Well That Was Quick!

Sooo there has been a slight change of plans. =) We found out that my Dad will be released from the hospital early next week. And he will need to stay in Rochester for 2 to 3 weeks for appts and in case anything happens. But after that he will be able to go home!!!!!!! There will be no transplant house, just home. =) This is such wonderful news and I am still in shock of it all.

My Dad looks so good! You would have never known that he just had a liver transplant 2 days ago. And lets not forget the fabulousness that is Ginger! She is amazing and she looks amazing.

Oatmeal

Well they've moved on to solids! =) Another great start to the day. Both are looking great and are in great spirits.

Please take the time to check out my Dad's Caring Bridge website. Julie posted a beautiful picture of Ginger and my Dad. It's the picture of them seeing each other for the first time.

Wow!

Today has not been what I thought it would be. I thought my Dad and Ginger would sleep on and off all day, building their strength. But boy oh boy was I wrong!

I was sitting in the waiting room at around 11am and all of the sudden I hear Heidi's voice. "Ginger's coming! She's switching rooms!" I peek around the corner and see the most beautiful woman being wheeled by. It's Ginger! And she's not even being wheeled in her bed, she's in a wheel chair. Wow! We all walked with her to her new room, out of ICU. Huge.

Again I found myself sitting in the waiting room. I had only been there for about 5 minutes. All of the sudden I hear Heidi's voice agian, "They're moving Dad too!". I jumped out of my chair, turned the corner. I was totally expecting to see my Dad being wheeled by bed. But nope! Not that strong brave Father of mine. He was in a wheel chair. With a big ol smile on his face. Which is, may I say, the most beautiful smile. So again we all walked together, to his new room, out of ICU. Amazing.

After these two huge events I figured that they would both be pretty tired and need naps. So I left with Heidi and Taylor. Sent them off, as they had to go home. I just got finished having lunch and was waiting for the shuttle to bring me back to The Mayo. I received a picture from Julie on my phone. It was a picture of my Dad standing, yes I said standing, beside Ginger's bed. She was sitting up and his hand was placed on her cheek. Truly breathtakingly beautiful. I wasn't even sad I missed it. Because I could feel the emotion through that picture.

This has all been a miracle. My goodness, it hasn't even been 24 hours!

Calm

Good Morning! Things are calm here. Both are exhausted and getting rest. I think today will be filled with quick in and out visits. My Dad and Ginger both need their rest and I don't want to be the one disturbing them. Especially since they have Nurses and Doctors coming in and out waking them each time.

Not much to say..........sorry. It's all still a little overwhelming. So for now I will just be updating on the main details. =)

Ice Cold Bud Light

Awwwwwww..........................Everything went so well. Both are resting comfortably in their beds. It's very comforting and peaceful. I've gotten to speak with both my Dad and my Aunt Ginger. My Dad is already cracking jokes. The Nurse asked if he needed anything and his response was, "An ice cold Bud Light" Ha! Perfect.

This has been such an amazing day. Thank you all for you wonderful thoughts and prayers. We all felt them.

SUCCESS!!!

The surgery is done! My Dad is doing great. We won't see him yet, but soon. My Dad is good and so is Ginger. This is a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Blood is Flowing!

The blood is flowing throughout my Dad's new liver!!!!!!! They are connecting the bile duct now. He will be in surgery for about another 3 hours.

Ginger's room has been assigned and they are most likely just waiting for her to wake up and then they will move her. Soo excited to see her! The woman is a SAINT!

At The Mayo

Well I finally made it here! It took awhile but I made it. =) My Dad is still in surgery. My Aunt Ginger is in recovery! The Nurse said that everything is going well.

Wow! I'm still in shock that this is happening. I'm so excited that everything is going well and that Ginger is already recovering. I can't wait to see her!

My Dad will be in surgery for a couple more hours. I really want to see him but I know he is in excellent hands and it's best that I leave this for the professionals. ;)

I'll keep posting as things happen.......

ALL SYSTEMS GO!

Lymph nodes are clear! The Transplant is on! =)

HERE WE GO!

Wow! It's approaching.........my Dad's transplant. Again, wow! My Dad and Julie are at the Mayo this morning. My Dad is being checked in right now.

Tomorrow is the transplant. Today is the procedure where they go in and lift my Dad's liver to check his lymph nodes. There are lymph nodes right under your liver that they can not test without getting right in there. They are doing this to check and make sure that the cancer has not spread to them. If it has not, they don't think it has, then it's all systems go on the transplant!

