Jim Update

It has been 25 days since Jim's transplant. Joe continues to work great!!

Jim's been quite busy the last 3 weeks. He has:

* got his drain removed

* got his stent removed....Ouch!!!

* got most of his staples removed

* been hospitalized for severe pain from the cysts on his old kidneys rupturing

* had a plasmapheresis treatment done due to high titer levels. Should be below 64, his had gone up to 256. We were told prior to transplant he may need some additional treatments post-transplant. It was down to 16 when he left
* had an IVIG treatment which helps with the antibiodies and helps keep the titer levels down.

This is how we spent most of our time in the hospital over the weekend just sitting around waiting....

Check up today with the transplant team was good. Other than his blood pressure being higher than normal, everything else checked out great. Creatinine level is down to 1.2 which is awesome!!!.

Keep up the good work....

 

Jim and "Joe" heading home

Tuesday was a good day to go home!!  Jim was up every couple of hours during the night. Joe was keeping him busy peeing. Drs. came in and said everything was still looking good. Creatinine was down to 2.0, titers were still 1-16 (if these go higher than 64 he may have to do plasmapheresis again) but so far everything looks great. Still some pain in incision area, a small BM too helped with his pain, but otherwise feeling pretty good. Coming home with a drain in the incision area.  

Got home and started preparing his pills. Here is what a weeks work of meds look like.

Today a home health nurse will come out and do blood draws. He will have blood draws 3 times a week for the first 2 weeks. Then blood draws twice weekly for the next 2 weeks, then once a week for the next 3 months, every other week for the next 9 months then at 1 year it will be monthly. This is how they keep a close watch on levels for possible rejection. Small price to pay to be dialysis free.

Monday

Jim had a great night. Seems to have slept better than he has in years. Actually had to wake him up at 7:00 to start his busy day.

The plan today is to start walking. He will have occupational and physical therapy. They will remove his catheter and wean him off his push pump pain meds. He is feeling really good. Creatinine levels are going down. Output is still good.

Happy birthday to Lindsay. What an awesome birthday present we both got.

Sunday....3 days post op

It's Sunday and everything is going well. Jim had a pretty good night the last 2 nights. He's been sitting up in the chair for long periods of time. Not much walking yet but that should come today. His pain is in control but still hurts terribly when moving. His belly is gurgling and a good BM should take care of that. That is on our agenda today too. He should be moving down the hall to a regular room also.

Here are some of the great gifts he has been getting.

Lucky Al, a.k.a. Chuck Norris, got to go home on Saturday. How incredible is that!!!
We promise to take great care of "Joe".

Finally Together..

This morning Jim was running a temperature. It could be because of the medicine but they took blood cultures of his 2 ports in his chest to rule out infection. His pee output has declined a bit, but again that's normal. Had a bad night when he started to get fever, then got anxious and needed his xanax. Didn't sleep too good. He's now getting oral pain meds along with his 10 minute push pump.

Feeling better by noon time. Fever gone. Got up and sat in the chair and washed off.  His buddy Al came to see him. Both are looking good.

Resting

Jiim is resting comfortably and will be in the ICU tonight. Currently he is peeing about a cup every hour which is fantastic. They are giving him lots of fluids to keep the kidney active. They will check it every hour during the night. Morning plan is to sit him in a chair and have a liquid diet for lunch and get him to a regular room. His pain button is currently his best friend. He's been using it every ten minutes.

Al is feeling better. He was quite sleepy  when he was in recovery and still up in his room. His morning plan is to get up and walk. I know you can do it "Chuck Norris"!!!

No pictures of Jim yet, but here's one of Al looking like himself with his ball cap.

Here's the happiness we were having in Jim's room.

Feeling relief, happiness and utter joy tonight. Sleep good....

We Did it....

That's what I told Jim this morning when I seen him.  Took him early to pre-op. Feeling anxious and excited. Al in his usual fashion was cracking up the nurses. Al went to OR at 7:20. Took Jim up at 8:20.

10:20...Al's kidney out.
11:00....Jim's vitals are good. Kidney in room ready to put in.
11:45....Closing up Al. Will be going to recovery soon.
12:00.....Kidney in Jim...one more connection. Good blood flow.
1:00.....Kidney in and making pee!!!  Used a cadaver vein for one connection. Everything went well.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers. They worked. God is good.

Wednesday.....1 more day.

Wow....hard to believe it's finally almost here. Busy day today for Jim. Port put in early this morning, plasmapheresis starting at 1:00, visit with Mom, Norm, Diane and Chrissy, dialysis until 8:00. Chouch and Japs are here from Florida. Late night visit until 10:00 catching up.

Hoping we all get some rest tonight. Not thinking that's going to happen. Jim's being taken around 7:00 so we will be there early. Surgery at 8.

Tuesday....2 More Days

Today was a pretty quiet day.  Jim had the plasmapheresis done today at 3 o'clock. He wasn't happy with one of the nurses doing this today. In fact, he was quite angry. Hoping he gets another nurse tomorrow.
Tomorrow he is having a port put in his chest for blood draws. They are having problems sticking him for blood so this will make it easier for blood and IV meds. He had this once before when hospitalized.

He will also have another plasmapheresis treatment and then.....his last dialysis!!!  Glad it's a busy day, will have lots to do before the big day. 

The halls on this floor are filled with inspriring quotes.  This one I found today reminded me of Al Kreke.

Jim's still feeling good. He is quite anxious, excited and a tad bit worried. But mostly he's tired of me beating him at gin rummy!!  Surgery is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Thursday.  Almost there....

Monday......3 days left

Today was a good day. Fr. Flach came and gave Jim a blessing and anointing of the sick. Fr. Flach has been a dear friend of the family for many years. It was nice to reminisce about the "old days". 

Lindsay was off school today and spent the day too with her dad. The following photos are courtesy of her.

 Hopefully next Labor Day we will be out at our lake in Coulterville like we have done for the past 30 years. We miss it....but soon we will be back out there.

Happy Labor Day.

Sunday....4 more days

Sunday was a very quiet day. Nothing really to do. We spent most of our time eating then waiting until we ate again. Sorry Al....Jim DID get that hot dog that he wanted so bad!!

It's hard to belive it's almost here....4 days and counting.

Love this floor. It's so inspirational.

Thanks for being on this journey with us.