Despite complications and set-backs, we are keeping the faith that a kidney transplant could happen soon. Patrick and I are being referred to two transplant centers, UNC and Johns Hopkins, as an "incompatible donor match." It is a procedure that has been proven to be successful at leading research institutes, where organs with incompatible blood/ tissue types are transplanted, after a series of Plasmapheresis- "to remove antibodies from the bloodstream, thereby preventing them from attacking their targets." The treatments are rigorous, and there is an added level of risk due to the complication of the procedure, but we have been told that the outcomes are as successful, or more so, than a transplant between two organs of the same blood type. After the transplant, of course, it will be most important that Patrick continues to take immune-suppressant drugs forever, because a transplanted organ can be rejected at any time, even years or decades after transplant. Here's the web page for Hopkins' incompatible program- there's a very informative video as well as reading material about the procedure.
Obviously, we don't know how quickly this process will move along, and there are no guarantees. I may not be accepted as a donor after the evaluation. After working and waiting for so long to see if Morgan could be a donor, we have all been very disappointed and frustrated with the process. (Morgan and Patrick especially!) It is unclear exactly what has happened with Morgan's evaluation at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. At present, it seems like he will not be accepted as a donor. My heart goes out to you Morgan, for your ongoing persistence in this fight- you've been there for Patrick in more ways than I could count. Already you have given him the greatest gift of friendship!!
For now, the name of the game is being strong, holding on, and getting prepared for the transplant to happen. Patrick has to be healthy enough for surgery, and his blood pressure has continued to fluctuate all month. It gets especially high during dialysis treatment, which is not supposed to happen. He's been in and out of the hospital lately with high BP, with no sign of the cause. This past week at Rex, they did a Doppler radar of his kidneys looking for evidence of artery damage, but did not find the results that they were looking for. It's good that the arteries look okay, but frustrating to not have an answer. With the seriousness of his hypertension problems, there's a good chance that he will need to be back in the hospital for some time before the transplant happens, and next time he'll go to UNC, to see the nephrology specialists who diagnosed his FSGS two years ago. We are hoping and praying that Patrick can overcome this setback, that his BP can be regulated, and that he does not have any more seizures. He hasn't had any since the one episode, about a month ago.
Please keep us in your prayers! The sooner this transplant can happen the better, and there are a number of factors that need to fall into place for that to happen. Most important is the love and friendship from family and friends. Sometimes its hard to remember to be grateful for the blessings of life, and friendship and love are blessings that we can always hold onto. Thank you! ~Kate
