August 28th 2009

> Good afternoon!

>

> Thank you all for your continued support and prayers for Ray and our family! A lot of you have asked for me to keep you updated, and we have a little more news. We did decide on a hepatologist (liver specialist) at Piedmont Hospital, Dr. Ray Rubin. We realized that we have been so blessed when we walked into his office yesterday. He and his staff were so kind and a pleasure to deal with. We were both very impressed. Dr. Rubin was very thorough and spent a great deal of time talking with us. They seem to have a wonderful liver team and Piedmont currently has the best rating for liver transplants.

>

> He did say on a grading scale, like school grades with A being a good student and C being a bad student, Ray's liver is like a A- or B stage, as far as he can tell for now. We still have to have his liver biopsy slides sent over from Rockdale Medical to see if he sees anything they may have over looked and he wants Ray to have an MRI on Sept. 8th. We will also be meeting with a Transplant team in a few weeks. Not that Ray will have to have a transplant, but to be acquainted with them and find out anything we need to know and be prepared for in the future, just in case.

>

> Dr. Rubin doesn't have a prognosis or any evidence yet as to what is causing the Cirrhosis, but just from what he has gathered thus far, he is thinking that it may be:

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> 1. Autoimmune hepatitis. This form of hepatitis is caused by the body’s immune system attacking liver cells and causing inflammation, damage, and eventually cirrhosis. Researchers believe genetic factors may make some people more prone to autoimmune diseases. About 70 percent of those with autoimmune hepatitis are female.

>

> 2. Wilson's Disease:

> http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/wilson/

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> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/000785.htm

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>

> Between these two possibility's (and it may be neither one) Ray and I are leaning more towards the Wilson's. He seems to fit that profile more. Dr. Rubin is conducting a few tests to check this one out.

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> For now, he has upped the dosage on one of his medications that helped control the varices vein from enlarging and bleeding. Ray has his good and bad days. The bad days consist of fatigue and aching joints. But over all, he is doing well. We have been so blessed to have such a supportive and caring staff at Jasper County High School, where Ray teaches. Thank you all so much. You do not know how much that means to Ray and I. He hates to be out of work at anytime, but having so much kindness and and understanding has taken some of the stress off Ray at such a scary time as this!

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> Please continue to keep Ray and our family in your prayers. Please don't worry...just pray!!

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> I will continue to keep you updated!

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> Thank you all again.

> God bless you.

> Love,

> Krystle

>

> 1 Peter 1:7 -These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

> Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.