OK, so it looks like grandma will not be able to donate. She didn't pass her glucose tolerance test. It would not have been any harm towards Matthew, but the transplant team will not take a kidney from someone that may be pre-diabetic. Diabetes is usually the number one route to dialysis in adults. She is attempting to re-take the test again tomorrow. We are not optimistic, but it will make her feel better. The pass level for the 2hr test is 140 at the end or lower, she was at 162. I told her not to worry about it, Matthew will get his kidney. Whether it comes from her, me or an angel with a signed donor card...I don't know...but it WILL happen! And that is what is important.
Of course she wants what is best for her child (me). No mom wants their child to go into surgery...especially the same day their grandchild goes into surgery! She wants to make this as easy as possible for me. She knows that if I'm recovery from surgery, I can't help Matthew recover from surgery as much as I will want to. And she also knows that I will put myself at risk and do more than I should just to be with him. Yes, I'm aware of the cardinal rule - take care of mom so she can take care of the kids. But I don't follow it. (I better check to make sure no one at Emory is reading this...)
But through this journey of my possible organ donation to my son, I will chronicle the highs and lows. The pain and the praise. The heartfelt and headache! I want to use this opportunity to share with others the ins and outs of organ donation with others that have a natural curiosity or who may someday consider being a donor to a friend or family member. I hope to shed light on the experience and take away the mystery of it all. I will be brutally honest with facts and my opinions of them.
I have also (with the aid of some bloggy friends) put labels in the left hand column of the screen. Everything I share in regards to the transplant of course will be labeled under "transplant surgery". I have all of Matthew's recipient story on his caringbridge site and will update that as I always have with his side of the journey. I hope you are able to join us for both in prayer and praise as we get little Matthew moving on to the fast track of good health!
8 comments:
My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your whole family! Those glucose tests can be tricky. Especially if you don't down a lot of sugar.
I did one last year and since I was low carbing... it came back bad... but then a week later it was fine. I am sorry you all have to go through this.
Big hugs!
I am not a member of blog frog so I could answer your question there. Acidophillus helps with antibiotic diarrhea, you can just open up the capsule and put it on his food. It should be a problem with his renal diet but you should check with his nephrologist.
love ya - thinking about ya
You don't need to worry too much about doing too much post surgery. You would be amazed at what they wanted me doing. They had me up walking around the day after I donated to Bryan and I didn't have it done laproscopically, so had the 13 inch long incision. I was pretty much able to care for Bryan myself after about a week. Hopefully whoever donates will also be quick to recover too!
I'm not worried about how I feel...just the fact that they won't let me lift him up. I will have to put him in his car seat, his crib, his high chair. Don't want to pop stitches...eeewwww!
yes, not lifting them is a bummer. Even though I wasn't suppose to do it for 8 weeks, I was back to regular mom duty in 2. Just couldn't stop life and by then my husband couldn't take off any more work, same with my parents. Bryan was 5 at the time, but was very small and he has autism, so I did have to lift him quite a bit....but thankfully by 2 weeks I was somewhat well healed. I do have some muscle loss on that side of my back, but not sure if that's related to the surgery or not.
o no. prayers coming your way that the glucose test comes back with great numbers. it is stories like yours and gwenyth's that i decided to become a donor and i am also registered for the bone marrow part as well. hugs to ya'll tonight. may god just wrap his loving arms around and give you understanding and peace through this extremely difficult journey mom! from one momma to another, take care til next update, ya'll close in my heart and prayers.
Karen, I know that everything will work out. Oh our Lord loves to put us through the test, but you are so faithful and so loyal to his word that you will overcome and be blessed beyond words. I love you always
-Steph
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