The liver biopsy

The liver biopsy is done. They told us to go to the U Hospital at 8:45 am. We parked, made our way through the construction and down the dreary halls of the hospital and were sitting in radiology for 1/2 hour waiting...then they said we should be at Huntsman. We were happy to leave the U and head up to Huntsman. The difference is amazing and it does so much to lift your spirits being in a beautiful place that's not under construction and doesn't really look like a hospital at all. So "thank you Jon Huntsman"! At Huntsman they got us right in and did an ultrasound to look at Craig's liver to see if they could see the tumors, if they couldn't, then we wouldn't be able to have the biopsy. But the tumors were visible and they proceeded with the biopsy. Craig was slightly sedated and the skin and area of his liver was sedated also. The ultrasound wand was placed on his right side until they found the exact spot where they wanted to biopsy. A little "needle holder" was attached to the wand and the doctor slid the very long needle through that and into Craig's liver. Craig had to hold his breath so his liver wouldn't move. I could see the needle appear on the screen as they entered the liver. Then the needle has a little grabber hook that comes out and snags a snippet of his liver and withdraws it back into the needle and they pull out the needle and deposit the sample in a little cup. They did that five times and took different samples from two of the tumors they could see on the right side. Craig didn't feel much and what he did feel was just a little pressure luckily. He conversed and said a few funny things while they were doing the procedure. He was taken into recovery where he slept for 1.5 hours and I played games on my iTouch! I had great intentions of catching up my journal but my brain just wanted to zone out for awhile. We went to lunch at The Point after he woke up and he did pretty well. He felt ok and was able to walk and talk just fine. We met with Dr. Jones after and she made a change on the drug he was taking since it's not giving the result they want. Now he'll be taking a pancreas enzyme to replace what the pancreas isn't producing. We'll see if that helps him get his system slowed down. The results from the biopsy won't be ready until next Tuesday. That's the day we'll find out the course of treatment. Craig is a trooper and still smiles and is already being referred to as the "nice guy" by the staff at Huntsman who have just met him. That's my Craiger!