Paula Long

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We probably should have started this sooner but here we are now and are hoping to use  it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We so appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement...please keep them coming!   Thank you so much for visiting, feel free to post and share photos, stories, etc.  #teampaula 

As many of you know, Mom was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver several years ago.  If you know her well, you know that her sister, Cindy/Aunt Cici passed away from this same disease 5 years ago. :(  Mom  had managed to stay symptom free up until this past holiday season when she experienced severe anemia due to a bleeding stomach ulcer.   A couple of hospital stays later, the muscle wasting and weakness (symptoms of liver disease) took hold.  

Her liver team noticed her declining condition towards the end of January and suggested we look into a living liver donor transplant.  We thought, "Great...a Cure"!  Many of us signed up to begin the testing process to be a possible donor, but in a matter of a couple of weeks, this crazy disease progressed even further and she was declined at that time for ANY type of transplant due to her weakness.   

Our journey and focus then began on getting her stronger so that she could be presented to the transplant board once again for a chance at a living donor transplant.  The "catch 22" is that the nature of this  disease causes you to get weaker even when you are fighting to get stronger! #uphillbattle   From there...this is kind of how it all went down:

She had a 10 day stay in February at a Weatherford Rehabilitation Hospital where she initially made some progress until she was transported  to Baylor Scott and White in Ft. Worth due to declining kidney functions and ascites (abdomen filling with fluid)...all symptoms of liver disease.  Several days there and then she was discharged and sent to Senior Care at Harbor Lakes in Granbury,  a skilled nursing/rehab facility.  She was there 2 weeks with a similar pattern, progress in the beginning and then liver disease took over and sent her back to Baylor in Ft. Worth due to  declining kidney functions again and elevated white blood cell count. Once again, her numbers started improving and she was transferred to a long term acute care hospital, Kindred Hospital in Ft. Worth, where she is now and has been since April 9.  

Needless to say, it is a daily roller coaster ride.  As of now, we know that her liver is failing and her kidneys aren't doing so great either.  She continues to fight and no matter how much she is suffering continues to try and make others around her feel comfortable first and foremost.  Our family is so grateful for all of your prayers and support, please keep them coming and we will continue to keep you updated!