We made it San Antonio

We made it to San Antonio........

We met with the Transplant Surgeon yesterday. They are going to evaluate Big Bird for Transplant. His nurse coordinater will be calling us within the next couple weeks to schedule the evaluation. This will take 3-4 days. Out-patient basis. He has a perliminary MELD score of 21 (based on blood work from December), but after being in the hospital and pumped full of IV antibiotics, his MELD dropped to an 18 based on the blood work done Friday morning-but they do acknowledge that the score lowered because of the antibiotics-fun stuff.....After all the evals and all is done, we are looking at possible listing for transplant in April or May....

The surgeon was very optimistic-which was assuring for both Big Bird and my mother. But there is a chance he could get really sick while waiting. Ah fun....But we will keep our fingers crossed, and keep the prayers going.

Just wanted to post an update that the appointment went well and we are on our way to what we have waited years for!!!!!!!

Home

HOME!!!!!!

Big Bird was released from the hospital around 7pm tonight. He is home, resting and preparing. We meet with the Transplant Surgeon tomorrow morning for a consult. I will post when we get home......

Hospital visit again....

Hospital visit again..........

Big Bird is in the hospital. He started with low grade fevers last night. So after dealing with that off and on for several hours last night we headed to the ER at 11:30pm, I left the ER at 6:45am. They admitted him. There is an infection, just not sure what and where, as his blood tests are "normal" for him. Just the fluctuating temps. Frustrating for him, but for us as well......

The doctor will be back again to check on him. He was experiencing some tenderness in the right quadrant area-something new, but not necessarily anything...we hope!!!! No signs of ascites-good!!!

Will post more when we know more. They are pumping him with IV antibiotics and fluids. And of course his normal doc is out of town. And again-he gets sick on Tuesday-what is with Tuesday?????????

Medicare Effective!

Well we are officially into Medicare. However, the joys of working with State Aid programs SUCKS. We filled out ALL the appropriate paperwork. We sent in ALL the appropriate paper work on time. And yet the benefits are not there (mind you we got a letter telling him what he was approved of, and when the benefits will be available). Texas Health & Human Servics "doesn't know why benefits have not been released". Maybe because they don't know how to never mind, that wouldn't be nice to say......I am trying very hard this year to not say mean things....it is very hard......

We are anticipating the consult with the Transplant Hospital. Nerves are very frayed and on high alert. So much about Big Birds future will depend on this visit.....fun stuff!

Will post when we have details regarding the appointment.....

Good news

Well, yesterday morning Big Bird's doctor called, the antibiotics are working Yippeeeeee!!! His bili was down from 25.2 on Tuesday (1/23) to 16! Good news. His doctor also said that he could post pone the ERCP that was scheduled for tomorrow until after Transplant Evaluation-so of course he did! Hopefully the Transplant hospital will call soon. Medicare if effective tomorrow. HOORAY!!!! This is so exciting. Some anxiety of him getting sick will be removed-because at least now he can get the medical attention he needs without the added stress of money being the issue.

There is an organization that is focused on bring research and attention to PSC-the liver disease which affects Big Bird, PSCPartners Seeking a Cure, they are sponsoring a virtual walk, you can register at www.pscpartners.org. It is $25.00 to register, they send you a T-shirt, a pen, envelope you collect signatures and monies-then send it back to them, they will display it at the conference in April. We won't be there, but I think it is still a worth while cause and one that actually goes directly to a disease that gets little funding as it is! So if you can-help out and register!

I will post as soon as we have transplant eval dates!

Medicare we await thee

On Thursday, February 1, 2007-Medicare will be EFFECTIVE!!!!!!!! You have no idea what a relief this is!

On Thursday, February 1, 2007, Big Bird will be going in for a procedure called an ERCP. They are hoping to dilate his bile ducts to drain some of the excess bile from his system. Please offer prayers and good vibes to us as we deal with this. This isn't the first ERCP by any means, but complications can arise as with any medical procedure and general anesthesia.

On Thursday, February 1, 2007 the Transplant hospital will be able to begin verifying coverage. We should have an appointment within 2 weeks for evaluation.

As of today we are 6 days fever free. Yippee......As of today we are 3 days from health coverage!

Fevers

So, Big Bird woke up at 3AM with a fever at 6am it was 100.01, at 6:30am is was 100.04, at 6:35am we take alieve, got the fever down (wooohooo). Called his doctors office, they had him in for STAT blood work......

We got the blood work results back (of course they came back when I wasn't home so I didn't get them all) but my brother total bili came back at 25. He has been feeling "fine". A little anti-social but fine, considering-he has been stressed with all this waiting and anticipation that Medicare takes effect next week.

