Update and What is MELD, Anyway?

Dad heard from Cleveland today, but in order to understand the encouraging news he got I think I should say a few words about MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease).

What is a MELD score? Briefly, it is the result of three blood tests that are put into a formula to generate a number - the MELD score. This gives the doctors an idea of just how sick a patient is. For those of you who want a more in-depth description, here is a link to the Cleveland Clinic website: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/transplant/services/liver/MELD.aspx

The MELD score, however, doesn't always take into account other important medical conditions. As in Dad's case, it doesn't consider his heart valve problem. So the transplant doctors look at each individual case. If there are additional circumstances to be considered they can request additional points be added to a patient's MELD score. If I understand the process correctly, this must be approved by a committee of transplant doctors within the region that the transplant hospital operates.

The call that Dad received today from his coordinator was to inform him that the doctor had placed a request to add additional points to his MELD score. If this is approved, his MELD score would be high enough that he would be more likely to receive a call sooner rather than later.