Transplant Day 11-2-11

Finally it was time for Transplant!!  We were wheeled down to pre-op at about 10am or so. Almost 20 hours after our arrival to CHB.  What a long 20 hours it had been.  When we arrived downstairs, Mark of course had a crew with him. Chris and I, my parents, Chris' Mom and Rachael.  This was it...finally it was go time.  Then we were told it would be another hour.  Part of me wanted to scream the other part was thinking whats another hour?  We kept busy...Papa did one thousand sticker pages with Mark.  Some of us enjoyed our smart phones.  We had a show from the clowns.  They were tipped of by another dialysis patient that Mark was in pre-op!
After lots of paperwork and coordinating it was time to go!  We had an issue with Mark's seizure medications right before transplant.  The issue was resolved quickly.  They decided to put Mark on an IV drug until post transplant.  We will then make a plan to work on his home regiment this week.

Playing while we wait.

Mark and Rach :)

Mark was sedated and headed off to the OR.  It was finally here!  Scary but great all at the same time.  We headed out to the family area and settled down for our 5 to 8 hour wait.  Every hour and a half the nurse will call in the OR for updates.  At about 1:30 the first report was back.  He had been put under and the incision was made.  We ordered lunch and waited some more.  Just before 3 the nurse called back in for an update.  She was happy to report he was being closed up and had already began making urine!!!  We couldn't believe it...we were convinced they may have had the wrong kid...It had only been 3 hours.  Just a short time after that the doctor came out to follow up with us.  He explained everything had went well and now we would have to wait a bit before we could see him.  At about 5:45 Chris and I headed back to see Mark.  They were just about ready to transport Mark back upstairs...Things were going well!

Post Transplant...Very Sleepy!

Mark had survived the big day...He was returned to us with 3 IV's, 1 Catheter (down below), 1 Central Line Catheter(dialysis cath), Drain Bag...and a approximately 6 to 7 inch incision area all bandaged up on his left side.  Underneath that incision contained 1 New Kidney!