9 months later and counting

Imagine, the transplant occurred on February 13, 2013 and I'm just back to blogging now, a little delayed I know.  It took me 2 months to get back to work after donating my kidney, and even then my energy level was at an all time low.  Not that it isn't now, but it is getting better everyday.  Ken bounced right back with only a minor hiccup so far, which was medication related a few weeks after the transplant.  It's absolutely amazing how the doctors were able to make this work.  With the power of prayer, faith & hope this transplant took very well.  The Doctors have been pleased with the progress thus far, and Ken is leading a much happy & healthier life.  Our daughter was a huge part of this transplant, and we are so proud of the young lady she has become.  Being we have no family in the province, our daughter was the one to care for us after we were home.  She did laundry, made meals, even cleaned the house, imagine that of a 12 year old.  Don'y kid yourself, we're back to nagging at get her room cleaned, but we're okay with that!  We are very thankful to our friends who helped us, with bringing meals and comfort gifts for our healing.  We thank the Lord, our friends and our daughter!

Putting My Trust In God

Feeling a little more nervous each day.  I'm a very organized person, who plans EVERYTHING.  I will be going with a list of questions to the pre-op appointment.  I've already printed the maps of the floors for surgery, inpatient transplant floor, waiting area etc for our support people Yvonne & Megan.  The fear is always the unknown for me, and nobody can really prepare you for that since we are all unique individuals.  One may suffer a lot of pain, others very little. Some will need the pain meds, some need very little.  It's funny I'm the one who is normally in control of everything, and that day it will be me being out of the driver’s seat and it will be in the hands of the Surgeons, Dr's and nurses and of course the man who has arranged this all to work out to this point, God.  I won't be able to be in the room when my husband comes around and care for him either (although I know that my husband will be in the VERY GOOD Hands of the Dr's, nurses and the entire transplant team).  I know that I need to get better first in order to be there for the love of my life, and this is why I will sit back and let my maker work it out for me. I will put my trust in God!

It's a Pass

Tonight we got the news, the news of a date, amazing!!! It's set up for February 13th, it will be written in stone on Monday, but that is the date they said......oh my, I'm going to be giving my kidney to the love of my life!  It feels amazing to say it!  We are so thrilled that this has moved along the way it has!  God has a plan for each of us, and God is working miracles right here over our family, and I thank him for his guiding way.

Psalm 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Echocardiogram

Echocardiogram is done!  What a great team that got me in to the test fast, were extremly encouraging & helpful!  They were amazed beyond belief that I was going to be a donor to my husband.  Since often times that type of match up doesn't work.  I said to them we are "Soulmates" :)
They are going to rush this test to the Donor Assesment Team and I'm hoping early next week that we will have a surgery date!

It's Official.........

I met with the nephrologist today about all of my tests that I have taken since October 13, 2012, and she said that all my levels in blood are normal, my kidney function is very good (high functioning kidneys).  She took my blood pressure, which she said started off high and ended up going to normal (I've NEVER had high blood pressure)....just my nerves I think!  After she went through my history, which they do at every visit with every new Dr, she was pleased to tell me that I am healthy enough to give my kidney to my husband!  Altough I had VSD (heart murmur) from when I was 6 months old, she was sending me for an Echocardiogram, but she said that will not hinder the result of the donation.  My friend (more like a sister) was with me and her and I were thrilled beyond, thrilled.  I cried, I laughed, I cried some more...called some people to let them know the good news, text some people since my cell phone battery was DYING! 

What an AMAZING day!!  Not only did I hear that I was healthy & fit to give the love of my life a kidney to give him a new lease on life, I also heard that same day that my friend Michelle & her daughter Emma were coming home from the Hospital for Sick Kids where she battled Leukemia (AML).....an amazing blessed day! 

My life has been bettered by the people that have come into my life.  Postive people, loving people, spiritual people & the Lord......and for those people I am forever thankful! 

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Transplant Hospital - Phase 2 & 3......

I've heard from the transplant hospital today, I have my 4th Phase of the process this Friday.  I received the email with the letter that all results are in and that the donor doctor will reveal all to me on Friday.  We will see what is said at that time.  They may require more tests depending on what they have found, or who knows, maybe even a let's do this!  Obviously I'm hoping towards the option of let's get it done.  Either way I'm extremly happy that we're at the final Phase already and it only took 3 months to get there.  If more test are needed it's only in my best interest to ensure my health and safety. Praying, hoping & keeping faith!

