The wait continues, but there is progress to report

It has been two weeks since Sandy was listed on the organ transplant list (and since the fire drill that night!). The wait continues, but there is progress to report. The escalation in her bilirubin level is remarkable. As you may have seen before, it causes discomfort, jaundice and itching all over. Her skin is yellow, and her eyes are more janudiced than ever before. They look like pee and I think she's a little embarrassed by it. Frankly, she's miserable right now...and there is nothing we can do about it. Sandy did not notice that I woke up last night to see her scratching for more than an hour straight. I am sure she continued, but I finally fell back to sleep. Every time I woke up, she was scratching...sometimes while awake, sometimes while she slept. Of course, the girls and I scratch her back every night, usually while watching something like American Idol or My Name Is Earl and The Office (both destined to be among the great comedies of all time). Last night it was while watching a Warren Miller DVD-- compliments of Warren & crew with the message of "Stay Strong Sandy!" Our scratching her back never makes the itching go away, but it does seem to comfort her a bit and allow her to relax a little more.

The blood results from yesterday confirmed what we already knew--her bilirubin level continues to escalate. I was hoping that it would fall somewhere between 8-9, which would move her up on the waiting list. To add some perspective, when Sandy was first listed her bilirubin level was 5.5 and this gave her a MELD score of 12. A jump to 8-9 would bump her up to about a 15, a much better position on the list. The blood results came back today and her bilirubin level is a staggering 17, the highest it has ever been. Seven-teeeeeeeeeen! In the infamous words of the late great Harry Carrey, Holy Cow! Her MELD score will be adjusted today, and I'll let you know where we stand.

Have a great weekend!