On Monday morning, Patrick went to see the transplant surgical team at UNC for a check-up, and was told that the surgery will need to be postponed indefinitely because his blood pressure is too low. Our understanding is that since October (when he had two seizures due to high BP), the medications that he has been taking to stabilize his blood pressure have actually caused it to steadily decrease, and that his meds now need to be adjusted and re-stabilized before the surgery can take place. He also needs to be quickly weened off the Dilantin that he has been taking for seizures, and is now under the supervision of a pharmaceutical team and has a follow-up appointment in two weeks. At the earliest, the transplant could take place in April. Finding ourselves back in this position of uncertainty is frustratingly familiar. It's a very good thing that the doctors caught this in time. Of course it's very important that the surgery has the best possible chance for success. Please continue to hold Patrick in your thoughts and prayers, shine your love light on him during this transition period, and continue to offer up healing, strength, endurance, patience and grace.
with a grateful heart,
Kate
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
T minus 10 and counting
Greetings~
With hopeful hearts we await the transplant- now less than 2 weeks away! The surgery is still planned for March 5, as scheduled, and the only new updates regard pre-op plans and procedures. Patrick has 3 plasmapheresis treatments left, Feb 28, March 1 and 4th. And he is continuing with dialysis on his regular schedule for the next two weeks. After the transplant, he may temporarily need dialysis, until his new kidney has integrated into his system. He will be in the ICU for the first few days, then in step-down, and then on the nephrology floor at UNC until being released. He will probably be in the hospital for about a week, give or take, and then go home to Mom and Dad's house in Raleigh. After the procedure, the ttransplant team will want to see him once or twice a week to check on the new kidney's function.
My pre-op appointment is Feb 28. I'll be checking in with the surgical team, and receive prep instructions. The surgery is very serious, of course, because of the anesthesia, but I have relatively little pre and post instructions, compared to Patrick. The only medication I should need is for pain. And for the first month after surgery I will not be able to lift anything more than 5 pounds, or drive my car due to the risk of hernia. But I will be good-as-new just in time for spring, and am looking forward to spending quality time with loved ones during the recovering period. I feel so blessed to have an amazing community of family and friends. For the first week or so after the transplant, I'll stay at my sister, Stephanie's, house in Pittsboro. Then home to Greensboro, and to continue recovering for a few weeks before going back to work and school at UNCG. The function of my remaining kidney will increase and eventually it will grow larger and stronger. So it's about to be on! As the transplant draws closer, we are grateful for this blessing and feel uplifted by grace and love!
With hopeful hearts we await the transplant- now less than 2 weeks away! The surgery is still planned for March 5, as scheduled, and the only new updates regard pre-op plans and procedures. Patrick has 3 plasmapheresis treatments left, Feb 28, March 1 and 4th. And he is continuing with dialysis on his regular schedule for the next two weeks. After the transplant, he may temporarily need dialysis, until his new kidney has integrated into his system. He will be in the ICU for the first few days, then in step-down, and then on the nephrology floor at UNC until being released. He will probably be in the hospital for about a week, give or take, and then go home to Mom and Dad's house in Raleigh. After the procedure, the ttransplant team will want to see him once or twice a week to check on the new kidney's function.
My pre-op appointment is Feb 28. I'll be checking in with the surgical team, and receive prep instructions. The surgery is very serious, of course, because of the anesthesia, but I have relatively little pre and post instructions, compared to Patrick. The only medication I should need is for pain. And for the first month after surgery I will not be able to lift anything more than 5 pounds, or drive my car due to the risk of hernia. But I will be good-as-new just in time for spring, and am looking forward to spending quality time with loved ones during the recovering period. I feel so blessed to have an amazing community of family and friends. For the first week or so after the transplant, I'll stay at my sister, Stephanie's, house in Pittsboro. Then home to Greensboro, and to continue recovering for a few weeks before going back to work and school at UNCG. The function of my remaining kidney will increase and eventually it will grow larger and stronger. So it's about to be on! As the transplant draws closer, we are grateful for this blessing and feel uplifted by grace and love!
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