Out of Surgery

"It's a beautiful kidney"

I just heard from Millie's surgeon, Dr. Kercher, and he said that everything went well and that they were just starting to wake Millie up. He said it was a beautiful kidney and they didn't have to fight Millie for it :-) she willing let them have it.

He said that he anticipated that she will be in the hospital about three nights but it would be a day-to-day decision.

Surgery has Started

I got a call from the OR about 7:58 saying they've started. They will call me again when they are finished.

Patrick

Tommorrow

Tomorrow is the big day, I'm ready. Today has been very hectic. I went in to work to get my files straight, JCAHO may be coming while I'm gone (gosh darn I might miss them).
The bad thing about today is I have to do a bowel prep and Drew doesn't! Is that fair? Drew's potassium is high so he has to take K-X-olate(sp?) to bring it down but he still gets to eat dinner, I'm on clear liquids. Oh Well!

We have to be at the hospital at O dark thirty (0445). I have to remember to bring my CPAP, our health care power of attorney and Drew has to bring his Prograf- they started Drew on his anti-rejection medicines yesterday. They will draw a Prograf level tomorrow before his AM dose.

Family is coming to stay with us- this is so comforting to know. Drew's brother Casey is coming Friday and leaving Sunday and both of my brothers are coming on Monday. John is coming Monday morning and Patrick is coming Monday evening. I always enjoy their company, I'm glad they are coming. My brother Patrick has volunteered to update my blog while I'm recovering so stay tuned.

3 Days Left to Go

With just a few days left before the surgery, I have turned my attention to what I call nesting. We have been getting the house in order, Drew got the carpets cleaned last week and I am making sure the spare bedrooms are presentable. Today Drew and I made out our living will and health care power of attorney, we went to the bank to get it notarized and the banks were closed, we will have to do it tomorrow. I had my pre-op anesthesia appointment today, just another hoop to jump through.
I am grateful for all the offers of help and all the prayers that are being offered. We could not have gotten this far with help from our friends and family.

6 Days and Counting

Thursday is the big day. I have to be at the hospital at 0430. Sherry insisted on picking us up at 0400 to take us to the hospital. They have to do a final cross match before we have surgery. I will go into the OR at 0645 and Drew will go in at 0730, hopefully we will both be out of surgery by around noon or 1300. I should be in the hospital 3-4 days and Drew should be in 5-7 days. I am expecting to be fairly mobile by the time I get out of the hospital, I was mobile after my hysterectomy and that was done open not laparoscopic.

Thoughts of Post-Op Care

Drew should do very well. His kidney disease will not effect his transplanted kidney. The transplanted kidney should last 10-15 or more years. Drew will live much longer then being on dialysis. The latest study I saw on being a kidney donor stated that being a donor does not shorten your life nor do you have a higher risk of developing renal failure. These stats are very comforting to me.

It's Offical

It's official, am going to give Drew a kidney on February 19. I had an appointment with the laparoscopic surgeon today, he could have made me lose more weight but he gave me his approval. Normally they take the left kidney because the vein is longer but they will be taking my right. Apparently I have two arteries to my left kidney and only one to my right which makes it easier on the transplant surgeon. Our surgery is scheduled at 0730 which means we have to be at the hospital at 0530.
Drew is such a worry wart, he started having abdominal pain this weekend thinking his Crohns disease was flaring up. I spent most of the weekend reassuring him that things are going to work out. His pain is getting much better.
We have had many offers of help from our family, friends and neighbors. I'm not quite sure how much help we will need. My brother Patrick is coming the day I should get out of the hospital and is staying the rest of the week. That will be a huge help, hopefully after that, I will be up and around and could take care of most everything else.