Now about my Dad's transplant. We cannot discuss his transplant without talking about my Aunt, The Saint, Ginger. Ginger is my Dad's sister who has been going through test after test to see if she would be a good match for a live donor. Guess what!? She is!! She will be right by my Dad's side tomorrow. Going through this with him. She is a Saint! (Always has been I should add.)

They will be taking 65% of Ginger's liver. Leaving her with 35%. Within 10 days her liver will be back at 75% and in a month a full 100%! Amazing what the human body is capable of doing. My Dad will be getting that 65%. I'm sure you get the numbers thing, it will then grow. If I write anymore percentages down I will feel like I'm back in math class. (Eeck!)

He will be at the Mayo for 10 days. From there he will move to the transplant house. He will be at the transplant house for 2 months. During those two months I am honored to say that I will be sharing the time with Julie caring for him. There is nothing I would rather do then take care of my Dad. He took care of me, now it is my turn.

Lots of love for my Dad! I will be updating a lot throughout this whole process............

Again, it has been awhile. I have been having a hard time thinking of what I want to write. I open up the page, place my fingers on my laptop and then nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Of course I can just type the facts. My Dad and Julie have been up at the Mayo. 5 days there, 2 days home. He has been having lots and lots of tests. And he has begun his radiation and chemo. He is doing well considering. There, those are the facts. Seems easy to type, right?

The only problem is that I am not a robot. Every time I have tried to type these things I draw a blank and I go numb. I have so many feelings about all of this and I am constantly trying to find out what exactly I am feeling. At times I am just so sad. I wish it was me this time and not my Dad. He has been through so much! Then I get mad at myself because I feel like when I think negatively about all of this and get all why now why him. I am just putting negativity out there and that does no good.

So I am trying to be as optimistic as possible. Because he will get through this! I know he will. I just know what is on the road ahead. We've been down this road before. Although my Dad has not had a transplant before he has had his colon removed, not easy. And he has been through chemo before. So maybe this time instead of the fear of the unknown I am having the fear of the fuck I know what this is going to be like. I know how this is going to affect my Dad.

I know that there are times that my Dad is scared, sad, tired and just altogether bummed. But I also know that he has times of pure joy, love, peace and altogether goodness. Those are the moments I try and think of when I am feeling down. Those moments that even though my Dad has been through so much he still is happy! Extremely happy!

So now I am smiling. Because I have a wonderful image of my Dad smiling. I'm going to hold on to that image until I see him tomorrow. When see that smile in person. =)

It's Been Awhile

Whew, it has been awhile. My Dad had a few weeks where he was back at home away from any testing. He is now back at The Mayo for some more testing. He will have tests until Friday.

It definitely felt good to have a few weeks without the whole "hanging by the edge of your seat waiting for test results". I'm sure my Dad felt the same way. But at the same time I'm sure we all had the "holy cow lets get this thing started".

I'm not really sure what will come after these tests. But I am hoping that the chemo follows immediately. Because, holy cow lets get this thing started. ;)

I will post again when the test results start to come in. Please remember to keep my Dad and our family in your thoughts and prayers. My Dad is incredibly strong but sometimes it feels good to know that you have back-up.

The Road Ahead

Thank goodness those lymph nodes were clear! I really think that everyones positive thoughts, prayers and good energy really helped. I know my Dad felt them. Thank you!

Since the cancer had not spread my Dad is a candidate for a liver transplant. We will find out if the board agrees. We all feel very confident that they will all agree that my Dad should get that "golden liver". His Doctor told him and Julie that he does not think there will be a problem.

In the next couple of days my Dad will find out when he will start his chemo and radiation. This will have to be done at the Mayo. My Dad will go 5 days a week and then be able to come home on the weekends. The Doctor said that the way my Dad will be having the chemo will be very easy on his body. And that since my Dad took to chemo so well when he had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma this should be a piece of cake. =) They will also be doing another endoscopy and they will be putting radiation directly on the tumor. Crazy!

In about a year my Dad should be having his transplant. I cannot even begin to describe the emotions that go through me as I type that. It's just the most wonderful thing. This "golden liver" is going to give my Dad a chance to live!!! Amazing!

Julie had sent me some info about one of my Dad's amazing Doctors. http://publish.aasld.org/about/governance/Pages/Gores.aspx Feel free to take a look and see what wonderful hands my Dad is in. =)

Fantastic News!

