Almost Three Months Now

This coming Friday will mark three months since Sara and I had our transplant surgery.  The time has gone so quickly.  I just cannot believe it has been that long.  We are both feeling great!  I only have two lasting effects that I can really pinpoint.  One is mild tenderness to touch in the abdomen.  This is very minor and does not really bother me at all.  The second is much more concerning -- I have lost my ability to stay up really late!  Well, actually I can stay up late, but once I crawl into bed and try to read I am fast asleep quickly.  Mike has had to take my Kindle out of my hand more than once after I am zonked out!  This is a small tragedy since staying up late is a family trait that goes back many generations(well, at least as far as my grandma!).  Luckily the fine folks at UW did warn me about this before surgery, and they reassured me that I should have the ability back within 6 months to a year!  

Today I got a wonderful email from Sara.  Her creatinine level is 1.3.  She said this is the lowest it has been in 10 years!  I almost cried.  I was so happy!  UW has taken away one of her medications and decreased her lab appointments to once per week.  Big accomplishments!  Saturday night we had dinner with Craig, Sara, and Ashlyn.  Sara doesn't know this yet(although she will when she reads this!), but when she left the table to use the bathroom I asked Craig if she really feels as good as what she tells me she does.  I always worry that she won't tell me if something is wrong.  Craig told me that just the other day she told him that this is the best she can remember ever feeling.  Again...felt like crying.  Knowing that Sara's health has improved so much makes me feel so incredible.  I just love it!!  Sara is flying out to San Francisco with her friends Teri and Angie this weekend.  Teri and Angie were there with her for the surgery back in July and this trip had to be delayed from their original plan of August.  I am so glad they can now go when Sara's health is improved.  I just know they will have a great time!!

One final note: Sara's family and friends have started planning a benefit to assist Craig and Sara with expenses related to the transplant.  They do have insurance, but there are so many expenses that you don't even think of with this type of journey.  The benefit is planned for Saturday, February 4th from noon until 10 p.m. at the Junior Fair Building on the Marshfield Fairgrounds.  You are ALL invited to attend!  I will have more information about details as the event gets closer.  I also would ask that you consider whether you could donate anything to this cause.  We had a planning meeting last week and are in need of gift baskets(for silent auction), raffle prizes, baked goods, $$, and just about anything else you think would be helpful!  If you have anything you or your business would like to contribute we would gladly take it!  We would also take any volunteer help for that day!  Or, of course, you can just come as a guest and hopefully take home lots of prizes, eat a yummy meal or two, bid on fun items, and enjoy the day! You can contact me at drjdillon@gmail.com if you have any donations or suggestions for the day.  (That is the end of my shameless plug for help :-) )

I have said it before, but it never hurts to repeat myself: God is good -- ALL THE TIME!!

Back to Reality

Tomorrow it will be 6 weeks since Sara and I had surgery.  That milestone is exciting, but it also means I have to go back to work!  Fortunately, I do love my job so the thought of going back is probably worse than actually going back.  Tomorrow also marks an important day for our kids -- back to school!  Josh will be in 7th grade at Alexander Middle School.  As much as he would prefer not having to go to the actual classes, he does love the social aspect of school.  Isaiah will be in 4th grade so this is his first year at AMS.  He is looking forward to getting out of the elementary school and into the big school.  Mike decided before my surgery that his new job was not what he was looking for so he called his former boss at UMR and asked if they would take him back.  Jeff(his boss) was thrilled to hear he wanted to come back and they are welcoming him with open arms.  Fortunately being in between jobs allowed him to take the past 6 weeks off with me and the kids.  I must say that the time we all spent together in these past several weeks was just priceless.  Last week I asked each of my kids separately if they were glad that their dad and I both got to be with them so much this summer.  They each said "yes, it was great!".  I am so thankful that they still enjoy being with us!

