"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." ~Randy Pausch



Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Want to Help?

So, here's one thing I'm thinking. If you want to help, consider giving blood. I'm type O, but you can donate even if you're not. I'm looking into the idea of a "Blood Group." Apparently it's when I set something up with Hoxworth so that you can donate blood in my name.

I'm going to call them later this morning and I'll post again when I find something out.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Six More Dialysis Days

After six more days of dialysis, I'm done! Hopefully it will be forever. I suppose it could be only five more dialysis days if I don't come on the day before the surgery. But if I want to feel my best, I'll come on Monday night before surgery on Tuesday.

My donor and I will BOTH be meeting at Christ on Tuesday, September 6th. I think she's relieved to be able to meet with the surgeon. We'll be meeting with them together.

They told her to take 1 ounce of milk of magnesia before the surgery...

Friday, August 26, 2011

September 13th

Yep! We've set a date...September 13, 2011. That's only a couple of weeks from now. I'm getting nervous, but I'm so anxious, too.

August 30th

Next Tuesday, a person from the school district wants to come to interview me and my donor. They want to take our picture and write up an article to send to the media. Check out the newspaper, I guess.

September 1st

Next Thursday, I have an appointment to meet with the pharmacists at Christ Hospital. They want to do some education about my transplant medication.

September 6th

This is the day it becomes real, I think. I will get one more blood test, a chest x-ray, and an EKG. I will also meet one more time with the surgeon, the transplant coordinator and the social worker. I will also pre-register for my surgery.

September 13th

On the big day, I have to report to the hospital at 6:00 am. The surgery will start at 7:30 am. That doesn't give me much time to think about it!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Approved!

I got the call from the hospital...we're ready to go! Possibly as early as September 13th.

Yes!

Twelve Weeks

That's how long I'll be recovering. Seems like forever, but that's how long I was out last fall when I had Anna. But I wasn't ready to go back to school when my time was up last year!

My donor will be out for six weeks. Although she said if she's not ready to return she'll take more time. I don't blame her!

Poor Alli


I think it's starting to hit her that I'll be in the hospital. Jason started to talk to her about it. And the tears started to flow. She has been through so much. What a tough little girl.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Here We Go

All of the tests are done, and all results are good! My donor got a call from the transplant coordinator. She told her to go to school and tell them it's going to happen.

We're going to tell them tomorrow!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Breakfast with Donor

She had her ct scan this morning and then Jason, the girls and I met her for breakfast. Of course, we paid.

We are nearly set now! After we hear back from the transplant coordinator we'll let them know at school. She thinks we should start school and give them a couple of weeks to find two subs. Makes sense, but I'll have to take a million more unpaid sick days. If only Jason could find a job. That would relive alot of or stress.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

One Last Test

Well, the good news keeps on coming. Her test results are all great! She gets a catscan on her kidney on Friday morning. This is just to pick which kidney they'll use and look at all of the blood vessels and connections and stuff. It really is the last test!

More to come...

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Poor Ms. T

I've mentioned her before. She's 90 and lives alone. She's super opinionated and isn't afraid to speak her mind.

Last week after dialysis she went home and turned off her air conditioning and started to fry some bacon. Seven hours later her daughter found her on the kitchen floor. She broke both of her arms.

They obviously didn't let her go home alone. They didn't even let her go to her daughter's house. She's in a nursing home. She'll be there until she recovers.

One nurse says she'll be surprised if she does recover...

Monday, August 8, 2011

Countdown

She did all of the remaining tests today: 24-hour uterine, last blood test, ekg, chest x-ray. We could know something this week.

Hope it's a good something.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Today?

Spoke to my donor this week. She's going to do the last test today. This could happen soon.

So, I had my arm worked on Friday. The bleeding was better on Saturday. But...Tuesday after my treatment I bled for TWO HOURS! I'm so frustrated. Getting it worked on again tomorrow.

Lovely.