Blue Faery’s Blog
What It's Really Like to Live With Advanced Liver Disease
"The only bad question is the one not asked." Read Bruce Demmig’s powerful story of navigating MASH, fibrosis, and learning to speak up in the face of uncertainty.
Cherishing Time with Loved Ones
By a stroke of luck, Bonnie and Warren were able to identify a suitable physician to help with Warren's treatment on the day he was going in for his biopsy. They overheard the GI doctor mention the name of an interventional radiologist (IR) who successfully treated HCC. So, they asked about the IR, who coincidently happened to be there that day.
Optimizing Cancer Support
Initially, Greg was eligible for a transplant, which gave him the best odds of survival. The liver transplant process is very extensive. The healthcare team has to ensure whomever they provide a liver for is not only going to be able to survive the surgery but also the post-treatment care.
Prioritizing Quality of Life
The GI offered to get Jimmy on the transplant list. However, Jimmy did not want to take a liver from somebody who was younger or had kids to raise.
Advocating for Cancer Patients
Although he was in his 70s, the hepatologists recommended liver resection (i.e., surgery) as a treatment option. They told Swapna and her family that he was a good candidate for resection and it was possibly curative.
How One Doctor Is Helping Cancer Patients Take Control of Their Care
Dr. Bridget Bongaard, known as Dr. B, has spent years building programs that support the whole person, not just the disease. Her work now focuses on helping cancer patients feel informed, supported, and empowered.
How Lorrinda Gray-Davis Is Changing the Transplant Journey
Lorrinda's health issues began years before her diagnosis. In 2003, doctors noticed high liver enzymes. They told her not to worry. Over time, symptoms grew worse. She got sick often. Still, no one connected the dots. She did not know she had liver disease.
Caregiver Lessons Learned and Shared
Elisa Herr lives in the New York and New Jersey area. She never expected to become an expert in liver cancer. She never wanted to learn the words that would enter her daily life. But in July 2019, her husband Ed received a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as HCC.
A Caregiver's Story of Love, Loss, and Strength
Angela Davis never expected to become a caregiver overnight. She had built a steady life in Huntsville, Alabama. Then, on August 7, 2022, everything changed.