Today is a very good day. After 14 days Scott has been officially released from the hospital. Right now we are in our hotel suite and will be going back to a clinic at the hospital on Thursday morning. If all goes well, we are praying the doctor will release us to return to Utah this weekend.
Monday Scott had a procedure to see how everything was healing. The doctor and the radiologist were both encouraged. It felt great to have some good news. We really can't wait to get home and will fly out as soon they give us their approval.
Thanks so very much for all your love and support!
Love, Scott and Susan and family
Sweethearts
Scott gets hair
My boys
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Recovering.........
Today is Sunday and we are here in our hotel suite. On Friday Dr. Mangus allowed Scott to leave the hospital to come to the hotel for 2 days. He has to check back in today at 4:00pm. Tomorrow he has a procedure to replace at least one of the drains he now has. We are hoping that he can have the 2 JP drains removed as they have had no drainage for several days.
Yesterday Scott wanted to go to the Indianapolis Zoo. Big day out! We rented a wheel chair and were there for about 1.5 hours. It was about 100 degrees with 100% humidity! (not really sure, but that is how it felt to me) Luckily we are staying only a little over a mile from the Zoo. It took alot out of all of us, but we had a good time.
We have been very blessed by the Sinclair family here. They are related to the Hills in our home ward and President Sinclair is the Stake President of the Indianapolis North State. He and his sweet wife Mona visited us in the hospital on Tuesday. After the visit, Elise went to their home for the evening and President Sinclair and President Cowley (Indianapolis West Stake President) gave Scott an amazing Priesthood blessing. We are so very grateful for this blessing and the comfort, hope and faith we received. Since then, Elise has been welcomed by the Sinclairs again on Friday evening and spent Saturday night at their home so she could attend church with them today. Elise has really enjoyed spending time with their family. I am so very grateful for the Sinclairs. They have been such a bright spot for all of us. I know the Lord had a hand in bringing them into our lives.
We are hoping the Doctor will officially discharge Scott to return home sometime this week. We are all so very anxious to come home.
Thank you again for your continued love and prayers!
Yesterday Scott wanted to go to the Indianapolis Zoo. Big day out! We rented a wheel chair and were there for about 1.5 hours. It was about 100 degrees with 100% humidity! (not really sure, but that is how it felt to me) Luckily we are staying only a little over a mile from the Zoo. It took alot out of all of us, but we had a good time.
We have been very blessed by the Sinclair family here. They are related to the Hills in our home ward and President Sinclair is the Stake President of the Indianapolis North State. He and his sweet wife Mona visited us in the hospital on Tuesday. After the visit, Elise went to their home for the evening and President Sinclair and President Cowley (Indianapolis West Stake President) gave Scott an amazing Priesthood blessing. We are so very grateful for this blessing and the comfort, hope and faith we received. Since then, Elise has been welcomed by the Sinclairs again on Friday evening and spent Saturday night at their home so she could attend church with them today. Elise has really enjoyed spending time with their family. I am so very grateful for the Sinclairs. They have been such a bright spot for all of us. I know the Lord had a hand in bringing them into our lives.
We are hoping the Doctor will officially discharge Scott to return home sometime this week. We are all so very anxious to come home.
Thank you again for your continued love and prayers!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Long Tough Days
It has been several days since I have posted. These days have been difficult and I haven't known what to say. On Wednesday and Thursday Dr. Mangus confirmed that the areas that didn't show cancer while in surgery were actually cancerous. This was difficult to hear as it means there is no longer any chance of a transplant in Scott's future. It also means we don't know what the future holds. Dr. Mangus stated before surgery that Scott was one in 1000 to be here and doing so well following a Klatskin tumor. He now is unsure what the status of the cancer is. It is considered stage 4, but he thinks it may be a very slow growing form. He also stated he isn't sure if his body is somehow keeping the cancer in check. We did consult an oncologist today with no information. I really don't like talking to them, because they don't have any good answers.
Obviously, our number one focus now is to get Scott well enough to leave the hospital and come home soon. Now he is doing pretty good, but awaiting the results of a CT scan because of some severe bloating today.
Thanks so much for all the prayers and kind thoughts and words. They mean so very much to us. We love all of you. Please include him in your prayers for a speedy recovery and return home to be near those we love so very much. Also, please include a prayer for our sweet grandson Taylor Scott Gifford (10 months) who is also hospitalized back home for pneumonia. Utah seems so very far away right now.