Kidney Clinic Appointment

Kidney Care Clinic Appointment completed. Creatnine has elevated again (shows kidney's slowing down more), phosphorus is elevated slighty, Hemoglobin (oxygen in blood) is low....we've been moved from every other month appointments, to every month appointments now.  Updated his Dr on where I was in the process of being a donor.  Keeping a close on on the patient while I'm being worked up, trying to keep dialysis away.

Praying, hoping and keeping faith! 

A Way To Start The Week With Hope

Spoke to the Assesment team today and they still stated my date with the Donor Dr is tentative, as the surgeon needs to review mt CT Scan.  I was told everything looks normal (and I'm sure they've seen enough of these tests to know), but to go with the formality of it, it must be seen by the surgeon.

I have been told that my Chest X-Ray is good, the GFR has the left kidney at 52% and the right kidney at 48%, and that the CT Scan shows 2 arteries running to the left kidney, and 1 artery running to the right.

What is the importance of that you may ask?  They will take the kidney I use less of, which would be my right, however if there were 2 arteries running to that kidney they could not take it since it poses a risk to me, the donor.  The good news to hear is that only 1 artery is running to the less used kidney, so this is a plus!

Keeping you posted on the findings!

Psalms 71:14 - But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more

Results Are In

The results are in, and I've been told I have a tentative date to see the donor Dr, but I will hear more on Monday.  Everything looks good so they say!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Phase 2 & Phase 3

Wow today was a whirlwind.....testing for Phase 2 & Phase 3 are complete, now we wait on those results!  It's so exciting to come back from a much needed break to start the New Year off on a note such a this.  Most people would be down in the dumps with hospital testing, but not I, I'm excited.  I was frightened of the tests (the unknown), the needles more then anything, but I made it through!  I am thinking further ahead to actually having the operation and I can honestly say, I'm not fearful of this.....ok well maybe just the needles! LOL I have an amazing group of friends who I know are all behind us, what more can someone ask for but to just be there! 

Thank you to all our friends who have given us prayers, postive feedback and who have our back!  It means the world to us!

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

⁹ Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.
¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?
¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Jamaica!  A vacation to a sunny destination, from a winter wonderland to celebrate the coming of a New Year....2013!  What an amazing idea!!!! So happy that we decided to do this!  Family time, creating memories....that's what it's all about!  Happy New Year!  May this year bring you health & happiness!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone near & far....wishing you the beauty of the season! xoxoxo

Jesus is the reason for the season!

BT Christmas Eve Show & Organ Donation

What an awesome time with my friend Daniela!!! We spent last night downtown in a hotel, went out for dinner, was super excited and couldn't sleep because we were appearing on the BT Christmas Eve.....Let me say it was so fun.  Watching how everything on the set happens.  It really is jaw dropping on how small a set is and what happens behind the scenes.  Meeting the hosts of the show, the producers, & everything in general.  It was a huge giveaway show, so tons of prizes were givne to each one that was selected with their entry, and their guest got the exact same thing. 

First thing in the morning Kevin Frankish started talking on air about a letter he received from a person names Yvonne....in fact it was my friend Yvonne.  He started talking about kidney donation and what I was planning to do.  He hadn't read far enough into that letter to find otu who I was giving it to and said it was my brother....they made me stand up at that point and I shook my head back and forth to say no that's not right.  After that he spoke with Frank Feriginie about organ donation and how it is important at this time of year to let your family know your wishes.  Later on in the show Kevin brought my donation up again and he spoke to me, you can see it here http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/2054548034001.000000/bt-christmas-eve-giveaway-show--2of3/

Although I won a lot of prizes I have to say that the biggest prize of all was having organ donation publicly spoke about.  We need to get awareness out there. 

