I love you with all my kidney

Hello bloggerland! How is everyone today, on hump day? Me, I am good, tired but good. Alright so I was talking a little bit about my 3 month check up last entry, and some of you talked about how you don't know my medical background and what not, so I thought I would tell the story today. Especially with Father's Day coming up this weekend, BLOGGERS don't forger your father's!

This story has some backhistory so bare with me please. It started back in the spring of 1989 when I was in the 5th grade, and the elementary school nurse had thought I might be having some feet problems, and actually recommended I see the family doctor. As a kid obviously I had no desire to do this but hey you gotta do what you gotta do. Anyway while at the doctor for my feet, my parents had asked some questions about other things, and after some tests and extensive blood work, the results were sent to Riley Children's Hospital. Almost immediately we were called and asked to come down for some more tests to be run down there. This is a little more scary because you're called down to a hospital, but we all packed up and went. Down there they ran a whole bunch more tests, including some very painful ones. After the resultls, they talked to my parents first, then they broke the news to me that I was in Kidney Failure, and needed to have a kidney transplant. My kidneys were basically shrinking and would no longer function at a certain point in time. I was also admitted that day so they could run MORE tests and decide which medications to put me on. It was very interesting, I had very rarely been sick, let alone ever stayed in a hospital, and at first I couldn't swallow a HUGE calcium pill they gave and they had to mash it up into Banana Pudding, I quickly learned how to swallow pills. They chose to regulate me through medications rather then putting me on Dialysis which was a big relief. I also made regular visits to Riley after getting discharged for blood work, and blood transfusions. All this leading up to the big day of the transplant. I became a pro with getting shots, it's like old hat for me now. I even had an IV in my clavicle(collarbone) that was fun let me tell you.

So, they basically regulated me through medications for a few months, and then in October they decided to set the date for the transplant. Obviously before that my whole family, mom, dad, and sister, were tested to see if they were a match to donate. How lucky I was that my whole entire family were an exact match, and the no brainer was to use my dad. So, November of 1989 we were admitted the Monday before Thanksgiving, the transplant was Wednesday, Happy Thanksgiving Phats eh? I don't remember too much of the actual day, I do remember being taken down to the operating room and being really out of it. I remember the song playing was "aint nothin' gonna break my stride" haha! Then I was out, when i woke up in recovery I think I forgot what I had just been thru seeing as how I tried to sit up and asked for my dad immediately. Let me tell you after surger all you want to do is sleep, uhh nurses aren't having any of that as they woke me every 20 mins to do vital signs. So for my Thanksgiving Dinner in 1989 I dined on Ice Chips! :) However I was alive and that is what counts.

The recovery time was pretty quick, I was out in time for Christmas which was really nice. The stay wasn't too bad, the nurses treated me like a king seeing as how I was the only kid on the floor since the transplant was at IU med center. They would sneak me in pizza from the hotel food court that was next door. The doctors would kid with me because my room was decorated in Purdue of course, and they all worked for IU MED. My dad recovered as well, with no setbacks, and that is nice because the surgery is actually harder on the doner then the receiver. I left the hospital on 16 different medications, and I couldn't be discharged until I knew each one, how much I took, when I took them, and what they were for. I am down to 5 meds now! Yay me!

It's been an interesting experience that's for sure, and one that has made me grow up and become more responsible at such a young age. I had one set back since the operation, that was during my Freshman year of HS, and that was my first Biopsy OUCH those hurt! I was out of the hospital good as new in a week though. When I was first released from the hospital I would have to visit twice a week, then once a week, then once every 2 weeks, once a month, and now it's down to every 3 months here in town, and go down to Indy once every year for my 1 yr check up. It's very ironic because I have gotten some great opportunities as well thru this whole ordeal, one being doing public speaking for the National Kidney Foundating, giving speeches on organ donation, and my experience. Another was winning the Larry Smock National Kidney Foundation scholarship, as many of you know every penny counts towards college :) If you ever met me, you'd think I was just another normal(well some argue that) 20 something guy, unless I showed you my scar, but we'd really have to be on a personal level for that! haha.

So there you have it, my medical background in one post. Sorry it's long but this is a story you really can't cut corners on. Of course I am forever thankful for the sacrifice that my father made, and that my mom and sister were ready to make. In the end though you would hope any family member would be willing to step in and do that. We share a very tight bond, as well as the distinction of having only one kidney! :) Although mine is now located in the front. I hope you enjoyed this story, and that it didn't bore anyone. And maybe after reading this story some of you out there will become organ donors next time you renew your license! I am a donor.

Have a great rest of the week
Phats
By the way song is "you raise me up" by Josh Grobin I thought it was appropriate for all the father's out there. Happy early Father's Day to all you dads