Recovery

Part of me wanted to wait on any post about it until the final cross match was set, for obvious reasons. At the same time, it was the tragedy of the last cross match that led to this surgery happening. The post Jana Velo made asking for donations was shared almost 400 times. At the time I was grateful but also skeptical. I’ve experienced more than my share of trauma tourism, and part of me, cynically, believed that those shares were out of a false charity, a sort of moral deposit. I will never think that again. A complete stranger to me (my brother’s college friend from 15 years ago), saw the post and decided to give it a shot. Another stranger, so I heard, being unable to donate to me, is planning to donate to a stranger. Many many others went through the donation process only to miss this or that test. And a number of people underwent the process on the long shot that they might be part of the paired donation program. This cynic is born again.

I’m on the morning of day 3 in the hospital. It’s been a pretty smooth stay so far. The numbers are looking great. Presurgery my creatinine was around 10. Post surgery it was 7.4, Tuesday morning was 2.8, and this morning was 1.4. Those are great numbers!

Now it’s Sunday evening. I was sent home on schedule Friday afternoon. My creatinine continued to drop through Friday and seems to be settled around 1.2. I think the last time it was 1.2 was when I was in college! I’ve been so anxious about things going well. Knowing so much more this time around has its drawbacks. But this time the stay was plenty smooth. There has been one complication with the surgical site. Because of the previous surgeries at that site (putting my mom’s kidney in and taking it out again), the peritoneum likely fused with the muscle tissue (or something like that). As a result, the damn thing has been leaking pretty steadily for a week. This is not a serious complication. They hope it will close up on its own, and if it doesn’t there are a few things they can do, most likely put in a drain in a week or two. That would allow the site to heal up without the fluid pressure. While this has been an inconvenience (I’m using sanitary napkins and a maternity belt after the tape started to bother my skin), it’s really nothing compared to the many other possible complications.

I’ll post more about recovery in a few days, and more about this donor guy. J Here are some photos from pre and post-op. Thanks for reading!

Mom and I, me in a poofy shirt to keep me warm and entertained. 

They wheeled Ben in to say hello before taking him to the OR. This also gives a sense of the pre-op area

Here we are! Feeling ready! 

My totally at-ease parents. :)

The requisite thumbs-up heading into the OR

This screen in the waiting area posts updates about us patients. 

Here's the site after surgery. They put a blue armband on my dialysis arm so the know not to do blood pressure or draws or anything on it. 

Napping in the brown chair! 

Sloanie!