Home after transplant

[mikey07840]

Welcome home Gail. King Leon sends royal love in your direction.   

[Red from Canada]

Welcome Home Gail and congratulations on a successful transplant!
 

[kitkatz]

The IHD.com site needs some updating and the pics take up a lot of space on the site.  So for awhile no pic posting. The admins are working on it.

Kitkatz-Moderator

Good to see you home Monrein!

Kit

[Normie]

     Glad you are home Gail and everything went well for you and KD.   

Normie

[monrein]

Things continue to go well for me and my creatinine is currently 90..,I think that's 1.0 in the U.S.  It was 71 at discharge but my tacrolimus level was a bit high and when they dropped my dose, the creatinine dropped too. They think that I may be particularly sensitive to the tac so we'll be monitoring thatvery closely.
Kathy left for home today and will return to work tomorrow.  She's feeling very well and insisted on visiting the museum yesterday afternoon for about three hours. 

[monrein]

Here are some transplant photos, starting with the evening of admission through to the day before my discharge.  Others are on my Caring Bridge and also on Facebook.  Thanks again for all your good wishes and support, they've helped us both to get through this.

1.  The evening before surgery.
2.  Pre-surgery.
3.  Kathy, pre-surgery.
4.  Kathy post-surgery.
5.  Gail post-surgery (8 kilos of extra fluid).
6.  Kathy and Gail 7 days post surgery.  (With Jill, the traveling chicken from Syd's classroom, affectionately known as The Chicken Lips Café.)

[Zach]

Great photos!
The journey continues.

[willieandwinnie]

  monrein. They are just great pictures. Thanks for sharing. 

[okarol]

Thank you for posting the photos! I love to see them! 

Kathy wrote us such a nice note on Jenna's caringbridge. She sure is a special person - as I am sure you know! 

Best wishes to you both! 

[Wattle]

   Wonderful photos

[Hilrose]

Seeing the pix, brings me so much joy. I love them

Best wishes to both of you.

One Love
H

[monrein]

Hey Hilrose, is your family originally from Jamaica by any chance?  I'm asking because of the "One Love".  I was born and grew up there and came here when I was 15.  I lived in Spanish Town and went to boarding school in Mandeville.

One Love back at ya. And I'd also add...Walk Good.

[Hilrose]

Hey, your right, my mums from JA and my dad's from St Kitts in the Caribbean.. It good to now that you were born there! I've been to JA 2 times only it's nice for holiday and reggae shows. My mums from St Elizabeth and my step dad is from St Catherine, which is near Spanish town.

Anyways' glad you doing well.

One Love
Hb

[willieandwinnie]

  Lee posted on Gails caring bridge site that she has been re-admitted to the hospital. Here's the post. Gail, I pray that they get things figured out soon. 

"Hi guys.You have to know that if I am doing the journal update it cant be good news.As Gail stated in her last update she was feeling great and looking forward to good weather so she could get outside.On thursday night Gail started to get pain on her right side .During the night it got worse and her temp went up.At 5am she got me to drive her to the emerg.She was admitted and during the day had a ultra sound and a cat scan done .Basically thry didnt show anything wrong.Her blood work is also good.Its as though we are in a House episode although the doctors do not appear to be strung out on anything.Gail is residing on the transplant floor and I know Dr Cole will not let her leave untill thay figure out what is going on.The good news continues to be how well her kidney function is.People often ask me how Im doing and how do I handle all this.I usually say that since I met Gail when she was 16 she has always had some health issues.With out exception she never complains or feels sorry for herself.I know I speak for a lot of people who know Gail personally when I say that it is easier to deal with ones minor  problems without complaint when Gail can handle her major ones with such stoicism and courage.I will of course be seeing Gail today and will update you all on the situation.Thanks for all the support ,it really does mean a lot.    Take care     Lee"

[kellyt]

Unbelievable.  Gail, we're thinking about you girl!  Take care!           

Thank you Lee!

[pelagia]

I am saying a prayer that the docs find every single bit of knowledge they've ever had in their brains and put it together to figure out what the hell is going on. 

I am thinking of you Gail, and Lee too.  It's so frustrating.  I want to get on a plane and fly to Canada, and then what, I don't know, but it's so frustrating.  I bet everyone here feels the same. I am sending you all the healing energy I can muster.

xo Linda

[Jill D.]

I pray that all goes well and they figure out what is causing the pain and fever. Sending a prayer for a layer of protection around her kidney!!!! 

[del]

Sure hope the docs soon find what is causing the pain and the fever.  Take care. 

[Sunny]

Praying for you Gail.

[paris]

Saying lots of prayers for Gail.   And praying the doctors can figure this out soon.   

[charee]

Thinking of you

[del]

Here's the latest Lee posted on caring bridge.

Hi guys.I am happy to say Gail had a good day today.She did have a fever in the morning but seemed to get better as the day went on.Her white blood count went down and the pain in her old kidney dropped dramatically.I got to the hospital at 2pm and Gail was going for a stroll with her IV pole around the 7th floor.It would appear that the new antibiotic is making her feel much better.The big question is can the infection be cured and not require the old kidney to be removed.I hope to talk with the doctors tomorrow and get more info.At any rate things look better and Gails new kidney continues to perform very well.All in all I will take it.      Lee

Hi guys.I am happy to say Gail had a good day today.She did have a fever in the morning but seemed to get better as the day went on.Her white blood count went down and the pain in her old kidney dropped dramatically.I got to the hospital at 2pm and Gail was going for a stroll with her IV pole around the 7th floor.It would appear that the new antibiotic is making her feel much better.The big question is can the infection be cured and not require the old kidney to be removed.I hope to talk with the doctors tomorrow and get more info.At any rate things look better and Gails new kidney continues to perform very well.All in all I will take it.      Lee


Sure hope she gets it al sorted out soon.

[del]

Here's the other post that Lee had on caringbridge . 

Hi guys.I spent most of yesterday afternoon with Gail at the hospital.She was in not as much pain but her fever was still high.Also her white blood cells were higher.A sure sign of an infection.The doctors were in to see her and think that the problem is in her old transplanted kidney.That seems to be were the pain is.They put Gail on intervenous antibiotics and hope that will knock out the infection.The doctors feel this problem is not related to the previous infection as  it responded to treatment before Gails release last time.I asked them what they will do if the antibiotics dont work.They said they possibly could have to take the old kidney out.Wonderful!At any rate Gail is in the best possible place right now and her sister Trish is comming for a visit on wed which will cheer her up big time.Also opening day is on monday and I am going to the game.I know Gail could care less but Kathys kidney will be very interested in my detailed analysis.Talk to you soon .    Lee

[pelagia]

Hi Gail,  I hope you are seriously on the mend today.   

[kellyt]

Wow.  I would have never have guessed it could be her old kidney.  That little booger!  I pray they don't need to do sugergy to remove said kidney, but if that is the path towards complete healing so be it.  We're with you, Gail, if only in spirit and prayer.