My Mom

My Mom has been sick for about 3 years now, off and on. It all started when she had surgery for her carotid artery which needed to be cleaned out due to the Dr telling her it was 75% blocked. She felt fine, and had no idea this was a problem. When she came out of the surgery she could no longer swallow!! Approximately a year and a half later we found out the surgeon messed up while doing the surgery and hit a nerve or something causing her to have great difficulty swallowing, resulting in her not being able to get the nutrients she needed since she wasn't able to eat enough to keep a bird alive. The problems continued and she has been frequently in the hospital since. To make a long story short, and why I am here now, is because she has been in the hospital this time for just over 3 months. She went in due to having some trouble breathing. She was quickly put on the ventilator and has only been off of it a couple of times for about two days, but then is put back on it due to her getting too tired breathing on her own. She has since had surgery for a perforated ulcer in the lower stomach, a feeding tube put in, and also has a trach to help use the ventilator since her mouth was getting so messed up from the tubes of the ventilator. Since she's been in the hospital her white count has been very elevated. Her kidneys have practically stopped working, and her liver count has been elevated. They do the roller coaster thing going up and down, but are now quite elevated. She has had every test and antibiotic imaginable, due to the Drs really don't know what is wrong with her! She has had CT Scans done practically every day, and also has dialysis almost every day due to the fluids she was retaining when she went into the hospital this time. She can't even go more than a day or two without dialysis because she continues to retain so much fluid. This last nuclear scan today showed that her liver is practically not working at all, as well as the kidneys. But the Drs don't seem to know why this is the case. This morning she was not doing well at all, and was very tired and non-responsive. Dad says she seems more stable now, but now... what's the next step? My mom is 71 years old, and has truly been an inspiration to everyone in that hospital, due to her being what a fighter she is. My dad is at that hospital every waking moment, and he's not resting, which really worries me too! I live in Texas, and my parents live in Las Vegas. I feel so helpless not being right there with them. I have been out to see them several times, the last time being just two weeks ago. I can afford to keep taking trips out there, due to I have to work to pay my bills, yet I feel I need to be out there for my parents. I just want my Mom to get well. I'm so scared for her!