Well, It's Thursday evening and I need to catch everyone up with our crazy week. But let me backtrack! Last Friday, Bob and Justin Jones did our yard work and Jennifer and Tibor did our grocery shopping..... our family and friends are totally awesome.
Over this past weekend, Daveman was feeling more and more not so good. Monday morning (08-31-09) we ran over to the Kidney Institute for our morning labs and then with our 2:15pm follow up meeting with Dr Khan.... Dr Khan didn't like Dave's potassium and the medicine for that is not readily available at just any pharmacy. Therefore, we ran over to South Side Pharmacy and picked up what was needed and Dave took the "yucky" meds to start attempting to lower his potassium.
Tuesday morning, back over to the Kidney Institute for another Dave donation at the lab. Later that day, we get a call from the Kidney Institute that Dave's potassium is still not at a level the doctors want, so another run to South Side Pharmacy for some more of the liquid doses needed for Dave which he takes that evening to get that potassium down.
Wednesday morning we now have another Dave lab donation over at Methodist. This time, they take 8 vials from Dave. Later that day, we meet with Dr Knight. YEAH!! Potassium is looking in the decent range! Creatin is also back down (they tend to stay together). Then, Dr. Knight decides that it's time for Dave's staples to come out along with the jp line. The staple count was between 35 to 40 staples!!!! Dave was soooooooooooo happy that everything was now out of him!!!!
Just to be safe, the Kidney Institute called wanting another lab draw from Dave this morning and then this afternoon, Dr Gonzalez was very pleased with Dave's potassium and creatin level... In fact, in conjunction with this Monday being a holiday, we don't need to come back to the Kidney Institute until next Thursday. YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! our next doctor visit is next Wednesday at Methodist! TOO COOL!!! :) This week, so far, has been like a roller coaster ride but we are on for the duration!!! :)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Home Again Home Again! - Monday 08-24-09
YAHOOOO!! we are now HOME! it's an all day process but we have checked out of Methodist and are now home!
LOOK at what the nurses gave Dave: a framed poem:
I believe that pretty well sums up our week. We have two visits this week, one pancreas at Methodist and one kidney at The Kidney Institue and the 3 visits a week for 3 weeks thereafter, 2 visits a week the 2nd month and 1 visit a week the month thereafter! We wanted to say "THANKS" for all the visitors and cards that came this week! we are truly blessed to have all the friends and family we have! :)
LOOK at what the nurses gave Dave: a framed poem:
ANOTHER CHANCE
David Swank
08/16/2009
How often we wish for another chance
to make a fresh beginning.
A Chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.
It does not take a new day
To make a brand new start,
It only takes a deep desire
To try with all our heart.
To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.
So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And the hope of starting new.
Helen Steiner Rice
Alma deGracia & Dunn 4 West Staff
I believe that pretty well sums up our week. We have two visits this week, one pancreas at Methodist and one kidney at The Kidney Institue and the 3 visits a week for 3 weeks thereafter, 2 visits a week the 2nd month and 1 visit a week the month thereafter! We wanted to say "THANKS" for all the visitors and cards that came this week! we are truly blessed to have all the friends and family we have! :)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday
From my mom... she also said later that he will be at home from work once he is out of the hospital for 8 weeks.
OK-- just got a call from Dave- NOPA on leaving today..... one something's level isn't to doctors liking.... so maybe tomorrow or Sunday.... not sure when.... But his creatinine level is at 2.8 which is great compared to the 5+ he had before surgery! It's been steady coming down!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Methodist Stay/Thursday- Transplant week
Hey there, just arrived home a little while ago... Daveman had no tubes this evening when I got there! Today all of his meds came in and his pharmacist, Kyle got together with us and Daveman had to fill his pill case for the next four days. Dave has only about 16 pill bottles to know and learn about for now. A couple of the anti-rejection meds will last for six months, others for three months. We can do it!! and in our mail today, Dave's diaylsis refill meds came too! We will need to learn how to return those if at all possible. I also found out that he had a liquid diet for breakfast then followed by a full lunch of baked chicken with vegatables for lunch and then baked cod with carrots and pears for dinner. We also took a shower this evening and felt a whole lot better! now just need to beat the lack of urine output that needs to happening. A quick ultrasound confirmed that even with his last bathroom break, there was too much still in Dave. To avoid this backing up into the new kidney, the catherer was being put back in Dave for the night. Tomorrow morning, Dr Gaber will determine if Dave will be released or not. The nurses seem to think that he will. Will let all know as soon as! 'night! :)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
So far this week...
Late Monday, Dave was moved back to his room he started out in, in the multi-organ transplant ward of the hospital (I didn't even know they had such a thing?!).
Tuesday he, my mom (and a lucky Monty!) learned all about the medications he will be on, some for 3 months, some for 6 months, some for life. They all have to be closely monitored so they can maintain a good balance of doing good to his body.
Tonight, Tibor, Audra and I went to visit him again. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked but it was nice to see him.
