I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: onesicpup on June 07, 2007, 08:10:02 AM
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Sorry this is a rather long read.
My name is Larry and this is my story. In another discussion I was asked to go into greater detail about my transplant. I was and remain amazed that it happened so quickly. Late last year I was contacted by my insurer as to how I was feeling, You know that phone call from a nurse just being inquisitive, or so I thought. In January they called back to both my neph and I about contacting Ohio State Medical center about a transplant, UHC thought I was a good prospect. So on January 7th I made an appointment with OSUMC for my initial interview. On February 7th my son and I headed up to OSU. We went through all the videos and questions and of course the 12 vials of blood they needed, heck I almost forgot the EKG and chest x-ray. I met my surgeon and just about everybody in the place. We were told that when the call came 3maybe 4 phone calls would be made to different recipients to make sure someone at that time would be able to get the kidney. You know as backups. The pre-transplant people you deal with are some of the nicest people you’d ever want to deal with, my coordinator’s name was Violet and every week she called to say how things were going and she thought I would be listed by April. Which I thought was kind of quick, but since this was my first transplant I said ok by me. Violet called on morning of March 22 and said I would receive a letter in the next week or so, saying I went on the list effective March 25th.
On the morning of the 5th of April I went to work as usual, I work about 1 mile from my home so the trip
is fairly short. In that amount of time OSUMC had called my wife and my work and left a message that a kidney might be available. So needless to say I called them back RIGHT AWAY. The two coordinators I spoke with informed me that a kidney might be available sometime in the next several hours. They told me to go ahead and eat breakfast and just make sure I was close to a phone. This all happened between 6:30 and 7: AM. I called my wife and told here what was going on and to pack my travel bag, because we might be going. I was having a donut at about 7:10 when my phone rang and again it was OSUMC asking how soon could I be up there, I told her I could be up there about 10am. I still hadn’t gotten every thing straight at work and home, just on the outside chance I actually got a kidney. I left work and really seemed to have lost some time, too many things going on all at once if you know what I mean. My wife and I were like the chickens with their heads cut off. Who would have thought that this would be happening within 15 days of being listed. Well we made the trip to OSU and walked into the waiting room and looked around and there were a half dozen people with their travel bags along with there spouses, looking as scared as I was, it’s funny now, but scary as its happening. We checked in at the desk and took our seat. After a 2 hour drive we both needed a restroom brake. I went first and then the better half went. We had been there less than 10 minutes when a nurse came to take me to a room, my wife wasn’t even back yet. I am not joking things were going this fast. I waited fro my wife then we headed to I believe was the 9th floor and into my room.
The nurse said that my kidney hadn’t yet arrived at the hospital but they were going to get me going right away. At this point I had to say whoa and ask about the other candidates. She looked at me like I was crazy and said there are no other candidates, that this kidney was mine and no one else’s. Both my wife and I must have had that deer in the headlight look as the nurse left the room to check on it. She came back in about a minute and said in no uncertain terms that I was getting a kidney today, it was to good of match (6 antigens). This seemed to trigger what seemed like every nurse, social worker and everybody else to come in and start asking me a thousand questions all at once, it was insane and took both my wife and I by surprise. Quite scary to say the least. The next time we had a chance to look at the time it was about 2:30 in the after noon, that’s’ how time flies when you’re having fun. The last person to come in was my surgeon to tell me what all was going to happen and to say that it might be very late today or very early tomorrow morning as the kidney hadn’t left Florida as of 3 PM. From then it was just a waiting game, which gave both the wife and I time to catch our breath.
At 4:30 AM on Good Friday they finally came to get me. I went under about 10 after 5 and luckily don’t remember a thing until noon when I finally woke up with my new kidney. It had been a busy day for transplants I was told they did 7 that day and during my stay I met 4 of the 7. My stay overall was great, within 3 hours after recover my creatinine was 5.0 down from 9.1 the day before and before I was discharged it was hovering around 1.8. That’s pretty good in my book. The only complaint I have with OSUMC was the food, pretty bad but then who really feels like eating the few days after surgery.
On April 11th my surgeon came in for her daily visit and asked if I wanted to go home. Who in their right mind would say no. I was darn near dressed before she left the room JK. It’s funny how on your last day in the hospital you feel great until you get home and realize you just had major surgery and are in no shape to be home. On the home front I went back to work part time after 3 weeks and built up 2 hours more each week until I’m back full time now. I have a sit down job that doesn’t wear me out, so that helps a lot. I haven’t found a down side to my new kidney other than the meds and taking of my vitals all the time, a very small price to pay believe me. The number of meds that I take now is less than the blood pressure meds I used to take. I would say that my experience is not the norm, and I hope that everyone who needs a transplant gets what they need. I do know my wife, kids, grandkids and a bunch of friends are glad I was blessed with this. As of Thursday June 7 everything is fine and I sure hope it stays that way. If anyone has any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll try and answer any you have.
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That's a great story!! It gives those of us still waiting hope that it may come sooner than later.. since averages are just that - and some have to get lucky earlier and some later to make that average.. You were very lucky to be so soon. Also a full match (6 antigens) is pretty rare.. I understood it usually only occured with twins?!! So I think "someone" up there was looking down on you...
I hope all continues to go well!
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Great story! I also had a very excellent experience my first transplant and no complications the whole 5 years I had it. Of course mine was a live donor, so thats the difference.
Glad your doing awesome! :)
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Larry,
I was excited as a parent to read about your transplant. My son is eligible but is undergoing couseling for a few months to really get him ready.
I am so glad your transplant went so well. I actually cry when I read peoples stories.
:bandance; thats the happy dance for you! ;)
Lori Indiana son Dustin 21 esrd/ fsgs/ dialysis
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Thanks for sharing your positive story. :thumbup;
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That's an awesome story. I'm so happy for you. I have a friend with a teenaged niece who ended up in intensive care when the blood supply to her kidneys was cut off by her intenstines. As they were setting her up for dialysis, a perfect match became available in her area and she got it. Timing is everything.
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:cuddle; That's an amazing story. I hope you also purchased a lotto ticket. You are one very lucky man. I am glad everything went so smoothly.
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That was so amazing! Thanks for sharing it with us. My caring thoughts and prayers and with you and I hope you have that kidney for a very very long time!
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Thats a greats story. :2thumbsup; I hope everything continues to go well. :cuddle;
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What a gift!
I hope you feel great for a long time!
:cuddle;
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Thanks for sharing this story..I'm glad all is well. I start the re-testing July 19th, I hope all goes as fast for me. Again, congratulations.
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Ahh the beauty of the 6-antigen match! :2thumbsup;
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Mine was fast too. About six weeks. Good for you!
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Larry, want a blessing. Make sure and write your donor family and tell them how wonderful you feel etc.... They will be so glad to know part of their loved one lives on. You can do this through your transplant coordinator.