I feel blessed

[Deanne]

As much as I already hate the tranplant approval process, I feel so lucky right now. I was a bit stressed after meeting with the social worker on Monday. I already knew I'd have to find a way to get in for labwork three times a week post-transplant and that I won't be allowed to drive. I figured I could find a place to stay near the hospital for a week or two, take cabs for a week, and be able to walk to public transportation within a couple weeks of surgery.

How wrong I found I was! The social worker said I'll be required to have someone sit with me through my appointments for the first month post-surgery and each appointment would take 2 - 3 hours. WTF?! I need to find someone to take off half a day's work three times a week for a month to babysit me!?

I have two friends who are retired, but that doesn't mean they're sitting at home just waiting to cater to me. One of these friends is almost 80 years old. She's still doing great, but will she still be doing well enough in a couple of years to haul my rear around town? Will she even be in town herself? She travels frequently and since I don't have a living donor, who knows if she'll be in town when my number comes up.

I mentioned my challenge to a coworker this morning. She mentioned it to someone else - a woman at work who I barely know. They've both offered to be available to help with transportation and sit through my appointments for me. I know one of my neighbors will take a day or two off work if I need her help, too, and she suggested yet another neighbor who isn't working and would likely appreciate a bit of income and I could offer her a paying job to haul me around. I have another friend who I'm pretty sure will be glad to help, too. So, in two days, I've probably gathered at least a half-dozen people who might be willing to take turns getting me to the transplant center - about a 40-minute drive each way.

I'm so lucky!

[MooseMom]

That's really wonderful!  And I'm sure they'd be really grateful if you could cover some of their expenses, ie, gas (who knows how expensive it will be in a few years' time!).  I'm so glad you've found some supportive people.  Makes ya feel good, huh!

[Deanne]

Defintely gas and I'm already thinking about what to give as thank-you gifts, and maybe breakfast out each time, or at least a trip to the closest Starbucks. It sounds like we'll be sitting around waiting for the lab results before my appointment. There must be someplace nearby I can take my babysitters for breakfast while we wait.

[willowtreewren]

yes, the reason the appointments take so long is because they draw your labs and then have to wait for the results. It is a pain, but worth it in the big picture of things.

They always told us that we could walk around go leave and come back later.....

I'm glad that folks have stepped forward for you. 

Aleta

[paris]

Such nice news!   People really are good and caring.    My center did the same as Willowtreewren's.  Have labs drawn first, then a short wait, and the results are there when you see the team.  That only lasts a 2-3 weeks.   I still get labs every 2 weeks, but at a local hospital (5 minutes from my house) and they fax the results within hours and also send a purple top tube to the transplant center. That is for testing the prograf and cellcept levels.     I am so happy that these people have offered their help.  It really is amazing.    Thanks for sharing.