Normally, I Like Roller Coasters....

Wow. This week has been such a roller coaster! Well.. let's be honest, the last 4 months have been a roller coaster, but this week takes the cake! Just a quick update...

Monday, I headed up to University of Utah for my annual liver check up with my awesome doctor, Terry Box. My appointment wasn't long, just long enough for him to tell me he would like for me to be tested for liver cancer. The rest of the appointment was kind of a blur...

University of Utah Kidney and Liver Clinic 

Leaving that appointment I was extremely nervous and scared and prayed my heart out! Luckily my wonderful mom was with me and we made our way to the Provo Temple Open House. The temple is exactly where I needed to be. The comfort and peace it brought was incredible! I felt the love of my Savior and my Heavenly Father. If you haven't been, please go! It's the most beautiful temple!

Provo Temple Open House with Momma Carter

Tuesday, I had a CT Scan and some blood work to test for the Liver Cancer. It was a tough test to get through because, naturally, I was more nervous about this test than any other test I've had. Luckily, in between scans, I was left alone in the room and was able to sing out loud :) For those of you who don't know me very well, I sing everywhere I go! It's quite calming and helped a lot. As I laid there in the room by myself, I had so many emotions, but I did not feel alone. It was hard, but I sang my way through it... (You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan was my song of choice, by the way)

Wednesday was an extremely long morning! I waited and waited for results, hoping, wishing, praying... trying to stay positive! The phone call from the doctors office wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear... They said they needed me in for more testing, specifically an EGD. I got off the phone and cried, thinking the worst! All I could think in my head was "I have liver cancer." The only positive I could make out of this was that I would have a higher MELD score which means I would get a transplant sooner...
I left work early, only to find my sister and mother in bed with chocolate for me :) I have the most rock solid support system in the world! We cuddled up together and laughed and it made me feel so much better!
When my dad got home from work, I asked if he and Grandpa Carter, who was visiting from Oregon, could give me a priesthood blessing. I wish I could put into words the comfort and peace I felt through that blessing. It was a very special experience and such a touching night. I was told in the blessing that this is a huge trial, a process and that it was going to be hard, BUT I would experience tender mercies, feel the hand of my Heavenly Father, and experience the minimum amount of pain. It was very special and made me feel so much better.
We heard from the doc again not even an hour later, confirming that there was no cancer!! It was the greatest news and I was so grateful for that!
On the other hand... the varices were still present... and I needed the EGD.
This is what my report said:
"There is severe hepatic cirrhosis. There is atrophy with scalloped serosal margins. There is marked splenomegaly and massive distal esophageal and gastric varices."

Thursday was a long day of waiting, phone calls, setting up the appointment and dealing with my insurance...

Friday (today) was my scope... and again, we heard nothing but good news! Varices are on the outside of the esophagus, which is not a risk, because if they are on the outside, they won't bleed. THERE WERE NO VARICES ON THE INSIDE OF MY ESOPHAGUS.

I feel so blessed and so loved and so watched over! I have such a testimony of the power of prayer and have felt all of the prayers you have given on my behalf, so thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My support system helps me through... you are all angels in my eyes and I wouldn't be this far without all of you!

I have a feeling this happy girl is going to sleep just fine tonight....

For now, I'm going to cuddle up in my moms bed, watch Tarzan and sing as many songs as my tired and drugged body will let me. It's been a good day!

Love you all!!

natalie janae