Post About Sam's Health

 This post is mainly for those who have asked about Sam and his health situation.  How it started and his symptoms.

Sadly, Sam had been complaining about his right side for several years now.  When he would mention it to our Doctor, the doctor would tell him that he thought it was fatty liver and that he needed to eat a proper diet.  

Two years ago, we were in enjoying a trip in Branson Mo. with a few of our friends...We were going to be leaving to head home on Sunday morning.  Sam woke me up around 2:30 that Sunday morning and was hurting so bad on his right side...He knew it was a kidney stone.  Needless to say, a friend of ours drove home and thankfully I had some pain medication with me. I gave Sam a couple of them and he slept most of the way home.  

We did go to the doctor that following Monday and Sam did have a kidney stone.  He actually had several kidney stones, and had to have surgery to remove them.  All of this resulted in needing to have an MRI.  The MRI came back showing that Sam's liver was sick!!  Not only did he have a fatty liver, but the fatty liver had turned in to Cirrhosis of liver with lesions. 

Sam was referred to a liver specialist but we had to wait several months for his appointment. I think we waited 5 months before being able to see this specialist.  During this time, I noticed that things did not seem right for Sam, especially with his thinking.  Not only was he exhausted all the time, but his thinking was not clear.  Once again (during the wait to see the specialist) we saw our family doctor.  He checked Sam's ammonia level and it was very high.  This indicated that his liver was not being able to get rid of the toxins in body.  When this happens, toxins go to the brain which can cause encephalopathy, which is exactly what was happening with him.  Our doctor started him on a strong antibiotic to help with this issue.  

We finally were able to get in to see the Liver specialist and through a series of test it was determined that Sam does have NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis). Before Sam's diagnosis, I did not know that a person who never drinks alcohol could have cirrhosis of the liver.  

His meds for encephalopathy had to be increased because he was struggling and his cognitive thinking seemed to be getting worse.  We now have that somewhat under control, but he will have to remain on the meds for a very long time.  

During his October 2024 appointment with the specialist, his blood counts were the same as what they were on our first visit with him.  But then, we saw the specialist again in March 2025 and the tumor marker level had jumped from 9 to 49.  The doctor immediately knew that Sam most likely had a tumor.  Another MRI was done to verify that yes, he had a malignant tumor. 

Not only was he exhausted each day more than ever, but his body was just not functioning in a healthy way.

We then saw a Radiologist as well as an oncologist and an oncologist Surgeon.  Unfortunately, Sam is not a candidate for surgery. The Radiologist performed a radiation treatment called Y90 which was done at the hospital.  First they had to do what is called a Mapping of the veins that lead directly to the tumor.  The next week, the procedure was done. They went through his groin and delivered a large amount of radiation to the tumor.  Now, we are in a waiting time!  We have to wait until August 6th just to see if the radiation has killed out the tumor or if all the cancer cells are gone.  He will have another MRI to determine this.  If it is not all gone, they will go back in and do the same procedure.

He will have to have an MRI done every 3 months to keep a watch out for more tumors or the spread of cancer cells to his lungs or bones.  I am trusting that this first round of radiation has taken care of ALL Cancer cells.  

Specific Prayer request: 

1. The tumor is pressing against his diaphragm, which is causing him to have a bad cough....  We need this tumor to disappear for this reason as well.

2. His energy level is very, very low and he needs prayers for this level to increase.

3. All cancer cells to be GONE!

4. That the encephalopathy will not worsen. 

5. For complete and total healing.

I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS OUR HEALER AND I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER!!

Lessons we have learned:  

1. Be your own advocate....if you have discomfort or pain somewhere in your body....request an MRI or get a second opinion.  A simple MRI done earlier may have prevented Sam's fatty liver from turning into cirrhosis. 

2. If a particular specialist is booked and you have to wait 5 months to see them, ....FIND A DIFFERENT SPECIALIST.

3.  Ask questions, ask questions and ask questions. 

Become educated in what you are dealing with and insist the medical team keep you up to date on all procedures.

We both appreciate so very much the prayers from each of you....Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Shug.....