Life on the List

A few days ago I gave an introduction to how Ken is doing and I will post updates here when there is something significant to share.  Right now he is back in the hospital due to another infection.  We hope that he can return home within a week.  He is doing well with the treatments and appreciates the prayers, encouragement and comments left on this blog.

Here's a little more detail about PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis) and why Ken is spending so much time in the hospital.  He is currently dealing with his second battle with this liver disease.  It is a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the bile ducts of the liver and can lead to complete liver failure.  The only "cure" for PSC is a liver transplant.  Many people have PSC and never need a liver transplant because the liver damage is not severe enough to require a transplant.  A small percentage of people who have had a liver transplant due to PSC have had a return of the disease in the transplanted liver.  Ken is one of the few to whom this has happen and is now on the liver transplant list a second time.  Talk about being an over achiever!

There is no treatment for this disease so doctors must help manage the symptoms caused by the inflammation and irritation to the bile ducts.  The symptoms can range from mild to serious.  The more damage to the liver over time, the more serious the problems.  The inflammation often leads to blockages and infections in the liver which can require hospitalization for IV antibiotics.  Right now this disease has caused one infection after another for the past five months so this is why Ken has spent more time in the hospital than at home.

Sorry there's not a lot of fun in this post but come back again because you never know when I will say something crazy on the World Wide Web!