Updated on December 1, 2006

Tomorrow we leave for HAWAII!!!  Whoo Hoo!!!  But before we go, I thought I'd try to update everyone on what has happened since my last update.

Monday November 27th, 2006

Upon my arrival at the Ottawa General Hospital, I saw a huge banner that read "Helping People life Life Without Limits".  There was a bake sale being held at the hospital by my two "Team Diabetes" friends who will be going to Hawaii to run the marathon with Johnson and I.  What a pleasant surprise!  Hi Monica and Cynthia!!

It was so nice to see these lovely ladies and get a chance to really talk to them. After buy way too many delicious baked goods I went to my first of 4 appointments of a very long day.

I first met with Dr. Green, who is a Psychiatrist at the Ottawa General.  He was a very kind man, with a very kind soul.  Sometimes you think you have nothing to say, and then PUFF!!!  You can't stop talking.  It was nice to get a few things off my chest, and to have some impartial person to listen to me.  He agreed that there would be no reason for him not to pass me as a willing donor of my kidney to the team.  His only recommendation was that I might benefit from some counseling to help me to deal with the multitude of feelings I have been experiencing and to get some support for me, someone just for me.  His one question to me was, how do I cope with all the stress and all my feelings?  I replied that for now, I just keep pushing them deep deep down.  I acknowledge that they are there, but that I just cannot deal with them right now, as my only focus is to protect and fix my little family unit.  I can only concentrate on what it is that I can do to fix it.  Once that is completed, then it will be time for me.  My Post Transplant Resolution for 2007 will be, taking care of Kendra.  Making time for Kendra, and to be a FUN MOM again!

Then it was off back to talk to see the ladies down at the bake sale again, since I had an hour to kill, I asked if I could help.  To my amazement, they were practically sold out!  What happened in just those two short hours?  All the good stuff was clearing out fast!  I'm sure those ladies did well with their fundraising that day!

Then I went to my second appointment, which was a differential nuclear scan of my kidneys.  That was soooo cool.  I am injected with a tracer, which goes only to my kidneys and then to my bladder.  You can see my two kidneys on a machine similar to an ultrasound machine.  They look like two little jelly beans.  The technician takes 20 minutes of photos to ensure that one kidney does not function much different than the other.  Success!

Then I am off to see the Social Worker.  She is really nice and helps me by giving me a list of possible companies which offer home support services.  I think we may need to hire some help with meal preparation, light housekeeping etc for after the transplant.  She asks me many tough questions, I cry of course, because I am very strong until someone asks me how I am feeling or coping.  Then it's a meltdown.  She also gives me a pass, and recommends I get someone to talk to for support.  Again I say...2007 is all about Kendra! Ha ha!

Then I am off and running.  My next appointment is at the other Hospital.  The Riverside, so I must drive to another hospital where I actually get to meet my surgeon.  He is a very nice man, he examines me, shows me where he will put the camera, which is right in-between my breast bones, then shows me a little lower to the left, where he will put a scope, and shows me just under my belly button where he will put a 7 cm vertical cut and remove the kidney from there.  He informed me that he will take the left kidney as it's blood vessels are longer, which makes it easier for him to implant it into Johnson.  He seemed quite young, maybe 45??  I jokingly asked him if he's had much experience with this.  Apparently the BEST!  He's the one who brought this procedure to Ottawa.  Before the Ottawa Hospital only did one transplant per month.  Now they do one a week!  Amazing.  A really nice fella that I feel comfortable with knowing he may do the procedure.  He also told me that most likely if it is him, that he will most likely remove my kidney, then put it into Johnson too.  

I was so exhausted that evening after a whole day of tests, that I couldn't really pack for Hawaii.  

So I have just one appointment left on Monday December 18th when we return, and that is to meet my nephrologists and to do one final urine test.  Once completed, the whole team of doctors, surgeons, nephrologists, etc. will meet for a group discussion, to basically give us the Yeah or nay.  However, things are extremely favorable and it looks as if we will be ready for transplant sooner than later!  GOD has blessed us all!  

Johnson and I have been asked to speak at the Victory dinner the night after our marathon by The Canadian Diabetes Association, which is an amazing honor and we are very blessed to be asked!  Now I've got to get to work on that speech!  Oh well, I imagine 12 hours in the air traveling to Hawaii may give me enough time to write one?

Did I mention we are finally off to Hawaii tomorrow?  What's crazy is that right now outside at 4:00PM Ottawa time, there is an amazing Ice Storm happening!  Very reminiscent of our last vacation together that Johnson and I had.  We were leaving for our honeymoon 9 years ago and the weather was exactly the same.  We just made it out of the Ottawa Airport last time, and ended up safely in Cancun.  That night on CNN news...there was Ottawa Canada being featured as the most amazing Ice Storm of all times!  Ottawa Canada made CNN news!  COOL.

Now as I look outside, there are trees breaking and branches everywhere.  Traffice is at a stand still outside, and I can hear the rain/ice hitting my office window viciously!  I sure hope we make it out tomorrow and our flight is not cancelled!!  Time will tell.

We just said goodbye to our doggy Tasha, as she is off to Uncle Ian's for a 2 week vacation with their family!  Brandon and Jazzmine (my niece and nephew) will just love having her to themselves for 2 whole weeks.  Maybe Tasha won't want to come back home?  I thought I wouldn't care at all that I wouldn't see her for 2 whole weeks, but I miss the stinker already!  HA HA.  Good thing we are taking the girls with us to Hawaii, or I think I just might have gone crazy without them!  I guess I love all my family members with such passion !!  Love to all of you!  I will update with a millions photos of Hawaii upon our return! Cheers to all of you!

Kendra