I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: KidneyMommy on January 10, 2007, 05:06:10 AM
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Hello to everyone!
Well, I wish I would have found you guys sooner, but I'm so glad I found you at all!
My son Gavin, was born on January 8th, 2005, 5 weeks premature due to no amniotic fluid. This was our first clue that something was wrong with his kidneys. Two days later he was diagnosed with ESRD--bilateral hypoplastic kidneys. For some reason his kidneys developed in the womb but never grew to a normal size--in fact they were only about 1/4 of the size that they should have been. He was airlifted to the University of Minnesota to begin peritoneal dialysis.
We spent 6 months on the Pediatric Intensive Care unit trying to get his fill volumes to 100cc's so we could go home with the cycler. We encountered almost every complication imaginable from leaks, to peritonitis, to the hospital administering an antibiotic that Gavin was known to have an allergy to :banghead;
Finally in late June 2005 we were able to bring him home for the first time.
We did PD at home until December of 2005. At 11-months old Gavin was finally big enough to be eligible for a transplant. My husband--Gavin's daddy was a suitable match. Gavin had his life-saving transplant on December 7th, 2005. It's amazing what a difference a healthy kidney makes.
Gavin is still in Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy once a week, and we're also monitoring him closely because he became positive for The Epstein-Barr Virus post-transplant.
I'm finding that post-transplant life is not without it's stresses, but I'm so thankful that we were able to have a living donor for Gavin.
I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!!!! Thanks for reading our story!
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What a great introduction, I'm almost in tears not because of feeling sorry for Gavin but rather this brings back some joyous and not so pleasant memories. My youngest was born with a blockage in the uretha and fluid backed into his kidneys. The most emotional and happiest time of your life and to end up in emergency life savng surgery is a tough row to hoe.
I'm glad you found us too. We have the most information here than any other site and the members here are very knowledgable and offer the best advice around.
The support here is tremendous, it is great to have you here.
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Welcome, I'm sorry to hear about Gavin's condition but i am happy he now has his transplant.
I believe some people do not realize how stressful dialysis and a transplant can have on the family. You are a better and stronger person because of this.
Hope you enjoy the site.
Amanda
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Hooray for Gavin's successful transplant, and welcome to the IHD community! :welcomesign;
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Welcome to our site. Gavin is our youngest member! I'm glad you are here to support another young mother if that should arise. We are still here to be supportive and to listen. I'm sure transplant questions and answers are of interest to all ages. Thank you for becoming a member.
Please go to Transplant Stories and give us Gavin's whole story. I know there will be questions.
I will keep him in my prayers. I hope he stays strong! :cuddle;
Rerun ~ Moderator
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:welcomesign; to you and gavin...hope u find what u r looking for in this site its filled with wonderful information for u n ur family :grouphug;
take care n again, enjoy....
Rolando
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Welcome to IHD!
:welcomesign;
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Hello "Mommy" ;) Welcome to Ihatedialysis.com. I am sorry to hear of all Gavin has gone through and i am so very happy to hear he is doing well with his transplant :2thumbsup; Please post pics in our family album (located here) http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=1227.0
Please keep us updated on Gavin, Looking forward to hearing more from you :clap;
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Hey :)
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I just wanted to let you all know that I posted some photos of our family in the member's photo area, if you're interested! ;)
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Welcome Kidney Mommy, good to have you aboard, and great pics!
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Welcome to our community! I had a look at your pictures - what a lovely family! Gavin is charming fellow! Please keep us up to date on how things are going with him. He belongs to us now, you know!
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Welcome mommy!
I put a birthday wish in the birthday thread for your son! He is adorable in those pics! :welcomesign;
So you live in MN? I visited there before (Cambridge MN and St. Paul). Very beautiful place to live!
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Welcome, KidneyMommy! Glad to have you here, and your son is lucky to have such a caring Mom. :welcomesign;
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Hi there,
I am Jessica, Mommy to Gavin...he's a 2-year-old that was born with ESRD due to hypoplastic kidneys. Gavin had his life saving transplant on December 7th, 2005 at the age of 11 months. My husband, Gavin's daddy was his generous donor. I was on the boards for awhile, but have been on hiatus...
Anyway, I just wanted to say hello....some of you may remember me, some of you may not, but I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!
Feel free to ask questions!!!!
Edited: Merged Threads - Sluff, Administrator
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Good to have you back.
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Welcome back... hoping Gavin is doing great. :grouphug;
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Welcome kidneymommy. I hope your son is doing well!
kitkatz,moderator
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Hi KidneyMommy, Welcome back, How is little Gavin doing? any more pics? I am sure he has grown since the last pic you have posted. ;) Well, alot of posts have been added since you've been gone, please also add some of your experiences you have gone through with Gavin and hubby since he has had his transplant. Looking forward to hearing more from you. :2thumbsup;
Goofynina/Admin.
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Thanks so much for the warm welcome back! I will have to go back and find some new photos of our little man....Oh the Medicare stories I have to share ??? It's enough to drive me to drink! :wine; LOL
EDITED: Fixed :wine; icon error - Sluff, Administrator
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Welcome back! I am looking forward to seeing the pictures. I love those charming pictures you had posted.
Good to have you back.
Bajanne, Moderator
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Good to have you here!
:beer1;
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:welcomesign;
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Hello KidneyMom
I remember looking at the members pictures when I joined and thought what a beautiful baby boy you have, :)
Nice to have you back!
Kim
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:welcomesign;
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Posting new photos of Gavin in the pictures thread--FYI!
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=1227.msg49472#msg49472
EDITED: created link - Rerun, Moderator
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Little Gavin just celebrated his 2nd Kidney Anniversary!
Cute photos in the journal history of his caringbridge blog: http://www.caringbridge.org/mn/gavindahms
Congrats Kidney Mommy! And Happy Birthday to you too! :waving;