MY DAD'S LYMPH NODES ARE CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that not the most beautiful thing you have ever heard!? I am in shock and in awe. This is such good news!

At this moment my Dad and Julie are high tailing it back home. I am so incredibly excited to see the both of them. Awwwwwwww! I am so freakin excited!

Pray

Please pray for my Dad. My Dad and Julie met with the Dr today. He said that my Dad's ultra sound tomorrow is the big deal breaker. If the lymph nodes have not been compromised then my Dad will be a good candidate for a liver transplant. But if they have been compromised then it is out of the question. They can surgically remove the tumor, and some of the bile duct system, a process called resection. But it does not guarantee a cure. If they do the resection they can never go back and do a transplant.

Thank you everyone for all for your kind words and prayers this past week. We need the prayers more then ever.

Let The Week Begin

My Dad was back from the Mayo this weekend. I went to visit on Saturday and it was fantastic. My Dad looked good! He had put on a couple of pounds and looked really healthy. It was such a relief.

We had some great conversations. My Dad is the strongest (and bravest) man I know. I am so incredibly proud to be his daughter. He is the calm in this crazy storm. I am even tearing up just typing this............He is just so inspiring! He inspires you to look at the world differently. To be a better person. I love him!

The next three days will be filled with more tests and information. Originally he was going to come back on Tuesday but now his Dr wants to add a test. (Hey whatever they need to do.)

Hopefully by Wednesday we will know more. As far as what the next step will be. And whatever that step is I know my Dad is ready. I mean really ready! He not only told me but I saw it in his eyes. His beautiful brave eyes.

Tests, tests and more tests

My Dad started a long list of tests today. Everything is going well and moving really fast.

My Dad will be coming back from the Mayo tomorrow and I am so excited to see him! I just want to hug him so badly. Talking on the phone just isn't the same as in person. Although it is so reassuring to hear his voice. He is doing so good right now and is on the right track.

He will be home for the weekend and then back off to the Mayo on Monday. Home on Tuesday and then back to the Mayo on Wednesday.

I'm so excited to see my Dad!!!!!

Julie Started a Blog!

Julie started a blog for my Dad on the Caring Bridge website. www.caringbridge.org.visit/donramler

Good News!

On Monday my Dad and Julie headed to the Mayo. When they got there they got some fantastic news!

Two of the test results had come back. One is the C9-19, or something like that. It measures cancers progression and has normal limits 1-65. My Dad is at a 9! WheWhoo! Next is the tumor marker test. It ranges from 1-5, my Dad is at a 3! More fantastic news!

My Dad is scheduled for another test on Thursday. This is starting out really really good! Ahhhhh........I feel like I can breath.

Game On!

Game Face

Welcome to my blog! This blog will be used to update everyone on my Dad's journey. I hope you find it helpful and informative.

Last Thursday evening I heard my phone ring. I looked at it and it said "Julie's Cell". My heart sank, I knew exactly what the phone call would be about. Not that there were any signs, I just have an incredible bond with my Dad. As I reached for the phone I just repeated in my head over and over again, "Please be my Dad. Please be my Dad."

When I answered I heard Julie's voice. I knew she was going to tell me my Dad was sick. She informed me that my Dad had not been feeling well. He had been feeling sick since the 4th of July. His symptoms were all pointing to his liver. He had gone into the Doctor and the Doctor had scheduled an appt at the St Cloud Hospital to take a look at his liver.

So Friday Myself, Heidi and Taylor all met at Taylor's place. We waited for Julie's phone call then went to the hospital. We were in the out patient part. My Dad, Julie, myself, Heidi and Taylor all waited for the Doctor.

We were all a little uneasy but we also all tried our best to make each other smile. In that moment I realized how beautiful my family is. Each looking out for the other one. All of us binding together, becoming one.

The Doctor came in and instructed us all in the procedure. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty scary. Then he was off.

They were going to insert a camera down his throat and take a closer look at his liver. The procedure was supposed to take an hour................three agonizing hours later he was brought back to the room.

As we waited for the Doctor to come in and speak with us a nurse came in to take his blood. I knew what the Doctor was going to tell us. I looked at Julie and she knew too. After awhile the Doctor came in. I saw the pain in his eyes, which confirmed my suspicions. He informed us that while looking at my Dad's liver they had found a mass in his bile duct. (located right outside of the liver) He assured us that it was small but that action needed to be taken.

My Dad had Cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct. The good news is that it was found very early and the mass was small. =) My Dad and Julie were going to head to the Mayo that following Monday to figure out the next step.