Well his doctor is not real thrilled with the bili count-it is the highest it has ever been. He is wanting to do an ERCP (knowing that the last ERCP done in Feb. 2005 he told us that stenting was no longer an option do to scarring). I just don't know what to think of the latest bili lvl. I really wish I had the other blood results-when I talked to the nurse this morning, she didn't have his chart just orders to get an ERCP schedule that his doc has his chart....

Do I worry, I don't know I ARGGGGGGGGGG

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Everyone. I hope this year finds all of our friends and family, peace, hope, charity, love and prosperous.

We are in the home stretch of Big Bird receiving Medicare Benefits. December was a CRAZY month. Lots of forms to fill out. I am truly amazed at how difficult they make signing up for Medicare. Because, you don't just sign up for Medicare, there is Medicare Part A, then Medicare Part B, then Medicare Part D, then you go into supplemental insurance, blah blah blah. It is completely overwhelming, then I challenge you to try and find someone that works in one of the government offices with apathy and sympathy for what you are trying to figure out. They do exist, I managed to find one or two. Cherish them if you find them, because those one or two out there, can enlighten you to programs you kick yourself for not learning about earlier.

We learned about programs such as SLMB, QI-1. Big Bird qualifies for both of them, but was only approved for SLMB. We will take this, as it will help cover the Medicare Part B fees. Know we anxiously await response to his application for assistance for Medicare Part D. It is under review. Regardless of the fact that, that was the VERY FIRST application we ever submitted. His Medicare Coverage is affective February 1, 2007. YIPPIEE!!!!!!!

He is STABLE. This we are very thankful for! We do hope this trend continues. We have a follow up appointment for the last blood draw next week.

Now that Medicare is kicking into affect-we patiently await to here about referral to the Transplant Hospital for evaluation. Stomachs have been turning, sleep has been disturbed. Fear, Hope, Restlessness, Eagerness, Anticipation. Those can about sum up some of the feelings that go through our minds.

Well, I just thought that I would post the lasted on Big Bird. He is still alive and kicking. He (along with our cousin and myself-I am sadly to report-anxiously awaiting the release of World of Warcraft Burning Crusades- this is to happen next week-so we will be tide to our puters in our little fantasy land).

Oh the joys!

Oh the joys!

So December has been a roller coaster of sickness. First Big Bird decided that he thought he might go and start all the symptoms for a cholangitis attack (wasn't that nice of him). So he called his doctor, and on antibiotics we go, 10 days of Cipro & Faygl. Nice stuff huh! Now he has decided that he wants to get a cold-ya know he is messing with Christmas here and I REFUSE to spend Christmas in the hospital.

Big Bird is really starting to stress out. We got the Medicare enrollment stuff last month. We have the pretty little Red, White & Blue card in our paws (yes it is a pretty little card when you know that card is gonna be worth about 250k). We also signed up for the Medicare Supplement, so that will cover everything that Medicare won't. And believe me they do not make this an easy process. Then to top it off, he got kicked out of Health Services, so now we have to reapply. This is a total headache, cause now we have to reapply for the assistance to pay for the Medicare PartB & PartD I really don't know how the elderly deal with all this. It is overwhelming.

We did give the magic little card to his doctor today,l he is now going to fax over Big Bird's novel to the transplant hospital and get a case file started. So hopefully here in a week or so we will have some dates for transplant evaluation. This is will be stressful and relief all at the same time.

I just wish Big Bird would quit stressing cause trust me, I stress over all this enough for the entire family.....

Waiting

So, it is November, and let me tell you, the waiting is unbearable. On or about the 15th of November is the magic date that is set for my brother to receive the enrollment forms for Medicare. I can hardly believe that it is just around the corner. At the October visit we were told to plan on being referred to transplant center for eval the first week of February 2007-he will be covered beginning February 1, 2007. Scary scary scary!!!!!

He had his monthly follow up today-but I actually missed this one. He is avoiding me, he blew curfew last night (yes he is 30 years old with a curfew!) and he knows I am MAD!!!!! He finds it amusing to wake the house at 1AM knowing I have to get up and go to work!!! The butt! ;-)

When I have blood work details or any news I will post!

Bloodwork

Bloodwork!

So last week was the monthly doctor visit. He is doing ok, levels are slightly rising again after being down for the last couple months. But, his whiteblood cell count was way out of range-a simmering infection somewhere. Oh the joys. So they did more blood work and we are now awaiting the results. In the mean time- Dusty has to get some teeth pulled. The dentist was wanting to save his teeth-the doc overrules, pull 'em! Apparently his immune system can't handle the healing it would take to do root canals and all. This doesn't sit well for big bird. But, we finally convinced him that he could get a bridge made and fill in the gaps and no one would be any the wiser. Well except now that I have broadcasted it to all to read.

And then get this, he says his fatigue (and yes he does get extreme fatigue-I'm just annoyed) gets to where it exhausts him-so he got medical approval for applying for handicap parking permits. And he didn't even get one for me. Oh no he gets them for his car and our cousins car (just because we take her car for running around and it makes more sense still doesn't mean I have to like it!). He is such a spoiled brat!!!!!