I am not sure if or when I will post as it has been much more difficult than I had hoped it would be. Thanks for your patience.
Love,
Scott, Susan and family
Obviously, our number one focus now is to get Scott well enough to leave the hospital and come home soon. Now he is doing pretty good, but awaiting the results of a CT scan because of some severe bloating today.
Thanks so much for all the prayers and kind thoughts and words. They mean so very much to us. We love all of you. Please include him in your prayers for a speedy recovery and return home to be near those we love so very much. Also, please include a prayer for our sweet grandson Taylor Scott Gifford (10 months) who is also hospitalized back home for pneumonia. Utah seems so very far away right now.
I am not sure if or when I will post as it has been much more difficult than I had hoped it would be. Thanks for your patience.
Love,
Scott, Susan and family
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Living by Faith and with Gratitude
We are very grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who guided us here to Indiana. I am also grateful to Quinten, Matthew (who got here just before surgery), Skyler and Elise for being here with us. Thank you also Brenn for traveling so far from home to support us. It has been really sweet to spend these days with all our 'kids'. I know it has meant so much to Scott to have them around to lift us up.
Today we were awaiting one of the biopsy reports. Dr. Mangus came by around 5:00 and told us that we would not have the final answer now until tomorrow. He also indicated that the Pathologist seemed to believe it was cancerous, but wanted to conduct an additional test tomorrow to be sure. The initial biopsy at surgery was not cancer, but abnormal cells were present. Because this biopsy is done quickly, they always send it for further review and in about 10% of those cases, it can come back as cancerous. This has been somewhat disheartening as we so want everything to be clear. The doctor mentioned that is may be a very slow growing form of cancer that he could live many years with. He did state that if he does have any cancer and were to receive a transplant, it would shorten his life greatly due to the immunosuppressant they use to reduce rejection of the organ. This may be the reason the Lord lead us here. Had he continued on the transplant list in Salt Lake and received a liver, it could have been a much worse scenario. Obviously we are praying for a positive result from the biopsy, but Scott has told us that he is not worried. He has been promised in Priesthood blessings that he would be here for many years and he has Faith in the Lord. This has bouyed all of us up. He is so strong and faithful. I am so grateful to have Scott as my eternal husband. He is such a teacher to me. I love him so very much.
Additionally, the doctor stated that he and the radiologists are working out another possible 'fix' for Scott's current liver situation. It all depends on his healing from the surgery. He told us that they may try to connect him in a way that has never been tried before. Another reason the Lord lead us to Indiana. They are one of the leading transplant centers in the country and even in the world. They have so much experience in so many things and are willing to look for a solution even when it is trying something new. Again pure gratitude.
Today we were awaiting one of the biopsy reports. Dr. Mangus came by around 5:00 and told us that we would not have the final answer now until tomorrow. He also indicated that the Pathologist seemed to believe it was cancerous, but wanted to conduct an additional test tomorrow to be sure. The initial biopsy at surgery was not cancer, but abnormal cells were present. Because this biopsy is done quickly, they always send it for further review and in about 10% of those cases, it can come back as cancerous. This has been somewhat disheartening as we so want everything to be clear. The doctor mentioned that is may be a very slow growing form of cancer that he could live many years with. He did state that if he does have any cancer and were to receive a transplant, it would shorten his life greatly due to the immunosuppressant they use to reduce rejection of the organ. This may be the reason the Lord lead us here. Had he continued on the transplant list in Salt Lake and received a liver, it could have been a much worse scenario. Obviously we are praying for a positive result from the biopsy, but Scott has told us that he is not worried. He has been promised in Priesthood blessings that he would be here for many years and he has Faith in the Lord. This has bouyed all of us up. He is so strong and faithful. I am so grateful to have Scott as my eternal husband. He is such a teacher to me. I love him so very much.
Additionally, the doctor stated that he and the radiologists are working out another possible 'fix' for Scott's current liver situation. It all depends on his healing from the surgery. He told us that they may try to connect him in a way that has never been tried before. Another reason the Lord lead us to Indiana. They are one of the leading transplant centers in the country and even in the world. They have so much experience in so many things and are willing to look for a solution even when it is trying something new. Again pure gratitude.
