function doUpgrade()
  if self.selectedItem then
    local selectedData = widget.getData(string.format("%s.%s", self.itemList, self.selectedItem))
    local upgradeItem = self.upgradeableWeaponItems[selectedData.index]

    if upgradeItem then
      local consumedItem = player.consumeItem(upgradeItem, false, true)
      if consumedItem then
        local consumedCurrency = player.consumeCurrency("essence", selectedData.price)
        local upgradedItem = copy(consumedItem)
        if consumedCurrency then
          local itemConfig = root.itemConfig(upgradedItem)
          upgradedItem.parameters.level = (itemConfig.parameters.level or itemConfig.config.level or 1) + 1
		  if upgradedItem.parameters.primaryAbility and (itemConfig.config.primaryAbility.fireTime >= 0.3) then   -- does the item have primaryAbility and a Fire Time? if so, we reduce fire time slightly as long as the weapon isnt already fast firing
		    upgradedItem.parameters.primaryAbility = {fireTime = itemConfig.config.primaryAbility.fireTime - (upgradedItem.parameters.level/7) }
		  end
		  upgradedItem.parameters.baseDps = (itemConfig.parameters.baseDps or itemConfig.config.baseDps or 1) + (upgradedItem.parameters.level/5)  -- increase DPS a bit
		  upgradedItem.parameters.critChance = (itemConfig.parameters.critChance or itemConfig.config.critChance or 1) + 1  -- increase Crit Chance
		  upgradedItem.parameters.critBonus = (itemConfig.parameters.critBonus or itemConfig.config.critBonus or 1) + 1     -- increase Crit Damage
          sb.logInfo(sb.printJson(upgradedItem,1)) -- list all current bonuses being applied to the weapon for debug
          if itemConfig.config.upgradeParameters then
            upgradedItem.parameters = util.mergeTable(upgradedItem.parameters, itemConfig.config.upgradeParameters)
          end
        end
        player.giveItem(upgradedItem)
      end
    end
    populateItemList(true)
  end
end