We got the CALL...at 4:00am this morning!

[justagirl2325]

Wonderful update, thank you.

[Xplantdad]

Wonderful update, thank you.

  Thank you everyone

[LorinnPKD]

Oh, this is wonderful news!  And I am so thrilled for that 1.2/1.1 creatinine.

Wishing Holly and "Alejandro" (love that) many years of good fortune!

[kristina]

Many thanks for the update Xplantdad,
I am so glad that "things" are going well for all of you
and I am also glad to read that Holly is now on a low dose of immunosuppressants...
I send you my best good-luck-wishes from Kristina.

[Xplantdad]

Thanks you Lorinn and Kristina 

[MooseMom]

Does Holly talk much about this whole transplant experience?  Is she taking it all in stride, or is she rather blown away by it all?

[Xplantdad]

MM....Since Holly had a heart transplant at the age of 5 1/2 months...we've had 26+ years to discuss transplantation (the tremendous gift that she was given 26 years ago that allowed her to be here now). We've had numerous talks when Holly was smaller. She (and we) have learned to live each day...as if it's our last....and relish our time together.

We have recently found and been in touch with the donor family and hope to meet up with them soon-they have had a harder time with this than Holly (as being a transplant is all she's ever known...I told them that I am available whenever they need any questions answered. I have shared with them pictures of Holly (only after I asked if they wanted to see them) and some of the newspaper clippings, too.

As far as the kidney, Holly is aware that someone passed away-and was able to help a bunch of people. Kidneys went to Holly and another female at Mayo, liver went to someone at Mayo, pancreas and lungs went to another person at Mayo

I think this whole experience has been a whirlwind, but in an odd way, Holly was able to experience some of the stress/anticipation/rejection that we experienced while waiting for Holly's heart transplant.

Does that even make sense?

[MooseMom]

Yes, that makes sense.

Since she has had a transplanted heart for so many years, now that she has a new kidney, has her meds regimen changed at all? 

[Xplantdad]

Yes, that makes sense.

Since she has had a transplanted heart for so many years, now that she has a new kidney, has her meds regimen changed at all?

Oddly enough, she's on less immunosuppressants now (lower dose of Tacrolimus) than before the kidney transplant. I would have to attribute that to the better kidney function. She's now taking the lowest dose available of Myfortic as well (which she wasn't on before the translpant )

[Xplantdad]

I wanted to update everyone at the one year anniversary for Holly after the kidney transplant. All is going great! She had almost two weeks of testing for both the kidney and the heart transplants-and the doctors couldn't be happier. They did the second kidney biopsy this year-all is good. She doesn't have to have another biopsy until 2022. She's been "pushed out" officially and will only see the kidney transplant team twice a year (June and December). She will only see the heart transplant team once a year (December). They will piggy back the blood tests for both-so they are done at the same time, too. Blood tests will happen every 3 months to check immunosuppressant levels.

We are blessed in many ways-and are so thankful for the donors and their families for their gift of life....that allowed our daughter to still be with us!

[kickingandscreaming]

That's great news, XPD.  May there be many more great reports.  Go Holly.

[iolaire]

We are blessed in many ways-and are so thankful for the donors and their families for their gift of life....that allowed our daughter to still be with us!

I second that. 

I remember talking about the choice to be a donor a few times as a young adult (and making the choice).  But from my experience most of us make the choice knowing its a good thing to do but without any real grasp whosoever of the significance of the choice.  That choice ends up having a huge significance once you or your loved ones benefit from that choice.

[smartcookie]

Awesome news! 

[cassandra]

Thanx for the update. Great to hear such good news.


  Love, luck, strength, Cas


   

[PrimeTimer]

I wanted to update everyone at the one year anniversary for Holly after the kidney transplant. All is going great! She had almost two weeks of testing for both the kidney and the heart transplants-and the doctors couldn't be happier. They did the second kidney biopsy this year-all is good. She doesn't have to have another biopsy until 2022. She's been "pushed out" officially and will only see the kidney transplant team twice a year (June and December). She will only see the heart transplant team once a year (December). They will piggy back the blood tests for both-so they are done at the same time, too. Blood tests will happen every 3 months to check immunosuppressant levels.

We are blessed in many ways-and are so thankful for the donors and their families for their gift of life....that allowed our daughter to still be with us!

So glad that Holly is doing well. I personally know of a family whose loved one donated her kidneys upon her death. The family said it softened the blow for them and helped knowing that she gave someone life. They want the recipient to do well. Sounds like Holly is doing very well. Her gifts of life are in the right place being with her. Very happy that you have shared this with us. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 

[justagirl2325]

Thanks for the update, merry christmas.

[Xplantdad]

Thank you everyone for the positive wishes. We had a very good Christmas. As I said before, we are blessed.

Thanks for being here for us! 

[Michelle2016]

I really like the quote from you: Thank God and donor for another day. Everything else is irrelevant.  It’s my everyday’s mantra now.

Take care.

[Xplantdad]

[Xplantdad]

I wanted to update everyone...since today is the 2nd anniversary of Holly's kidney transplant. She's still doing amazing (praise God) and we've had zero issues.

Last weekend was the best weekend of our lives, by far. We finally met with the family that donated the heart to Holly. Read about it here if you'd like: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=34929.msg528125#msg528125

Merry Christmas to everyone....