To bring everyone up to speed on what is going on with Steve.

Still doing dialysis at home and is going a lot better. Had a rough couple of weeks but have ironed all that out. We have been talking with the transplant coordinator and his siblings are being tested. The criteria is can not be on blood pressure meds, blood type needs to be O doesn't matter positive or negative and you can not be over weight. All of them got a good laugh out of that. Linda and Vickie were trying to see how much they could eat so they can gain some weight. Karen was knocked out right away because of blood pressure meds, David is not a candidate because of previously having kidney stones. So it looks like Linda or Vickie will get to be worked up for a match.

If they flunk I will be polling for more candidates. What is the going price for a good kidney these days.

Later Christy

At the end of last week were waiting on a call from the transplant coordinator at KU with the answers to some questions we had since the the last CT scan of Steve's kidney. She did call us back and this is what she said.

His remaining kidney does have to come out before he can be transplanted (originally thought could be done at the time of transplant). It will be taken out laproscopic. The coordinator says we need to get this scheduled.
Once the kidney is taken out and sent off and it is determined nothing wrong other than cyst (no cancer) he will be activated on the list. KU keeps telling us he will go right to the top of the list.

I asked the coordinator when do we start testing donors and she said she would call the doctor with this question and give us a call back. I am hoping to hear from her this week.

I do not know the ends outs of the testing yet but any of you who would like to be poked and prodded please email me. They may just want to do siblings first I am not sure. When I find out I will let you know.

Steve and Christy

It has been a while since my last post. No news is good news. Nothing really has changed since the ct scan with dye except Steve turned the big 50. The girls and I planned a surprise bash for him a few days before his actual birthday. We pulled it off.

The girls decorated the hall made food and got everyone there surprise him. The 3 days before was the worst stress for me. I just kept thinking someone will spill the beans. The day before he was working cattle and stabbed himself with dirty cattle syringe in the leg. It was very painful and Blair wanted to know how in the world he could have done such a thing. I finally got him to the ball game that night but it took 3 guys to get him back to the car after the game. The next day Saturday the day of the party he really wasn't much better. I kept thinking all day he is going to tell me we are staying home tonight.

Emily and Alan had the perfect plan. They had given him tickets to a steak supper that week. Have you ever heard of Steve turning down steak. As the day progressed on him didn't seem to feel any better. I had worked out a back up plan with friends if he didn't want to go to the steak supper. All went fine, we went to church and headed to the steak supper. Him being grouchy and my nerves just about shot. We pulled up in front of the building and I helped him get to the door, opened it so he could go inside and everyone yelled surprise. We got him good. My legs were shaking so bad walking to the door of the building its a wonder I didn't calapse.

Lots of family and friends attended. It was a great time.

Not really any news from our doctors, just keeping appointments and check ups. Dialysis at home is pretty good but somedays it is very trying. Emily has helped him stick his arm a few times. Sometimes it is just hard to get it in the correct spot. We have some appointments coming up, just routine but I will make sure if the stork brings us a kidney all of you will be the first to know.

Take care and happy spring, it is coming isn't it?

Christy