We all have 2 kidney's and we only need 1 to live a healthy long life.....I believe there are things sent to test our faiths, beliefs, etc.....2 kidney's + people needing a new kidney (since they have kidney disease) giving a kidney =  humanity!  Remember to register at www.beadonor.ca

Is It New Year Already

So I blogged yesterday about getting the call to say I'm a match and that I would get a call in the New Year for more appointments......Is it the New Year already???? I got a call today!!!! They have booked my Phase 2 & Phase 3 testing for January 7th, 2013....can you believe that???? It's so exciting to know that in a few weeks I will be 3/4 of the way through the testing (that is regualr testing), anything above & beyond that is extra testing.....Can you say Happy New Year???? I can :)

To Be or Not To Be

Imagine, a phone call this Thursday before Christmas.  It's 3:40 pm and a call from your assesment team comes in, and they say "You are a match and can move on".....Oh what a feeling to BE HIS MATCH!  Such an emotional time.  I cried, and cried.  I celebrated by telling all the ones who are closest to be by phone, inperson if I could, or by a text!  Everyone is rallying behind us, which is amazing.  We are blessed beyond belief with everyone's prayers and support. The best Christmas gift someone could give was to hear we were a match.  How much I love this man who will one day get my kidney....he is my best friend, lover, strength and soulmate.  We'll get a call in the New Year to make an appointment for the next round of testing to ensure my health.

On another note, I got accecpted today to appear on the BT Christmas Eve Giveaway show......I hope that I can get organ donation awareness mentioned on this show, spreading the knowledge of organ donation is huge importance of mine, and will be always beyond our transplant.

Such an exciitng day! 

Tissue Typing & Crossmatching

Today we went downtownt to Transplant Hospital.  We took our daughter with us as well to heck out the hospital where it will all happen.  We wanted to include her in certain things that aren't to deep just yet, introduce her a little at a time.  Tissue typing and cross matching consisted of each of us having blood taken.  The Receipient had 5 viles taken and an ECG and the donor had 9 viles taken.  That's all there was to this process, it's now the 3 weeks of waiting until we find out if we match one another! 

John 13:35   
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Sicknesses with Kidney Disease

Finding it difficult with my husband being sick with a cold while having kidney disease.  When he gets a cold, he gets it triple times worse then the normal person, why his immune system is low.  We need to keep him clear of infections, he needs to be strong on a consistant basis in hopes a transplant happens, so it can happen.  He started a course of antibiotics tonight so that should assist his healing.

Psalm 41:3The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

Organ donation: What you need to know - Canadian Living

Organ donation: What you need to know - Canadian Living

Full Speed Ahead

Got the call, all First Phase Tests are good!  This means 2 things!  I'm overall healthy and we move on to the next step in the kidney donation process!  On my Phase papers it didn't have an insert for Tissue Typing and Crossmatching but that is what they tell me is next.  It makes sense to do this at this stage since they need to ensure my husband will accept my kidney.  They have scheduled it for December 3.  If they results come back negative then we can still proceed, but it will be with the paired exchange program which I will update more once we know our results.  Once testing is done it takes 3 weeks to come back.  It seems like a lifetime away just to get the testing done, and eve further for the results.  However the saying goes,

Lamentations 3:25

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Another Kidney Check Up

Another Kidney check up was today.  The Dr's and Nurses are amaxed at how we are keeping the nutrition level under control for the kidney's, this is a definte reflect on prolonging the need for kidney dialysis.  The creatnine level is at 734, up from last time.  Every time we make a visit to the Kidney Care Clinic, we wonder will this be the day we are told dialysis needs to start.  Today the Dr did not suggest dialysis yet, again mainly because there is a kidney donor being worked up, however he does hope it happens sooner then later as it is taking a lot of time to progress.

Time is not on our side, every minute counts in the race to get a transplant completed.  In saying this, if you are a donor of a kidney or any other organ, you need to know that time is of the essence for the receipient, there is no time to waste, no time like the present.  Think of something that you would have wanted done yesterday, this is what your receipient is feeling.  Although it is not all about the receipient, the donor needs to know that the receipient is not in good health, in dire need of the transplant; whereas the donor doesn't really feel the uregency since they are not sick and going through the everyday stress wondering if this is their last day off of machines. 

Nobody can predict the future, anything can happen to anyone at anytime, driving to work, going to swimming lessons, going out for supper, etc.  But we can as human beings can care about one another to give. Give blood, give support, give organs, give love.  It's called humanity.  It's in YOU to Give!


Deuteronomy 15:10Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.