"Oh The Price Family Tree is a Mighty One..."

Those are the only words to our "Price Family Tree" song that I can remember. =) Today I am so grateful for family and answers to prayers. I'm grateful for my Price family as well as my Rice family. This post will be extremely long so beware. =)He's a pretty handsome guy, huh? I love the picture below of my dad and Brady. Love, love, love it. He might get mad at me for putting this picture below on my blog but I couldn't help myself. He is so much fun and this picture totally captures that. =)As most of you already know my dad was recently diagnosed with a liver disease (PSC...look it up online. I'm horrible at explaining exactly what it is). There is not a known cure for this disease, and in the long run it will eventually lead to liver failure. Once the disease progresses far enough a liver transplant may be necessary. He is in stage 3 of 4 stages. If you want all the details send me your email address and I can pass along his emails about it all. I don't want to write about all the sad details regarding this disease. What I really want to focus on are all of the blessings my family and I have received because of all of your prayers and fasting for my dad. I am so grateful for all of you and your support. It means a lot to me.

When I got off the phone with my dad after getting the news about his disease I spoke with my Aunt, Chris, who told me to call her son, Jamey, and talk to him about it. Jamey made friends with Doctor Wallis Marsh while on his mission in Italy. He has been back East to visit Dr. Marsh and even got to work on a surgery with him. Anyway, I text messaged Jamey to see if I could get some info and he immediately called Dr. Marsh. Dr. Marsh did not even hesitate at all to help. He told Jamey to give my dad his email and phone number and to call/email any time. He also told Jamey to tell me that he has a good friend who is a liver specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. I passed the information along to my dad. My dad emailed Dr. Marsh that night and received an email back from him the very next morning. When I read the email from Dr. Marsh I cried my eyes out. What a huge, huge blessing and answer to prayer he has been to my family. He addressed my dad as "Brother Price," and signed his emailed as "Wallis Marsh" not "Doctor Marsh." I love that. I love that he is so humble. He was so very, very respectful and gave my dad some extremely helpful information. He is so willing to share his talents and knowledge with others. I am so grateful for him and so impressed with his willingness and desire to serve others. Since that email he has set my dad up with Dr. Rakela (the liver specialist at Mayo in Scottsdale). Normally it would take about a month or so to get in to see Dr. Rakela, but Dr. Marsh arranged for my dad to see him within two weeks. When my parents went in to see Dr. Rakela, he spent about two hours with them explaining the whole disease and what to expect. Two hours is a really long time to take with one patient...especially for a doctor as busy as he is. He never once made it seem like he was in a hurry during their meeting. He said my dad most likely has had this disease for 15 years. 15 years!! That is a little discouraging, and my dad made the comment that he wishes we would've known about it sooner. I actually am grateful we didn't know about it sooner. Can you imagine going to the doctor every so often in the span of 15 years and wondering/worrying about what news they're going to have for you? There really isn't a cure for this disease. 15 years ago there wouldn't have been much that could be done. Basically we would be in a constant state of apprehension and worry for 15 years. I think we found out about the disease at exactly the right time. I really believe the Lord had something to do with the fact that we didn't find anything out until now. I know we needed to find out about the disease at this time because it has progressed enough to the point where the doctors need to start monitering it very closely so that we can know whether or not my dad needs to get in line for a liver transplant...or live liver transplant. How cool is it that they can do live liver transplants?? I love doctors. Dr. Rakela said stage 3 can last about 3-5 years before it progresses into stage 4, which is liver failure. We don't know how long my dad has been in stage 3.

This post is already way too long, and like I said earlier, if anyone wants an update I can email them over some of the emails. My dad has received a very sweet blessing from my Grandad. He has felt so much peace when he has gone to the temple. I know there are many friends/family members who have been fasting and/or praying for my dad. I'm grateful to all of you for that. I am one very lucky girl to have a dad as awesome as mine. He has always done what the Lord would have him do. He is such a good example to me. I'm grateful for all my family (Rices and Prices) who have been supportive and offered up prayers and support to my family. I'm grateful that Jamey put us in contact with such a neat doctor who, in turn, put my dad in contact with a doctor right in Scottsdale. My eyes have been opened to all of the blessings the Lord is willing to give to me and my family.