Greetings Journeymen and Journeywomen,
My apologies for not yet providing the part two of the last entry. Frankly, it is not for a lack of attention, just a lot more challenging to relive than I anticipated, but stay tuned it will be completed shortly. Now, on to a current medical update.
We finally have some promising progress along with some challenges. The good news is that Bridget finished her 4th and last PRRT treatment in January (specialized radiation treatment, you can read about it here) Bridget is working with the Liver Transplant team at University of Chicago. It has been a slow and ongoing process. They requested she get a PET scan to access if she has any tumors that are growing at a faster rate. For this particular PET scan you don't want to see the tumors light up. Thankfully 99% of her tumors did not light up meaning they are well differentiated and slow growing. There was one tumor in her liver that looked different and did light up so the team has requested she get it biopsied in order to move forward with the transplant process. If it is a faster growing tumor this will eliminate her from the transplant process. On a positive note, her tumor marker (Chromogranin A) that they track through blood work has significantly lowered. Before treatment it was over 1,000 and in March had dropped to 250! Below 93 is considered normal. This simply means there is not as much tumor activity.
Bridget’s energy is increasing and she is able to be much more mobile and engaged with Kieran and Alana, which brings her a lot of joy. She has also been able to get back to her health conscience cooking and continues to work on writing a cookbook. She has also been making skin care rollers and salves that she will be selling on Holistic Bliss Co.'s website. The ascites is still present but not as severe as it was a few months ago. Most of the fluid is in the abdomen but thankfully not in the legs and feet. Bridget still has to go get “tapped” weekly.
Bridget’s primary neuroendocrine doctor at University of Chicago is Dr. Blase Polite. He is amazed that for unknown reasons (small miracles are always welcome) that Bridget’s tumors have not metastasized outside of the liver in almost 3 years. Neuroendocrine patients typically would have seen this spread into other organs, according to Polite. Bridget’s hope is a liver transplant. She went through the process with Northwestern Memorial a year ago, but they turned her down as a candidate. University of Chicago is still considering her for a living donor liver transplant. As it sounds, a living donor would have a portion of their liver removed and then it would be transplanted into Bridget. Her liver function according to blood work is still normal so she would never make it to the top of the deceased transplant list. There is a lot that goes into qualifying the donor and Bridget for a living donor transplant. The most important piece is a matching blood type. She could accept a liver from someone with B+ (her blood type) or O (universal blood type. Did you know that the liver will grow completely back in 8 weeks?? Dr. Polite is advocating to the transplant committee that Bridget is a viable candidate.
On Monday Bridget is going in for a biopsy of the tumor that lit up on the PET scan. At the same time they will also do a procedure called an ablation. This is done with Interventional Radiology and will be done laparoscopically. Essentially they burn the tumor and kill it. You are probably wondering why they don't just ablate all the tumors in her liver. They can't do this because she has a lot of tiny lesions that are diffuse on every part of her liver. The ablation kills the tissue and there would be barely anything of her liver left if this were done.
So, as you can see there is a lot riding on this. Our beautiful Bridget has been so strong, faithful and stoic but Dad can tell concern is rising in her. I am reaching out to each of you, please leave a note of encouragement on the website, drop an email to bridgetaileen@gmail.com or send a card. These small gestures of acknowledgement are so helpful. And it goes without saying we always welcome prayers.
Bridget Sievers
@holisticblissdotco
Bridget, it’s Duddy. I read and follow your updats as Kevin is so good at updating us. What I am not good about is dropping you a note on here. What I am good about is praying for you and your health. We Love you and just wanted to tell you, I think you are a beautiful woman and you inspire me. Thank You for giving me strength even when you aren’t feeling very strong yourself. I think of you often.
Duddy