5 Questions to Ask Your Doctors

What is my MELD score?

• MELD (Model for end-stage liver disease) - its a way to “fairly” determine how sick the liver is and how urgent a liver transplant is needed.

• Basically the higher the MELD score the sicker the liver and the higher on the transplant list you end up.

• The score spans from 6 to 404 with 40 being the highest and worst.

• Raylynn’s score topped out at 42…how is that possible if the highest/worst score is 40?

• Well Raylynn’s kidneys started to shut down, which pushed her MELD score to 42.

• She’s a super achiever.

Is the liver compensated or decompensated?

• Compensated means the liver is still working

• Decompensated means the liver is no longer working

What can I do to help get <insert name here> on the liver transplant list?

• For me, it was calling the insurance company and requesting the transplant approval letter to be sent to the hospital/doctors

What can I do to help manage their symptoms while waiting for a transplant?

• This is going to sound crazy, but here goes.

• The biggest and I do mean BIGGEST issue we had was understanding the importance of eating.

• Because Raylynn’s liver was failing so quickly, her body had edemia.