Long day and night
After 11 hours, surgery is finally over. Scott is in the Surgery ICU now and will probably be for about 2 days. The surgeon came to talk with us about 10:30 pm and told us they were unable to reconnect his liver to his intestines. It was a very complicated surgery and they called in many specialists. The final result was that they could not connect it because the artery that supplies the liver with blood would have been cut off. (not the doctor's words, just my interpretation).
Bottom line is that they are awaiting additional pathology results on 3 biopsies. If these are clear, he will need a transplant. It is better to do it quickly, if possible before the scarring happens again. I would guess that we will stay here if transplant is a possibility.
He is awake now and has had the ventilator tube removed. Yeah!!! He is joking around like his usual self.
Thanks so much again for all the love and prayers.
Bottom line is that they are awaiting additional pathology results on 3 biopsies. If these are clear, he will need a transplant. It is better to do it quickly, if possible before the scarring happens again. I would guess that we will stay here if transplant is a possibility.
He is awake now and has had the ventilator tube removed. Yeah!!! He is joking around like his usual self.
Thanks so much again for all the love and prayers.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
nearly 8 hours and counting
Surgery started nearly 8 hours ago. The doctor had scheduled 2 1/2 hours and has had to cancel his other procedures so he can continue. The good news is that the biopsy came back as 'no cancer' and they have continued the surgery. The doctor told us this morning if they found the cancer had returned, they wouldn't go ahead with the procedure. The only updates we have had is they have encountered a lot of scar tissue and he is stable. We have been here at the hospital over 13 hours now and it looks like we are almost the last group waiting here in the surgical waiting room. (again) Thanks for your continued love, thoughts and prayers. I know they make a difference. I will blog again when the surgery is over and we have talked with the doctor.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Off to Indiana.......
Maybe. Leaving Utah at 1:35pm to Phoenix, now rain delayed in Phoenix and after 2 hours deplaned. We are waiting in the airport to see if we will get out of Phoenix tonight. This is the reason I decided to fly out on Sunday instead of Monday.
History: Since May we have been weighing the options for Scott's health. He was listed on the transplant list in Salt Lake in late May. At that same time, he was also talking with Dr. Shane Mangus a surgeon in Indianapolis where he had done a transplant evaluation in March. University of Indiana wanted to do additional biopsies prior to listing him there. The reason for their concern is that upon transplant, it is necessary to suppress his imune system to avoid rejection of the new liver. With the imune system suppressed, if there were any cancer, it would spread quickly. While talking with Dr. Mangus, Scott discussed his desire to have his liver reconnected if possible instead of the transplant. After reviewing additional information we sent to him, he stated he felt it was possible to reconnect and that his liver may be able to regenerate. At the time of the surgery they will also do several biopsies. He stated about a 50/50 chance of success which made this a tough decision. During this time, we were very blessed. Through prayer, fasting and priesthood blessings, it was made clear to us that Indiana was where we were to go. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. He is to be at the hospital at 5:30 am which is 3:30 am Utah time.
There are 5 of us traveling today. Scott and Susan, Elise, Quinten and Skyler (our 'kids') and also Scott's brother Brenn. Our son Matt will be flying into Indiana at 5:00 am on Tuesday.
We are so very blessed to have so many who love and care for us. Thank you to all our family and friends. We love you so very much!!!
History: Since May we have been weighing the options for Scott's health. He was listed on the transplant list in Salt Lake in late May. At that same time, he was also talking with Dr. Shane Mangus a surgeon in Indianapolis where he had done a transplant evaluation in March. University of Indiana wanted to do additional biopsies prior to listing him there. The reason for their concern is that upon transplant, it is necessary to suppress his imune system to avoid rejection of the new liver. With the imune system suppressed, if there were any cancer, it would spread quickly. While talking with Dr. Mangus, Scott discussed his desire to have his liver reconnected if possible instead of the transplant. After reviewing additional information we sent to him, he stated he felt it was possible to reconnect and that his liver may be able to regenerate. At the time of the surgery they will also do several biopsies. He stated about a 50/50 chance of success which made this a tough decision. During this time, we were very blessed. Through prayer, fasting and priesthood blessings, it was made clear to us that Indiana was where we were to go. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. He is to be at the hospital at 5:30 am which is 3:30 am Utah time.
There are 5 of us traveling today. Scott and Susan, Elise, Quinten and Skyler (our 'kids') and also Scott's brother Brenn. Our son Matt will be flying into Indiana at 5:00 am on Tuesday.
We are so very blessed to have so many who love and care for us. Thank you to all our family and friends. We love you so very much!!!
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