Update 10/27/17 - Bill's Physical Tests for the Kidney Transplant List

Photo Credit: QuoteHumor.com

Bill has started the kidney transplant list journey. He has to go through a series of physical tests like an ultrasound for his gallbladder and liver to make sure everything is okay, dental check up, heart test, etc. The rest of his body needs to be healthy in order to do transplant surgery. If there are physical issues, they will need to be addressed before surgery. So far, no problems.

As for Bill's arm fistula surgery that happened on Oct 6th, his arm is healing well. No infections or complications.  We see the surgeon in December for a follow up appointment. Hopefully, he will give the green light to start home dialysis. It takes about 3 months for the fistula to work properly. We meet with the kidney doctor on Nov 10th for a check up. The kidney doctor will let us know the next steps for home dialysis.

So, this part of the journey has been waiting, tests or check ups. Sometimes waiting is a good break to catch our breath. But, for the impatient me, I'm ready for Bill to finish his tests and get on the transplant list so he can find a donor. I know that the transplant will give him his quality of life back. I'm grateful to God for all that He has done in terms of providing financial resources from the medical insurance, the excellent support from all of the different medical specialists and medical teams, and the love and support from friends and family. We are truly grateful. Yet, I know the journey is about perseverance.

There are good days and bad days. Instant gratification is easier to swallow than perseverance. Yet, Bill and I learning how to enjoy and appreciate the good days. You tend to focus more on the present day-to-day because you can't jump 3 steps ahead.  The circumstance doesn't let you. Life is precious and short. It is saying we all know in our heads. But, it has truly penetrated our hearts. There is a deeper appreciation for life.

As we learn more about kidney failure and how it doesn't discriminate, I appreciate the courage of Selena Gomez as she tells her story of having lupus and the need for a kidney transplant. Being a Hollywood celebrity, she doesn't have to tell her truth. But for those of us going through the same journey, we celebrate her story. And, like hers and other successful transplant stories, it gives Bill and me hope.

Update 10/6/17 - Fistula Surgery and Transplant Team Appointment

On 10/5/17, Bill had his fistula surgery. When the doctor started the surgery,  he hoped that he could fuse the artery and vein in Bill's wrist. But, from a past IV insertion, it caused the main vein to be blocked. So, the doctor had to do the fistula around the crease of the elbow.

Bill's fistula

So after 2 1/2 hours of surgery, Bill got his fistula. As part of the post operation instructions, we need to feel and listen for the sound of a "bruit" and the feel of a "thrill". To translate doctor speak, Bill's fistula needs to sound and feel like a running stream from a Colorado mountain setting. To feel, we have to put two fingers on the fistula. To hear, the discharge nurse gave us a stethoscope. It was my first time using one. I could hear the blood flowing. So could Bill.

Post Operation Instructions

We have to do this two times a day. If we don't hear a running stream, we have to call the doctor immediately because there is blockage. Bill went home because it was outpatient surgery. He's resting with pain medication.  He has to keep the bandage on for four days. Then, we take it off and add an iodine solution. He has to keep his arm elevated on a pillow to prevent swelling which means he has take a pillow to work on Monday. Bill can't straighten his arm or flex it for 2 to 3 weeks. But, he is able to do a limited range of motion.We will met with the doctor throughout the three months to make sure everything is working properly. The next step is preparing for home dialysis which should start in January 2018.

On 10/6/17, Bill and I met with the Presbyterian/St. Luke's Transplant team. We were grateful that they came to Colorado Springs. First, we met with the transplant renal social worker. She asked us questions for about an hour. She wanted to assess that Bill and I were ready to do the transplant journey because it is hard. She asked difficult questions about our life, our work, our family, our mental and physical health, our financial situation, etc. I appreciate the thoroughness because transplantation is no joke. We found out earlier this week that Bill's insurance will cover 100% of the transplant and provide us with a travel grant since we live 60 plus miles from the transplant center. The travel grant will pay for lodging, car rentals, gas, etc. We are so grateful that we don't have any out of pocket expenses. And, the social worker today said that Bill qualifies for supplemental Medicare A or B with his insurance. Medicare will pay for out of pocket home dialysis expenses. God has been wonderful in providing us with financial resources.

After we met with the social worker, we met with the transplant kidney doctor who walked us through the medical tests and procedures before and after the transplant surgery. He did a quick check up on Bill and will submit his findings to the transplant board. He signed off on Bill's interview and check up.

We finished the appointment with the kidney transplant nurse who will be our main contact. She gave Bill a list of medical test he needs to do. Fortunately, Bill has done a lot of these tests because of his diabetes. Once all of his medical tests have been completed, she will submit to the transplant review board. Then, we will need to go to Denver again to meet with the board and do additional testing like DNA tissue testing for a match. It needs to be a blood and DNA tissue match for the living donor. We will do additional evaluations before the board reviews and greenlights that Bill is a candidate for a kidney transplant. At that time, they will give us instructions on how to tell friends and family members to get tested to be a living donor.

While this is happening, Bill will be on dialysis while he waits for a kidney. We pray that we find a living donor so it can shorten his wait. Otherwise, he will be on the wait list up to five years for a deceased donor kidney which doesn't last as long as a living donor kidney.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. Please pget the word out for us about Bill needing a living donor. Even though you don't want to be tested or if you are not a match, you can help by getting the word out through social media. We are grateful and appreciate all of your efforts!