other things!) He has never given up on me even though I am completely useless and unworthy of anything He has given me!! What a MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!!!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Please continue to pray with me for:

• my family -we have a lot of changes happening this month! Fun times!

• My doctors -for wisdom to do God’s will in my health situations.

• Me -to leave my worries with the Lord, to be strong and tough so I can handle this mountain, to be a light for even just one person as I climb this beast.

Thank you again for your prayers!!! ❤️