Life Is Good Today!

Good News...Yesterday Mark had the best day at dialysis yet!  He had a normal bout of feeling sick, but this passed quickly.  He was able to play some matching games and do Valentine crafts.  It's nice between the child life specialist and volunteers there was someone eager to keep him busy.  This gave me a bit of down time....of course my computer would not connect to the internet.  I wanted to throw it out the window.  I was not prepared for that ever being an issue.  I'm computer dependant...maybe I actually need to pack reading material in the case this issue ever happens again!  I did notice something when I was observing everything going on in the room.  I was most likely the youngest female in the room (not counting the student nurse).  I had come to the conclusion at that moment....I had the most grey in my hair.  I need to work on that this week.

Today we have been busy.  Mark had home school with Ita this morning.  I have been busy cleaning and catching up on laundry!  I have also been in contact with a couple potential donors today.  Since the word has been put out I have had a couple people contact me.  It amazes me to think that Mark may receive a kidney from postings on a social network.  What would we do without the Internet?  Tomorrow we hope to get a couple appointments set up for his transplant preparation.  

The appointments that have to be done before transplant are the following:

• Audiology
• Ophthalmology
• Parathyroid Bone Series
• Orthopedics
• Urology
• Renal Ultrasound
• Infectious Diseases 
• Surgery
• Dental
• Coping Clinic 

Infectious Diseases and Urology/Surgery will be the most important appointments.  They will also most likely be the first appointments they try to get us.  Infectious Diseases will take a very close look at Mark's past immunizations and make recommendations on any that may need to be done.  If it's a live virus shot he may need, it must be done a minimum of 30 days prior to transplant.  Mark's shot records at this point are up to date.  The nurse had mentioned that they may recommend to do any shots due in the next couple of years.  Urology/Surgery will be the team to decide if Mark's native kidneys must be removed prior to transplant.  This is all going to be based on Mark's urine output.  He is still having a regular amount of output.  Typically it slows down after the kidney's shut down.  If the team decides to remove native kidneys, we will be informed if it can be done at the time of transplant or not.  All of his other appointments are important as well.  We will be looking for a "clean" bill of health to move forward.
As I have been working on this blog this afternoon I was contacted by 2 more potential donors!
Life is good today!  Chris is home early and we have plans to go to dinner at Evy & Bobby's.  They always come to our house, and we never make it to theirs.  We are excited to go there tonight and enjoy so yummy dinner and quality time!