And coming in with a weight of...

[kellyt]

214 my husband has been cleared for testing!   whew!   Our scale has been bouncing all around all week.  I was holding my breath when they weighed him.  At a weight of 220 (6 ft tall) his BMI was 29.8 and the cut off was 30!  I left him sleeping comfortably at the hospital after feeding him lunch.  All his bloodwork has beed done and he's in the process of the 24 hr urine.  The chest X-ray will be sometime this afternoon.  And his BP was 116/65!!!!!!!!!!!  Another whew!!  Tomorrow they'll do the CT of the kidneys.  Hopefully everything will look good there, as well.

The doctor thought we were brother and sister with a 4/6 match.  He was happy and shocked to find out we weren't related.  That makes me feel so good!

[willieandwinnie]

kellyt. I'm so happy for you. Hope all continues to go well. Please keep posting. 

[Ang]

sounds  great  thus  far,  tell  your  hubby  to  keep  up  the  great  work

[paris]

Yeah,Kelly!!  This is getting very exciting!   Now, keep him away from the buffets on the cruise!    I really am thrilled and am keeping fingers and toes crossed fpr perfect results on the rest of the tests.   

[kidney4traci]

 

[flip]

That's great news, Kelly. Your story reminds me of us here in Kentucky. We are all potential donors because most of us are related. Kidney disease can be good when your family tree doesn't fork.

[kellyt]

  That's funny, Flip!  And a little scary.     They say a girl marries her father.  My husband not only shares my father's first name, but he reminds me of him on a daily basis.  My father passed just months after I met Charles and I feel him with me all the time.

My husband had a different doctor come in to talk to him this morning and he too was shocked at how well we matched.  I was telling my husband that people get perfect match cadavers all the time.  So why would us being such a good match be weird?  The doctor told him that when a cadaver kidney comes in it's matched against say 1000 potential recipients and it's given to the best match.  The fact that we are so closely matched when matched one on one is remarkable.

They're starting his IV now for his kidney CT scan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I'm guessing his 24-urine was good.  Cross your fingers!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paris]

My transplant surgeon explained why husbands and wives sometimes match so well. He said it has to do with "co-habitating". We share body fluids, we become very compatible.  Well, you get the picture, no more explanation needed!  I am sitting on the edge of my chair, waiting for the CT scan results.  Crossing fingers, praying and sending good vibes

[kellyt]

That is interesting Paris!

Unfortunatly, they still haven't come to get him for the CT.  It's now 1 p.m.  He's had the IV lead in for one hour.  He's getting quite bord.  Plus he hasn't been allowed to eat AGAIN!

The "committee" meets today, so we will not be able to send him to the "committee" for two more weeks.  That stinks!  We should know by the 11th.  The doctor stopped by to see him briefly and I went into the hall.  I heard him tell my husband that everything looked really good so far.

Thanks for all your support everyone!

[okarol]

Everything takes a long time in this process, but you want them to be thorough and methodical in the testing so the donor is given the best evaluation possible.
Meanwhile you wait! I hope all goes well today!

[kellyt]

Well, they came and got him for the CT at 2 p.m. and he was back in the room at 5 til 3 p.m.  It just took a few more minutes for them to remove the IV and we were out of there!  Needless to say we went to a chinese buffet and he stuffed himself!  HA! He hadn't eaten since 6:30 p.m. yesterday!  Then when my brother called me to see how everything went he told me he was allowed to eat before the CT.  oops!  My bad!  When the food lady came by with his breakfast I sent her away!   Don't tell my husband!  But the nurse knew Charles was starving and never said anything like "have your wife get you something to eat".  I just figured because of the IV and the dye that they would prefer him fasting.  Again... oops!   

[kimcanada]

Kelly!!! This is wonderful news, I , like Paris is at the edge of my seat

[paris]

Kim, I think you and I understand exactly how Kelly is feeling. It is exciting to see her get closer and closer to a new kidney.   We're your cheerleaders, Kelly!!

[kellyt]

Another hurdle...  My husband talked to my coordinator today and she said that there is a 1 mm "build-up" of something (possibly calcium, but not sure) in each of his kidneys that could "possibly" keep him from donating.

He has been told to do another 24-hr urine over the weekend, bring it in Monday and they will send him to the "committee" on Wednesday (11th).  She said that if it is NOT calcium then he will be accepted because all his other tests were "perfect".  But if it's calcium they will not allow him to donote.

Any comments?  Words of wisdom?  Anyone go through this and "win"?     

[paris]

Please, please let it not be calcium.  We'll be saying lots of prayers and keep hoping they will find no calcium.  Sending you love, Kelly

[monrein]

All fingers are crossed Kelly.

[kimcanada]

only positive thoughts from this point on.

[kellyt]

I spoke with my coordinator today and I feel a little (just a little) better about the test.  Apparently she took the CT scan to the doctor that saw my husband in the hospital during his testing and said "Please tell me this doesn't rule him out to donate".  The doctor went back and forth and finally said "Let's do another 24-hr urine and see what these are".   I asked why another 24-hr urine and not CT scan.  Apparently, he might also have to do another CT scan as well.   So as far as an answer we're "on the fence", but we're no closer to NO than we are to YES.  Does that make sense?

She said that sometimes people get "pimple cysts" in the kidneys that don't effect donation or transplant in any way.  The fact that he normally drinks a lot of water is good.

Bottom line, I have to wait patiently until Monday.  Once I take the sample back to them Monday morning they'll send it over to the lab immediately.  They'll call me and let me know if they are sending him to the committee on Wednesday.      Positive thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kimcanada]

we are all rooting for you Kelly, deep breaths, positive thoughts... Come on Monday

[Sunny]

I've got my fingers crossed for you and hope things turn out well.
Good luck.