Finally on "the list"!

[donnia]

Wow, I don't know how to feel.  I am super excited, but I am also very nervous!!!  They told me to pack a bag and have it ready.... but what do I pack?!?!?!?!  When I do get the call, we will have to take off pretty quickly considering we live 4 - 4 1/2 hours from Baylor.

My husband has already send in his paperwork to get tested to see if he is a match.... now they can actually start the testing process.  We already know we are both A+ so thats a start 

[okarol]

The wait here was so long I barely had anything packed after Jenna got listed, but I did have it written down in case we had to go quickly.

Cell phone and charger.
Camera.
Insurance cards.
Medicines.
Change of clothes (loose fitting for going home.)
Tooth brush and other personal items.
Journal.
List of phone numbers of friends and family.

I think that was everything.. but will add if I think of something else.

Glad to hear you are making progress!

[Amanda From OZ]

Good to hear your finally listed!! I hope everything goes well with your husbands testing. Good luck 

[stauffenberg]

If your potential donor has the same blood type, including the same Rhesus factor, then he is by definition a 'match,' and would be excluded only if he has medical problems which are contra-indications to donation.  The degree of match varies with the HLA groups, of which six are usually tested, but kidney donation from live donors is usually so much superior to cadaver source donors that even a zero antigen match can be accepted.  The only other factor that could exclude him would be the presence of high levels of pre-formed antibodies in your body to his tissue, as determined by cross-matching, but if you have not had a transplant before, and if you have not had many blood transfusions, this is unlikely to be a problem.

[Laurie]

Congratulations Donnia, I know what you mean about being excited but also very nervous. I went through the same thing. Now everytime the phone rings I get nervous!

I hope things work out for your husband. 

[Sluff]

Congratulations Donnia!!

[livecam]

Donnia thats great news!  Don't worry so much about what happens when you get the call.  The transplant centers are very good at having everything ready for you.  For me the call came one day at work and it was completely unexpected.  I just went home, got my wife, stopped by our daughter's school to say goodbye, and drove.  They took care of everything so by the time we got there all we did was check in and go to the room.  Six hours later there was a transplant just like that.   

[goofynina]

That is awesome news Donnia,  good luck to both you and your hubby, hope all goes well, you will definetly be in my thoughts and prayers 

[donnia]

thank you for the well wishes!!

Okarol, your list helped alot!  I have my bag all packed now.

I hope they get my husband in pretty quick to do his testing. I know it is going to be a long drawn out process    But hey, at least the process has started 

[MyssAnne]

Yay for you!!! Congrats, Donnia! I am so happy for you guys!!! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[kitkatz]

I am jealous, sitting over here waiting and waiting to see if I can be listed!  Good for you!

[donnia]

I started the process in October, so it has taken me 7 months just to get on the list.  How long has everyone else waited?

[Wattle]

  Woohoo Donnia. Thats great news. Hopefully the phone will be ringing off the hook soon.

 I don't worry too much about my bag being packed now. I will just order everyone around when the time comes.      As long as I can brush my teeth and hair I will be happy   

[donnia]

  Woohoo Donnia. Thats great news. Hopefully the phone will be ringing off the hook soon.

 I don't worry too much about my bag being packed now. I will just order everyone around when the time comes.      As long as I can brush my teeth and hair I will be happy   

LOL... I like the way you think!!!

[paris]

It took a year for me to be listed -- and the waiting began. Don't worry about a bag. Toothbrush and hairbrush are all you need. That is what family and friends are for--they can bring everything else you might need. Living donor evaluation takes awhile, too. Nothing moves fast in the kidney failure world!!!

[lola]

  That's awsome, like  Paris said don't worry about bag people can bring what you need... Also they testd me to see if i matched my husband b-4 he was on list it took a week to get results...

[onesicpup]

I was very lucky. I went for my first blood work at Ohio State MC on Feb 8th 2007. I was listed on the 25th of March 2007. And I received my new kidney from a cadaver on April 6th 2007. I have been back to work part time since the 1st of May. Everything is working fine, just never thought it would be this soon. I was expecting sometime in '08 or '09. But I'll take it.

[okarol]

I was very lucky. I went for my first blood work at Ohio State MC on Feb 8th 2007. I was listed on the 25th of March 2007. And I received my new kidney from a cadaver on April 6th 2007. I have been back to work part time since the 1st of May. Everything is working fine, just never thought it would be this soon. I was expecting sometime in '08 or '09. But I'll take it.

Wow that is remarkable onesicpup! Congrats! How are you feeling?
I didn't see, have you posted your experience in Transplant Stories? Would love to hear it all!
Karol

[goofynina]

Well right on Pup!!!  Good for you, so glad you are doing well and thank you for coming and letting us all know.  If you can tell us a little more about the surgery and recovery and all the other "fun" stuff in transplant stories, i am sure it will inspire and give hope to others who are in the same situation.  Looking forward to hearing more about it... 

[Slywalker]

Congratulations on making the list - the tests seem to take forever (yeah, been there done that).

Good luck with the husband connection.  He too will have to go through a bunch of tests if the blood match works out.

I'm on the list and no one told me to pack a bag so I was glad to see the list posted so I can get ready.

Again - Congratulations!!!!

Sandyb