Mom needs a transplant

OK - so here is the scoop on Mom, after seeing her liver doctor today. Apparently, the other doctor was very wrong. Mom wouldn't survive surgery to remove the tumor, as they would have to take so much of her liver, which would be fine for someone with a healthy liver, because the liver would regenerate itself - but for her, with her cirrhosis, it wouldn't regenerate, and she wouldn't survive it. She has a tumor that is about 3cm (an inch and a half in diameter) - and they rate them by size from 1 to 4. A level 1 is under 2 cm - which is too small to make it urgent for transplant; 3-5 is a two, and that is prime for transplant lists - because it is urgent enough, but not too far gone. A three and four are over that, and they are pretty much too late for transplant. So the good news is Mom is perfect in that aspect for a transplant. Also, since she doesn't drink or smoke anymore, and hasn't for a while - they like that too.
The plan at this point is that she is to go to San Francisco (yes, still going there), where she needs to have Tanya and I both there, a requirement to show she has enough family support, where we will stay with her in a hotel, while she undergoes the transplant list screening process. Upon approval, they will then begin a new type of Chemo - where they put a tube in going directly to the tumor, and they put in a chemo in the form of these little balls that basically act like leeches - and attach directly to the tumor in the liver. With this type of chemo, there is little to no side effects for most people. Only 1 in 20 have some side effects. They will call us to tell us when to come. There won't be an option for the time or date - they tell you when, and you show up. Then after she gets on the transplant list - then it is usually about 12-18 months before you are matched and get a liver for the transplant.
Her doctor doesn't know why the orthopedic surgeon didn't do the full surgery on Mom, once he had her open; so although she is doing well, and can get to the bathroom with her walker and good leg - she still has to be extremely careful, and have someone spotting her all the time, so she doesn't stumble and re-injure her leg. The surgery they did on it, was just putting in a few pins, and it only has a 25% chance of working to fix her femur - so that is why the extreme caution and care giving that is required. So as for now, Tanya and Sean are tag-teaming taking care of her between their appointments and work schedules, and she will most likely still come to live with me when we get out of the hospital; Tanya, Mom and I will discuss it. She is in a routine there - but if Sean starts working more, she won't have anyone to spot her during the day - so she will need to come to my house. She is just worried about all that I have going on, although I assured her that we would be fine and make it, as we did last year.
Tanya is sorry that she doesn't have a land line to have people be able to call Mom - but she only has a cell phone, and has already blown through over half her allowed minutes, and the month has just begun; not to mention that she uses that phone to run her businesses as well - so she can't afford to go over, and pay the rip-off overage fees that cell phones charge. Also, Mom's laptop is still on the fritz, so she can't check her email. I will work on getting that fixed when I am out of here. If you want to send a note or card, you can send it to: PO Box 1087, Shingle Springs, CA 95682. This is Mom's new mailing address, so you can put it in your book. I will check it, and deliver her mail to her; and that will save you from having to add Tanya's address, then mine, then Mom's PO Box later.
Thanks again for all your love, support, prayers and service to our family - we are so amazed at the angels all around us, who are always so willing to help. May God bless you all, as he has us.