I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: lamillinger913 on March 21, 2008, 02:19:13 PM
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I know I haven't been around much lately --- well, we got some good news on January 23. Here's the details of how it all started:
My husband Ken and I were fast asleep in the wee hours of Wednesday, January 23. I was having a vivid dream about being slowly and relentlessly pursued by a tiger through a house. The tiger had just come through the door I was hiding behind and was sniffing at me. I was trying to decide whether to be terrified. Like Aslan, the tiger was not safe. But I wasn’t sure if he was good.
I was jolted out of this dream by an urgent pounding on my front door. A check of the clock showed it was about 2 a.m. A glance out the window showed a Royal Oak Police car parked on the street outside my house. “What the …?” I thought as I groggily struggled into a robe and down the stairs.
“Mrs. Miller?”
“No, no it’s Millinger.”
“Yes, that’s right. Your doctors have been trying to call you. They have a kidney for you over at Beaumont.” And the officer gave me a scrawled note with the doctor’s name and phone numbers.
Let me explain that some time ago, in an effort to save money on our telecommunications bills, I switched our land line to a cell phone. And I don’t sleep with a phone beside the bed. So I never heard any of our three phones ringing repeatedly. It’s a good thing the doctors are persistent.
I told Ken the news and he was stunned. We both thought we were dreaming. But when I talked to the doctor, he verified that indeed they did have a kidney for me. He instructed me to get a few things together and head over to the hospital at 6 a.m. for admission.
Believe me, there was no sleeping at the Millinger household between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sure we got back into bed and tried to rest, but there was no sleeping. Excitement, joy, fear all conspired against it.
We drove through the cold darkness, went through registration and walked up to a room on the 5th floor. Here we basically waited as we saw the doctors and prepped for the surgery. I had blood drawn, an EKG and a chest X-ray. I showered with some special soap and put on a clean gown.
Ken made phone calls to everyone who needed to know. His niece called out of the blue just because she felt a burden that he might need something. We prayed with one of the hospital chaplains and we prayed with my former pastor. So many people had been praying about this for so long, how could I be afraid? God’s presence was everywhere.
The surgery went well, I was sitting up in a chair the next day and home after five days. It's been about seven weeks now and the kidney is working well. My creatinine is settling in at around 0.9. I guess I have no excuses not to return to work in another four or five weeks. This has been so life-changing and I am so grateful.
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:yahoo; :yahoo;
Lee Anne - that's really great news - love how you told the story!
That's real determination on the part of your transplant coordinator, calling the Royal Oak Police!
I will add you to the "Members who have received transplants" thread.
Best wishes for many more good days!
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:cuddle; I am so happy for you and good luck :basket:
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Wonderful news! What an exciting story! I am so happy for you and send best wishes for continued good recover. :cuddle;
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Congratulations!!
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That is just wonderful news!!!! I'm so glad they were so persistent in getting to you, and now, you're feeling wonderful!!!
:2thumbsup; :2thumbsup; :2thumbsup;
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:bandance; :yahoo; :clap; Lee Anne, Congratulations. What a wonderful story. I'm sure glad they were persistant. Keep us updated. :grouphug;
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:yahoo; :yahoo; :bandance; :bandance;
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:yahoo; :yahoo; :yahoo; :big hug:
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Great News :yahoo;
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This is wonderful news for you. So glad they were persistant.
A lesson learned for us all. Good luck.
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Wow! That is a wonderful story!! Congrats!!!
Beth
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:yahoo;
Hurray!
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What a fabulous way to start the New Year! Congratulations! If I may ask, how long were you waiting on "the list"? I was just activated in mid February and I'm in South Texas.
Congratulations again! :yahoo;
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Absolutely wonderful news! Thanks for sharing!! And keep drinking lots of water!
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:2thumbsup;
Such a nice story!
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Wonferful news.
Congratulations.
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WOOHOO ! Congratulations ! :bestwishes;
Take Care
Tamara xxx ooo :grouphug; :cuddle; :grouphug;
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woo hoo , another 1 down, i'm next i can feel it in my waters :sarcasm;
seriously i hope it lasts for many a year to come :yahoo;
can you have a :beer1; or 3 i'm a little thirsty.
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Good news! Wow! A cop car in the front of the house. What did the neighbors think?
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Congratulations!!!! WOOHOO and all that happy stuff. So glad the surgery went well and that you are on the mend.
Sandyb
:big hug:
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Yeah, I'm glad they were persistent too! But this was a good match for me --- 4 of 6 antigens. And because I had a very high PRA, this kidney didn't have a positive crossmatch on the regular test or the sensitive one. So, they really wanted me to have it.
I was listed here for ... close to 3 years in Michigan. On dialysis for 2 1/2 years, so this feels like a whole new life.
As for the neighbors ... at 2 a.m., I'm not sure any of them were awake enough to know that anything was going on!
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Such wonderful news that another of the IHD family has had the wonderful news and gift of a working kidney transplant.
It makes that reality just that tiny bit closer for those of us still waiting for that call (or Cops at the door!!!)
:D
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Best Wishes :bestwishes; for a swift recovery. Our love and prayers are with you.
Mimi
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Wonderful news! So glad to hear it! :clap;
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Hope you are getting better every day - back to work soon and no excuses!!
:clap;
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great story. hope all is still well.
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Loved the way you told your story :clap;
Wish all centers were as persistant as yours!
Congrats on the new kidney.... and new life!
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Congratulations I hope your kidney lasts a lifetime. :grouphug;
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Transplant successes are so exciting and I hope yours continues doing its little miracle for many many years to come.
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Hi, :waving;
I loved your story! How are you doing these days?
MRR :cuddle;
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Congratulations!!!!! ( I love how you write :))
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I just read this thread and was so glad to
hear that you got a kidney and are doing well.
Your story is interesting and I was blessed by reading it.
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Hey Lee Ann - I hope you are doing well. How's it going? :)