Today Sara went to UW to have a routine biopsy and blood work done.  The biopsy showed NO signs of rejection by the kidney!  Wonderful news indeed!  As soon as they get the lab results back she will hopefully be able to have some of her medications decreased.  Poor girl takes a small meal's worth of medications every day.  She knows it is just what she has to do, but I am quite sure it gets old very quickly!  The other super news is that Sara was able to have her dialysis line removed the week before last!  That line created so many headaches for her and I am so thankful that the doctors are confident that she will no longer need it.

So this is it -- the "end" of my recovery.  For the most part I feel really good.  Of course I have been whining to Mike that it seems like my abdominal swelling is never going to go away.  So he asked me the other day, "What if they told you before surgery that you would always have a bit more of a stomach than you originally did?  Would you still have done it?"  Great perspective smart husband of mine!  That is a no-brainer for me.  YES!  Of course I would have still done it.  What I am complaining about now is so minimal compared to what Sara has gone through.  Physical changes are so minor when you have your health!

Feeling unbelievably blessed!!



 

Surgical Follow-Up

Last Wednesday, Mike, the boys, and I took a trip down to Madison for my first surgical follow-up appointment.  We left early so we could stop at Dick's Sporting Goods to shop for football gear.  After having lunch at TGI Fridays, we headed over to UW.  First I had to have lab tests and then I went down to the transplant clinic to meet with Dr. Bellingham.  After coming in the room and asking how I was doing she immediately asked about Sara.  She was very pleased to hear that we are both doing so well.  Dr. Bellingham removed the 2 extra stitches I had done the day I left the hospital and then basically just took time to talk to me.  I have great respect and admiration for her and all of the doctors and nurses at UW Hospital.  They have been simply wonderful to me throughout this entire process and I cannot say enough good about what they do!  My lab results were given to me by the nurse before I left my appointment.  They had warned me that my creatinine would go up after surgery due to the right kidney having to take over and do all of the work.  Ideally the creatinine should be under 1.0.  Before surgery mine was 0.76.  The day after my surgery it was 1.26.  And last Wednesday it was back down to 1.06!  That was great news.  My hematocrit and blood sugar were running low, but they were not concerned about that at this point.  Dr. Bellingham told me to come back in 6 months, which surprised me since they had originally told me 4 months.  So I made an appointment for February.  The next day, my coordinator Chris called to tell me she was sorry she missed me when I was down there.  Then she told me that I actually DO need to come back in 4 months and that I should never listen to the surgeon -- ha!  Of course she was kidding.  It turns out that health-wise it would be no problem at all to be seen back in 6 months.  However, due to the strict governing of transplant centers, there are two national agencies which require follow-up reports on the donor after surgery.  One asks for a report at 6 months, but the other one wants it at 4 months!  So, Chris had my appointment changed to December, which will also allow me to finish up my Christmas shopping in Madison :-)

Most days I really feel pretty good!  I have been able to get back to doing some fun things and getting out of the house.  Sometimes I get very tired, but they warned me that I should expect that.  I also am waiting for my belly to go back to normal size, but I am fitting in most of my clothes so I guess I am on the right track!  It has been really great to spend time with Mike and the boys while I am recovering.  We are all going to be in for a shock when we resume school and work! 

Sara continues to do great!  Her creatinine today was 1.5.  It has continued to drop, which is awesome!  Tomorrow she goes to Madison for her follow-up appointment.  I am anxious to see what they have to say.  Hopefully they will allow her to finally have her dialysis catheter removed for good!  Friday I had lunch with Sara, her mom Carol, her sister Carrie, and her nephew Seth.  It was the first time I saw her since I left the hospital.  She looks amazing!!  When I look at her I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this journey of faith had purpose.  It is incredible that God knew what that purpose was all along, and that He would eventually bring Sara and I together and place His hand of grace and protection over us.  It's truly an amazing feeling!

I have had several people tell me that I should turn my writings into a book.  I would love to consider that, but my biggest fear is that nobody would read it -- and also that I have no clue how to start writing a book!  But the other thing I would love to do is speak about my journey.  Not sure where I will start or if anyone even wants to listen, but for now I am hoping and praying for an opportunity to line something up.