Introduction and background

Visitors: We appreciate your thoughts, but, Mom would rather not see anyone right now.

Where is she: At Stanford in the Intermediate Care Unit.

Hello everyone! Gary and I decided that we would start a Blog...to let everyone know Mom's status.

Just a little background...

A few years ago, Mom was diagosed with NASH, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Per http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/:

"It resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage. Most people with NASH feel well and are not aware that they have a liver problem. Nevertheless, NASH can be severe and can lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is permanently damaged and scarred and no longer able to work properly."

She had been stable for during until around Thanksgiving...which she started to retain "extravascular fluid" and we discovered that her liver tumors were growing.

In January, she was admitted into Stanford for Interventional Radiology, they went through an artery in her groin to administer chemotherapy directly into the liver tumors. A procedure that is usually an outpatient procedure. Due to reactions to the contrast dye/chemo and other complications, she spent a total of about 3 weeks going in/out of Stanford.

The upside to our January stay, was that Mom was able to undergo all of the tests needed to be listed for a Liver Transplant.

She finally made it home and was doing well...mobile and eating...then we were notified that although one of the tumors were "killed" the second tumor is still "alive" and she needed to redo the Interventional Radiology.

The second procedure was scheduled for April 7th...this resulted in a 3 week stay. She was finally released on April 30th, but then readmitted on May 4th because Gary was unable to wake her. She was cognitively "out of it" and unable to follow instructions.

CURRENT STATUS: Mom is looking at us now, but still unable to speak. Due to her ever-worsening liver, she is on high doses of lactulose, a diuretic. Since they are concerned that she may not be able to swallow, they are administering her lactulose and "food" (for lack of a better word) via a nasal-gastric tube.

Many people have been worried about the family....While Mom is at Stanford, Dad and Dean are staying with Gary in Sunnyvale. Dad is doing ok....albeit getting very tired. During this stay, Mom is in a highly monitored bed, which allows us to go home and rest. (When she was dis-oriented in prior stays, Gary, Dave and Auntie Irene stayed overnight...I "lucked out" and was able to go home because of the boys/Jeff school/work schedule).

Dean has had a tough time this go-around...he gets territorial of "his" chair in the waiting room...and at times is hard to reason with....Auntie Irene is great with him, taking him out for walks and etc.

Dad is now ranked 2nd to his arch-rival, Jessica on his iTouch Gin Rummy game. (A birthday present that at times is a savior and an annoyance).

Dave and family come down as often as his work and family schedules allow...this is difficult since he works in SF and they have one car.

Gary gets the short-end of the deal, but due to a downsizing @ HP, he is able to spend more time with Mom, Dad and Dean....I think he needs a massage....or just a nap. (BTW: Mom took his situation well. I think she realizes this alleviates a lot of stress on his part)

I have been going to the hospital after the boys leave for school, and try to get home before they get out. Luckily, we are within walking distance of school, so they don't have to wait for me to pick them up. Some days, Jeff is able to leave work early to allow me to stay at the hospital longer.

Auntie Irene has been coming to the hospital daily. Her assignment is to "take care of Dean"...a tough job that no one else is able to do....

Grandma just celebrated her 94th birthday. She continues in her day program and visits when she can.

I can not express our gratitude for the phone calls and visits. Mom has touched so many people's lives, we are eternally grateful for your support and kindness.