I have really noticed a change in Steve in about the last 2 weeks. He is sleeping more and more which is not a bad thing but fatigue is one of the symptoms of the kidney failure. We went to St. Joe yesterday to see the Urologist Dr. Liarz (surgeon who took out the left kidney). I really like this guy. This was a six month follow up. He is the one who takes care of all your plumbing, kidneys, bladder, etc... He asked Steve how he has been feeling and he answered as always "great". Dr. Liarz looked at me, so I have to be the bad guy and say his energy level has dropped quite a bit. What is with guys and doctors. Just tell it how it is.

His creatinine has jumped to 6.6 this was the results from Mondays labs. Potassium was in range. He falls a sleep quite easy and the last time we saw doctor Brown she said to be careful about that and don't get too drowsy when driving. If he sets down his is usually asleep. He slept on the way to St. Joe yesterday and that is unusual for him to sleep in the car, that's usually me.

He has an appointment in a few days at KU for another ultrasound to check the remaining kidney to see if everything is still the same as far as it having the cysts. I am sure they are going to talk about when to take it out. Dr. Liarz says he wants them send him a letter about the results of this next ultrasound. He thinks if nothing has changed since he has been doing these that it might be reasonable to leave the kidney in. He says it will help with the water balance even after it fails. This is a scary thought, you don't want to take it out if it is ok other than failing but at the same time you don't want cancer to reoccur there either. We will have to do whatever KU says since they have control of the transplant.

Dr Liarz had some interesting statistics about renal cell cancer. He says the chances of cancer being in the other kidney is slim to none. He said the numbers just don't show this. It is more likely to reoccur in the chest or another organ and should show up if it is going to reoccur with in 12 to 18 months. That is why renal cell had a waiting period of 2 years before he could get a new kidney. Dec 17th, 2009 will be 1 year and that is just right around the corner.

You may have to do a little overtime on the praying to help us Steve make the best choice about what we are going to do when we see the KU doctors. We probably won't have a choice. I will post again to let you know the outcome of his ultra sound. Love to all.

Steve, Christy & Blair (loving softball)