When is the operation?

This has been a very common question.

First some medical euphemisms:
Operation = Procedure
Pain = Discomfort

With that out of the way, back to the answer.
Kate has diabetes, the best solution is a kidney and pancreas. I can't do that unless I walk in front of a Metro bus. She is on two waiting lists. That would be the best solution and first choice.
However, since her kidney function is decreasing, she needs a backup in case they fail.
Normal numbers are around 80 to 90 (think I got that right ) Kate's last number that she gave me was 19. Fifteen is kidney failure, so it could be any time. We have to be ready.

Call from Helen and Twitter

As we were walking to the supermarket in NYC, my friend, Helen Westhall-Healy, called me. Helen is a friend from St Kilian's elementary school in Farmingdale. She told me about about her cousin (I hope I got that right) who had a kidney transplant about three years ago. Both the recipient and donor are doing great.

The donor (who was about 60 at the time), came home the next day and was out walking two days later. She said that she does not feel any difference having one kidney. The recipient is doing wonderful also. A very reassuring story and I am so glad that Helen shared that with me.

I also got a note from a donor that I contacted on Twitter. She said it"could not have gone smo0ther". Her donation was ten years ago, so the technology is even better today. I am grateful to Emily for her encouragement.

30 January - NYC

Looks like we got out of DC just in time -- they got some significant snow. No snow in NYC, just bitter cold. We got to NYC a little after noon, figured out the subway card system (different that DC Metro). About any hour later we were in Gerry's apartment -- it is great! We are all moved in and very comfortable. Thank you, Gerry.

We got some hot soup for lunch and then scoped out the church and did some grocery shopping. After bringing the groceries home, we walked back to church. We had NY pizza for dinner. Not quite used to all this NY traffic -- seems like cars coming at you from all directions.

Tomorrow I start the 24 hour urine test. Kind of keeps you on a short leash.

NYC Trip 30 January and Other Stuff

We are planning to go to our daughter Patricia's house tonight (she lives 15 minutes from the bus stop) and catch an earlier bus in the morning to beat the snow. We are not suppose to get too much, but these things have a way of changing.

We are going to try doing interim updates on Twitter -- www.twitter.com and follow "normbarb" to get these updates. These can be done from our phones so Barbara will be able to do short updates from the hospital. I have to get it setup on her Blackberry.

Made a copy of my colonoscopy report -- one of the most import documents in my life as it will allow me to escape doing that procedure again.

We are trying to figure out if subscribers to this blog get automatic updates -- Barbara doesn't seem to be getting them. If you have figured this out, please leave a comment. Comments are always welcome.

Screening - Blood Test Results

20 January 2010: Received Blood Test Results

Same blood type

4 of 6 Antigens match

Cross Match: Negative (This is actually a positive result -- meaning that there was no rejection when our blood was mixed)

Doug had same results, except for 3 of 6 Antigen match.

Letter also provided information for setting up an appointment. Barbara said to call immediately -- so I did. We were out biking when I got the call back from the hospital to set up the appointment.

We set up the first available appointment, Monday, 1 Feb 2010. They said they would send instructions and complete details in the mail. They also said that the testing would take from 9am until 4pm and I would need to do a 24 hour urine test the day before.

21 January: Learned to spell Presbyterian.

24 January: Kate informed us that her brother-in-law, Gerry, offered to let us stay at his Manhattan apartment. Gerry sent us a comprehensive e-mail including a link to the website:

Greenwich Club (www.88greenwich.com). We may decide to move to NY!

25 January: Received letter from the hospital with the instructions and complete list of tests. It is pretty much every test known to man and stops just short of an autopsy. I have to fast until about 1pm on the day of the testing. The good news is that I bring my colonoscopy test report, so I should escape doing that again -- a possible deal breaker.

25 January: Watched a video of kidney transplant from Univ of Md Med College. Kidney removal looked pretty complex -- lots of stuff in there and none of it was labelled. I hope this surgeon got an "A" in kidneys.

26 January: Watching weekend snow report. May have to go on Friday instead of Saturday.

Screening Begins - Blood Tests

28 December 2009: Received FedEx package with seven vials for blood draw. Also, received billing information (all costs covered) and FedEx packaging for return to Presbyterian hospital. Also, instructions that blood should be drawn on Monday, 5 January 2010 and returned via Express FedEx on 6 January.

5 January 2010: Went to lab for blood draw. The last time I had that much blood drawn I got a glass of orange juice, a donut and a sticker from the Red Cross that said; "I Gave". We had scoped out an Express FedEx drop off, so we dropped it off immediately.

How I Found Out

17 December 2009: e-mail from Kate that she had an appointment for testing at Presbyterian hospital in NYC for Kidney and Pancreas transplant testing.

21 December 2009: e-mail from Kate that she had gone through testing at and was now on the Transplant waiting list.

22 December 2009: e-mail from Kate that her kidney function numbers were declining close to the point where she would be in kidney failure and that her doctor recommended that she obtain a living donor. She also sent links to information about the procedure and survival rates of donors!

22 December 2009: Decided to stop reading my e-mail!

22 December 2009: After 10 minutes of serious consideration and consultation with Barbara, sent Kate a note and said that I would become a donor.

Family Background

I have 5 brothers and one sister. I am the oldest -- by a lot. My youngest brother was born when I was in college.

My sister Kate was born when I was a senior in HS. She has juvenile diabetes. She is now 49 years old and experiencing the long term effects of the disease.

Disclaimer: I have no medical background, so all medical references are from a layman's perspective and may not be 100% accurate.