I keep having dreams that things are gonna turn for the worse, boy I hope they are just fears and not something to come! Big bird's medicare enrollment forms should be coming next month. We are in our last 5 month stretch. Keep the good vibes up.

Hope

Hope-

Today, I got hope. I got a much anticipated email from the Transplant Socical Worker. Fundraising may not need to be as drastic as we once thought. Medicare will pick up on a lot, she has asked us to call when we get the enrollment forms and she will guide us through so we get the best policies. Woo hoo. This is such good news. So, it sounds as though most of our fundraising will need to be for his 1 week hospital visit in April and anything that may come up between now and February. What a HUGE relief. This is such fantastic news.

Dusty goes in to have his blood drawn again. His bili as been down the last two months, last month he was at 12.4 (normal range is .1-2.0), so hopefully he will keep that trend up. He has also looked a little less yellow the last week or so. He has also gotten a little more social and been hanging out with some of his friends-a good thing.

So all in all we are on a high note-but cautious about it. We all know it only takes a mild fever to take him down fast.

But I just had to share the good news.

Cheers-

Fundraising

Fundraising

So we're gonna take the plunge and fundraise. This should be interesting. I, myself have the HUGEST issue with asking for help-and now, I am going to get to ask people for money-so that we can some how come up with the enormous amount necessary to sustain Big Bird-ah hem-my brother. (Of course he would prefer me to call him a Sith-he is an avid Star Wars fan and thinks he is gonna go as a sith for Halloween since he already has the eyes for it-he truly is a sicko-no pun intended)

This will definately be a lesseon in humility for me.....One I will not take lightly-but none the less deal with and beg for your kindness.

We will more than likely be going with NTAF, or National Transplant Assistance Fund, www.transplantfund.org. When the accounts and everything are set up and we have direction I will post.

I'm Yellow For A Reason

Ah, well the Blog is called "I'm Yellow For a Reason", well this is true, only, I'm not yellow, that would be my brother, Dustin.

He has esstentially been sick since he was 15 years old. He broke his leg, then things went down hill from there. He had started to pass blood and would get these insanely low blood counts, into the hospital and he would get better. They did several tests and discovered he had "Crohn's Disease". Well fast forward a couple years, he moves to Austin and lives with me, he has a bad bout' so off the the ER we go-(where we found his current and fantastic Doctor I might add). After blood tests, colonoscopy we find that in fact it is not Crohn's disease, but Ulcertive Colitis. Ah, managable. He gets that under control, then a couple years later he starts showing some abnormal LFT's (Liver Functions). So, they decide to investigate, and they find this rare disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (http://www.liverfoundation.org/db/articles/1015) -forever more known as (PSC) on this blog anyway.

He was officially diagnosed with PSC in July 2000. At that time we were told that he would need to look at Liver Transplantation in 3-6 years. It was an "ohmygosh" scenario. But, by all accounts he seemed fine and normal (well as normal as he could be-those who know him could dispute that by his insane goofiness). Life went on, he moved to Idaho for a couple years (2003) and was hospitalized once for this lovely disease. He moved back to Texas in August of 2005 to help deal with some family drama-(and this still goes-but we have had to move past that and that scenario deserves a blog all it's own-but for lack a sanity and well being we will just leave it alone). In February 2005 he went in for what he referred to as an "oil change"-he had an ERCP done, with stents put into his ducts. He had them in for a few months, then had them removed in June 2005. In July 2005 after the follow-up appt from the removal we were told that "stenting" would no longer be an option for him. He has to much scarring occuring on his bile ducts for ERCP procedures to be of benefit to him. We were then told that it was time to start the process to be referred to the Transplant Center.

Well the kicker to Transplant Center, is you have to have insurance or LOTS of money. A liver transplant can cost (by the time you add in evaluations, surgery, 1st year medications etc is almost $400,000.00), http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/finance/costs.aspx
oh yeah, way more money than I could imagine making.

Dustin will be eligble for Medicare benefits in February 2007. He will at that time be referred to the University Health System at San Antonio http://www.universityhealthsystem.com/transplant/index.htm

But as we are learning there will be expenses with Medicare-so I am delving into the research of what that is going to cost. Our government has some serious issues with what they consider to be poverty and what they think people should be able to afford and little money. But that is a soap box I do not have the energy to deal with, but will tackle when we get my brother healthy.

Stay tuned, we are looking at funding options-looks like we will do some fundraising to cover costs that will be necessary that are not covered with insurance (such as food and lodging and parking fees etc.) It is even possible that temporary re-location might be necessary as San Antonio is about 2 hours from where we live and if immediate care is needed that isn't an option. Oh the things we are learning.

Well this is enough for now. I will post again later. Cheers!