He is not allowed flowers/plants, or fruit, but he can get cards and balloons, if you'd like to send him a greeting, you can click here to send him an e-greeting, the volunteers at the hospital deliver to him daily. He also has a TV in his room with a VHS/DVD player and was allowed to pick out some movies from their movie library to watch. They've also lent him a lap top and even had someone come and give my mom a quick 10 minute massage - so they are well taken care of!
Tomorrow he will begin his liquid diet. The last I heard they were hoping for a Friday release, but I am not sure if that has changed any or not. Hopefully I can get Dave or my mom on here to update when they can as well :)
Tuesday he, my mom (and a lucky Monty!) learned all about the medications he will be on, some for 3 months, some for 6 months, some for life. They all have to be closely monitored so they can maintain a good balance of doing good to his body.
Tonight, Tibor, Audra and I went to visit him again. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked but it was nice to see him.
He is not allowed flowers/plants, or fruit, but he can get cards and balloons, if you'd like to send him a greeting, you can click here to send him an e-greeting, the volunteers at the hospital deliver to him daily. He also has a TV in his room with a VHS/DVD player and was allowed to pick out some movies from their movie library to watch. They've also lent him a lap top and even had someone come and give my mom a quick 10 minute massage - so they are well taken care of!
Tomorrow he will begin his liquid diet. The last I heard they were hoping for a Friday release, but I am not sure if that has changed any or not. Hopefully I can get Dave or my mom on here to update when they can as well :)
The Call
Sunday morning, a little after 8 Dave and my mom got THE call!
They said they had a likely match and they'd call back in an hour with more info. Sure enough, an hour later they called back and said it was good to go and to head to the hospital! Originally surgery was scheduled for 2 p.m.
They got down to the hospital and it was a little after 11 before they got into a room, and my mom was able to begin sending out texts to people letting them know the good news! A few friends even made it down to the hospital to be with them before he went into surgery. They did a few last minute tests and got situated.
It was a little after 4 before they finally were able to come and get him, they were pretty busy that day. The surgeon ran into a few "roadblocks", but the surgery was an overall success and was finished with the actual surgery a little after 10 p.m. They continued to sew him up after that before he got moved back to his original room. The "roadblocks" were a problem with the head of the pancreas "pinking up", which the surgeon ended up cutting off after it did not turn in the time he would have liked. Apparently, this was a procedure he was very familiar with and used to do routinely so that was good to know. Also, the other was whoever cut the arteries from the donor cut them a little short, so that slowed him down a bit. Nothing that couldn't be overcome though. Thankfully, my mom had some great friends who came down and spent the day with her while she waited in the waiting room for any information the nurses and doctors could pass down to them.
Tibor, Audra, and I got there at some point in the evening and stayed there a while. After the surgery was pronounced a success, my mom and I stayed and waited to see Dave while everyone else went home. A little after midnight they finally let us know they were ready for us to see him. We didn't stay long, just wanted to make sure he was awake. He looked so relieved/happy to see my mom but was struggling to stay awake so we left to let him and his body get some rest!
They said they had a likely match and they'd call back in an hour with more info. Sure enough, an hour later they called back and said it was good to go and to head to the hospital! Originally surgery was scheduled for 2 p.m.
They got down to the hospital and it was a little after 11 before they got into a room, and my mom was able to begin sending out texts to people letting them know the good news! A few friends even made it down to the hospital to be with them before he went into surgery. They did a few last minute tests and got situated.
It was a little after 4 before they finally were able to come and get him, they were pretty busy that day. The surgeon ran into a few "roadblocks", but the surgery was an overall success and was finished with the actual surgery a little after 10 p.m. They continued to sew him up after that before he got moved back to his original room. The "roadblocks" were a problem with the head of the pancreas "pinking up", which the surgeon ended up cutting off after it did not turn in the time he would have liked. Apparently, this was a procedure he was very familiar with and used to do routinely so that was good to know. Also, the other was whoever cut the arteries from the donor cut them a little short, so that slowed him down a bit. Nothing that couldn't be overcome though. Thankfully, my mom had some great friends who came down and spent the day with her while she waited in the waiting room for any information the nurses and doctors could pass down to them.
Tibor, Audra, and I got there at some point in the evening and stayed there a while. After the surgery was pronounced a success, my mom and I stayed and waited to see Dave while everyone else went home. A little after midnight they finally let us know they were ready for us to see him. We didn't stay long, just wanted to make sure he was awake. He looked so relieved/happy to see my mom but was struggling to stay awake so we left to let him and his body get some rest!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Home again, home again
Dave was released from the hospital today after having a dialysis treatment, so now he is able to get some rest in the comfort of his own home, a day early to boot!He will be doing treatments again on Tuesday, Thursday (yes, on Thanksgiving!), and Saturday.
His infection has cleared up, but now that his treatment type has changed, they may have to adjust his diet again (less of that protein he loves so much).
Like I mentioned before, my mom, husband, daughter and I went to the Step Out for Diabetes walk. It was a little chilly, but other than that everything went well! I've added some pictures of that for you to see. Enjoy :)
Audra was a little tired, but she was a trooper!
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