Within days or weeks, Jannie Parker should know whether she’ll be placed on a recipients list for a liver.

Meanwhile, her daughterin law continues to care for the former Brownsboro Independent School District educator.

“As more time passes, the doctors indicate an increased likelihood she will need a kidney transplant as well,” Sherry Parker said. “Her physical strength has severely deteriorated to the point where she requires a wheelchair and is mostly confined to bed. The diagnosis has been a wake-up call not only for me and my family, but for many others.”

It’s likely that Jannie Parker, 67, is going to need a dual organ transplant to save her life. Last February, relatives noticed her struggling with her speech and other symptoms. They took her to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

She is susceptible to other illnesses, including blood infections and Hepatitis, and her high blood-pressure medication is a strain on her kidneys.

“The day-to-day process of caring for a loved one whose illness slowly leaves them wasting away is diffi cult,” Sherry Parker said. “There’s not anything you can do but wait. Unfortunately, time is not on her side.”

Cirrhosis, the 12th leading cause of death by disease, replaces healthy liver tissue with scar tissue, eventually preventing the organ from functioning properly. It blocks the flow of blood through the liver and slows the processing of nutrients, hormones, and drugs, as well as the production of proteins.

Failing kidneys cannot properly process waste, electrolytes, and fluids, and they accumulate in the body — an often deadly scenario.

Common causes of kidney failure include decreased blood flow to the organs, infections, liver disease, and heart failure.

Cirrhosis of the liver is often caused by Hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, and adverse reactions to prescription drugs. A fatty liver is usually associated with obesity and diabetes. Liver disease can further lead to mental changes, kidney failure, changes in blood count, excessive bleeding, and loss of muscle mass.

Jannie Parker is taking 17 medications while waiting for a possible dual transplant. Although she’s on Medicare and has received help from Copeland’s Chandler Drug and others, the cost of medicine has quickly become prohibitive. A transplant is expected to cost more than $100,000. Anti-rejection pills would cost between $1,200 and $1,500 a month in addition to other medication.

Most of her treatment is done at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. She also is treated by a liver specialist in Tyler, a kidney specialist in Tyler, a cardiologist in Dallas, and a family physician in Chandler.

“Being a caregiver can take its toll on your emotional well-being,” Sherry Parker said. “Here are a few pointers I have learned along the way.”

•Visit your doctor for a wellness exam. Know your numbers for cholesterol, liver enzymes, and blood pressure. Early prevention and detection is the key to good health.

•Implement an exercise regimen. Keeping your body in shape will increase your stamina and is good for your own mental acuity. If your mind is alert, you may handle stressful situations better, as well as retain complicated procedures and understand the doctor’s directives in maintaining the proper healthcare for your loved one.

•Ask for help. Don’t feel bad admitting when you are unable to do something asked of you. Shift some responsibilities onto others. Allow them to help you. It’s okay.

Asking for help does not imply you are unwilling, or incapable. You just might need a break. Take time to refuel. This will supply you the necessary vitality required for endurance.

•Listen. Hone in on good note-taking and scheduling techniques. This may be a novel idea to some. However, these skills are an essential tool. I call it being a proactive patient, or caregiver. Pay attention to details, from every angle, especially when numerous doctors are involved.

The lines of communication must remain open and each doctor should know what the other is doing. For example: one doctor prescribes a painkiller for your back, but could then complicate other health issues related to the primary disease.

So I’ll say it again — take good notes.

•Do your research. Actively seek out information to aide your understanding of the illness. Taking care of a loved one is a huge responsibility. But if you are armed with the knowledge of what is happening within their body and how it affects them physically, mentally, and emotionally, it allows you to develop better coping skills.

•It is heartbreaking, for sure, to see someone you love hurting – but there is help and support groups available.

You may even find comfort, comforting one another. Reach out to those who are in similar situations and compare stories and useful tips. Shared experiences may relieve frustration and bring you solace in knowing you are not alone.

Donations can be made at First State Bank in Brownsboro to the Jannie Parker Special Fund.