Wednesday October 4th

Well we have been quite busy these past few days.  We have been back to work, and it has been a pleasant change for us.  Johnson is still recovering from his surgery.  Johnson has been back to work...sometimes only able to stay a half day as he still needs to go to the hospital to have his dressings changed.  Friday/Monday and today he went to the hospital by himself where they changed the dressings, and gave his catheter a flush.  Johnson says this is getting better with each flush.  The first few times, he felt very tired and crampy afterwards, and he couldn't wait to get home to nap.  Yesterday was a very momentous day for Johnson.  He had his very first shower since September 11th.  These are the things we take for granted every day and this is what Johnson was missing most of all.  You see...Johnson is a one...sometimes 2 shower a day kind of guy.  He loves the shower to wake himself up in the morning and start his day, and sometimes to freshen up when he gets home.

On Monday Johnson was very itchy, on Tuesday he threw up in the morning.  Of course he had a very good excuse for all these things, like...I must have in ingrown hair on my back, or I just got a chill and cramped up and then threw up.  Really I can count on one hand in 14 years, how many times I've ever witness him throwing up.  These are all signs for end stage renal failure.  He is very tired.  After 8 hours sleep at night, he feels ok in the morning, then by noon...he's wiped.

Tuesday I went to my doctors for my full physical.  This is now the second step for me.  First is our blood types, I'm O+ and Johnson is AB+.  My blood type says I am a universal donor, and Johnson's blood type is the universal recipient when it comes to transplants. Now it's blood, urine, pap tests, breast exams for me and I await their results.  I must collect my urine this weekend for a 24 hour period in containers and bring them with us to the hospital on Tuesday morning.  I will then fast on on Monday night so that I can complete the remainder of my blood work then too.  Say prayers they all pass!  Then I'm not sure what tests come next, but I'll keep everyone posted.

I hope Johnson feels well all weekend and lasts until Tuesday to start his dialysis.  Next Tuesday when we go to the hospital we will start learning and doing dialysis.  We were surprised to hear that they are going to start him with off with a night-time cycler.    A cycler performs four or five exchanges overnight, while you sleep, which would free up Johnson's days.  He would not have to find the additional 4 hours a day to perform his dialysis, as this will do most of it overnight instead.

This is an example of the other type of home dialysis Johnson was going to do, where he will have to sit still, read, watch TV etc.  This type below each time Johnson does it is called an exchange.  Each exchange takes approximately 40 minutes.

Thank you to everyone who continues to view our site, to learn more about dialysis, what it is and why we must do it. 

Many do not understand why this is not the option that Johnson and I wish to do for years while he awaits a kidney transplant from a cadaver.  Your kidneys do much more than just filter wastes from your body.  They also make hormones and balance chemicals in your system.  When your kidneys stop working, you have problems with anemia and other conditions that affect your bones, nerves and skin.  Johnson already suffers from three of these.  Anemia and Erythropoietin (EPO), Renal Osteodystrophy and Itching (Pruritus).  Don't forget, that even though Johnson may have a kidney transplant, he will continue to have his other critical illness of diabetes.

Johnson is young, has children and a wife who love him very much!  We want the best for him.  I want the best for him.  This is why I want to help him.  Others do not see or understand the reasons why I want to be able to give him a kidney.  The doctors will ensure that I am completely healthy enough to donate, and if I am not, they will refuse me...I will have no choice.  Really the risks are low.  Any of you who have had been under a general anesthetic have endured the same risk that I will by giving a kidney.  Not much more than that.  There can be a longer recovery than most surgeries depending on how it is extracted.  When my one kidney is gone, and I am left with just one, it will grow larger and perform the function of the missing kidney.  There is a slight increased risk that I could develop high blood pressure, but there are many medications out there to treat that.  For many years after one donates a kidney, they are followed closely by their nephrologists to ensure they remain healthy.  So please, do not worry.  I have been under general anethetic twice before and had no reactions each time.  Love to all of you, don't worry about me.  Just pray for Johnson.  Pray I can keep him around for many many more years.  I will update all of you again on Tuesday.  Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone!