Update 01/07/08 from Tina Meyer:

The insurance co. granted a referral to Loma Linda to see a hepatologist and to have a liver biopsy.  The biopsy is scheduled for noon today (1/7) and the hepatologist on 1/9.  Loma Linda does not do live donor transplants so they will be looking at Brian from the UNOS standpoint for the national organ donor waiting list.  This is great because it will give him a MELD score that is typically used to judge mortality risk and placement among those waiting.  This information is useful for referrals to centers that do live donor transplants.  It is possible for Brian to have all of the preliminary testing done at Loma Linda through his insurance company and be placed on the UNOS list.  I’ll send any news as it becomes available.

The insurance co has denied referral to UCLA.  Brian’s primary care doctor is submitting an appeal.  In the meanwhile, they may pull it and try for approval at UCSD.  We were told on 12/18 that UCSD DOES NOT do live donor transplants but a contact at Scripps has said otherwise. We are confirming this ASAP.  Advantages to UCSD are that they are closer to Temecula and they use the ELAD machine, an external liver device that helps keep people healthy while they wait for a transplant.  We had a line on Scripps in La Jolla for their live donor program for Brian and Kevin .  Their initial assessment is that he is a good candidate but they denied his insurance.  We continue to pursue Scripps because of their excellent reputation.  We have a list of all of the centers doing live donor transplants in Ca.  Our Scripps contact  has told us to be ready for the very real possibility of being bumped up to Northern Ca.  (Many of you may know that most people who receive liver transplants must use a variety of funding sources.  We are no different so don’t worry or become discouraged if the insurance co. denies something). 

This holiday season was clouded by persistent pain, nausea and fatigue.  They are relentless and take a toll in every way.  Along with a complete healing, I am asking everyone pray especially for relief from nausea because it interferes with getting much needed nutrition and medication.  Brian and Maureen continue checking the Caringbridge  website (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/briancarlson)  so please keep posting.  It also helps Brian’s family to read the messages from everyone so please don’t let the guestbook lag too much.  (THANKS)! 

On a lighter note, Brian was able to make it to his Moms’ for a little while on Christmas Eve.  This was the every-4-year family reunion so he was especially glad to be there.   He finally got a bit of his beloved cabbage salad from Clearmans’ Northwoods Inn.  (He’s been talking about it since November)!  Sour tummy be-darned, he ate it AND kept it down!  If you haven’t been able to visit Temecula you will be happy to know that the Brian-isms and goofy quirks that we all love so much shine through even on the roughest days.  For example, Brian keeps a hairdryer by the bedside and if he gets cold he dives under the covers with it and blows warm air on parts-otherwise-unnamed!  It looks pretty silly but works well!  I tried to get a photo yesterday but the camera batteries pooped out.  Brian assures me that this photo op will come again because he “does this all the time”. 

That’s about it for now.  I will send any news from the Loma Linda trip as soon as something is known.  God bless us all this new year with the help that Brian needs to be well again.