Another week

Dan once again visited doctors and the dentist this week. More labs were taken and praise God, the new infection in his leg is gone. Seems the new treatments using silver have helped draw out the infection. His MELD is the same, his bilirubin and ammonia are high again so the doctor increased the dosage on his 3 different meds. Dan also visited his parents' dentist for a toothache, thankfully it was just a cavity and he got it filled. Turns out this dentist enjoys periodic vacations on Molokai.

Another complication or side effect from the high ammonia: Dan is having difficulty walking, often bumping into things or tripping over rugs, often forgetting where he is, like this week he needed help finding his way from the exam room to the waiting room. We hate his health getting worse, yet we know it must progress like this for him to get to the top of the waiting list, which the doctor confirmed he's just about there. Mayo has been getting more livers and the doctor told Dan she thinks Dan is close to getting one.

We are anxiously awaiting God's provision, sometimes feeling well, often times, like now, pretty depressed, but always knowing God is in control.

As Easter approaches, we pray you will understand just how much God loves you:

"I asked Jesus how much He loved me He answered "this much" Then He stretched out His arms and died for me."

Deb & Dan

PS: More photos of Swen here (or go to www.picasaweb.google.com/dananddebvanalstine)

Updates

A few updates from recent trips to the doctor:

* The sore on Dan's face is not cancerous, not even pre-cancerous, and the doctor decided it did not even need to be removed. A big praise for this!
* The dietician did not make any real changes to Dan's diet. However, he is watching his diet closely, along with all those meds he has to take.
* The wound care nurse changed the treatments for the ulcers and infection in his legs, this time using bandages and medicine with silver, this should draw out that infection. Dan has been talking with Lindsay, his transplant coordinator at Mayo, hopefully they won't put him on Status 7 during this infection (Status 7 is off the transplant waiting list, he's been in that status before).

We praise God for our friend Wanda Soares in Hawaii who received her liver transplant after many years of waiting.

Debbie

Fighting those side effects

Dan went back to Mayo today for more labs and a visit with the doctor. His MELD score is close to what it was last week. His bilirubin count is higher and the doctor said Dan looked pretty yellow and even a little ash grey today. The good news is his red cell count is higher so he won't need a transfusion. His ammonia level is lower and the swelling looks a little better around his ankles. So hopefully the new meds are helping with all of these. However, there are a few new pukas (holes) in his leg that are leaking fluid, and at least one is infected. The doctor is referring Dan to 3 different doctors for this and a few other side conditions; he has appointments this week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Here are a few prayer requests for this week:

* For healing of the leg infection.
* For the nausea to go away (this may or may not be caused by the meds)
* Dan had one basil cell carcinoma removed from his nose a few years ago, now there is a suspicious looking sore on his face, that's one of the appointments he has this week to check this out; we pray this will not be a serious thing and can be removed easily like the carcinoma.
* Dan will also be seeing a Mayo dietician this week. Dan's mom is a fantastic caregiver and cooks very healthy and I am so very grateful for her love and care of Dan. His doctor thinks the dietician can help even more with keeping Dan's protein low and getting him even healthier. I think Dan's mom will be going to this appointment with Dan.

So, it's looking to be a very busy week. Thanks for your prayers.

Debbie

Updates

On Monday, Feb. 11th, Dan had new labs and imaging and we met with the doctor.

For the past 6 months, Mayo has done very few, if any, liver transplants because of a shortage of livers available. New patients have been added to the list with fewer organs available. So, although Dan’s MELD number went up, he’s lower on the waiting list. This probably means our wait will easily be a number of months longer, and will continue testing our patience and prayers.

In the meantime, we will be working more aggressively through additional medications to treat the side effects mentioned in the previous blog entry. As the doctor told us, the hope is to get Dan as healthy as possible while he’s sick.

We continue to be thankful to Mililani Baptist Church and Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention for your love and support, and for you who read these blog entries and have lifted us in prayer.

Still soaring (most of the time),
Dan and Deb

PS: If you are wondering how to leave us a comment, look at the white box right below and click on "0 comments" (or it might have a number then comments). You'll get a pop-up screen where you can type in a comment, then for "Choose an Identity" click the box next to "anonymous" or use your Blogger account, then click "Publish" or "Preview". You can also send an email to us.

Prayer Request and New Photos of Swen

I'm looking sooooo forward to my upcoming visit with Dan. I fly out Friday night (Feb. 8) and fly back Tuesday night (Feb. 12). Monday Feb. 11 is Dan's next labs, imaging, and doctor's appointment and we'll let you know what happens. In the meantime, we'd sure appreciate prayers for Dan right now. His legs are "leaking" again from the extreme swelling, this time from new pukas (holes). And he's starting to have dizziness, often after trying to read for any length of time, along with nausea and throwing up. For sure we will tell the doctor about all this on Monday.

Here's a new picture of Amy, Adam and Swen taken just a few days ago while visiting with Dave and Dawn in Washington. More photos are at http://picasaweb.google.com/DanandDebVanAlstine/SwenSFirstVisitToGrammaAndGrampaLillyInWashingtonJanuary2008.

Aloha,
Debbie and Dan

PS: If you are wondering how to leave us a comment, look at the white box right below and click on "0 comments" (or it might have a number then comments). You'll get a pop-up screen where you can type in a comment, then for "Choose and Identity" click the box next to "anonymous" or use your Blogger account, then click "Publish" or "Preview". You can also send an email to us.

New photos!

Check out the Christmas photos! www.picasaweb.google.com/DanandDebVanAlstine/Christmas2007

Debbie

Updates

Dan did get his labs done on Dec. 27th. His MELD is still 18, same as in November. However, he's now #4 on the waiting list, with 2 other patients just coming to Mayo with higher MELDs than Dan. I don't think we should put much hope in that waiting list, since things can change in a moment's notice. And it's not a competition anyway. Please join us in prayer for those new patients that their critical need for a liver is met asap.

Also, Dan's ammonia level is 230 (normal is under 60), so that explains the added challenges Dan is having lately like short-term memory loss, muscle tremors, sleep reversal (can't sleep at night but can't stay awake in the day), and problems with reading retention and comprehension, the most frustrating since he loves to read. He is still on meds for this, doesn't seem like they are helping much. Dan's next labs, imaging, and dr. appointments is Monday, Feb. 11 and I will be flying back to Phoenix for this, probably be there for just a few days.

I'll be posting new photos of Swen soon. He's 6 months old now and is still the most beautiful baby on the planet. He's starting to eat baby food, and we got to watch him try peas which he loved (despite Dan threatening to call child protection for "child abuse" as Dan called it-those who know Dan know he loathes peas.)

Dan had a few visitors from Hawaii in December (Erick Underwood and his friend Mike; Wally & Lorrie Enos; Cal & Elise Buenconsejo and family; Alan, Carol Ann, Cathy, Sherry Watanabe; and Furman & Faye Toney-camp managers from Puu Kahea). He received many cards, letters, phone calls, and gifts. These all mean a lot after having been away from home and his Mililani ohana for 6 months now.

Gratefully,
Debbie and Dan