Living Donor: It's a huge responsibility

Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know I was officially approved as a donor for my husband last week. We don't have a transplant scheduled at this date but it was a good feeling to know we have a solution now. His current GFR is 22 as of last week. He hovers between 20 and 22.

@fauneconner, Thank you for the beautiful update. I am so-o-o-o happy for you and your husband! That is quite a marvelous Christmas gift and a wonderful way to proceed in to the new year:-) I know that you must be relieved to have all the testing and the uncertainty behind you.
Did you get a letter or a phone call? What is the next step in the process?

@fauneconner, we would love to hear more from you as you continue to move forward. I want to remind you that this is a public forum, so share only what you are comfortable with.

I continue to keep you in my prayers.
Rosemary

@ktaubman, Yes, A second miracle indeed:-) That is amazing.

Do you mind sharing how the bladder cancer was discovered? Did he have symptoms, or did it show up during an evaluation? I have a kidney/liver transplant, and I am curious.
Rosemary

It was discovered during regular exam. He had enlarged bladder so they have been watching since transplant.

@ktaubman, Thank you. I am familiar with Mayo's great ability to watch and to monitor anything that needs to be watched. My friends say that I am the most 'watched' person they know! It is a good feeling:-)
Rosemary

Rosemary, I really don't know what the next step is. I just found this out right before Christmas and my regular donor nurse was out of the office. Since he is holding his own right now it would be better for us to wait a few months because of moving his business, etc. but we are keeping a very close eye thru regular blood work on his kidney function. There is a lot of planning involved in doing this, including someone to stay with our pets and house sit, someone to maintain the business, lining up the caretakers who will be with you, where you will stay, how long you will be there, etc. My work is portable online so I don't worry about that one. We also have put our large home on the market in an attempt to downsize and make our life simpler. I am ready for less to maintain! So basically I will be taking this one step at a time with so many things on our plate right now. I will have to hear from Mayo next to get their imput on a timeline.

@fauneconner, When I was originally scheduled for an appointment at Mayo Rochester, my husband and I did many of those same preparations. It was a good thing for me that my husband took charge because, I could not have done it.
I remember when I was at Gift of Life House, that there were others who had farms and cattle to be concerned about. Somehow it does all come together. I don't know if I mentioned Gift of Life to you as possible lodging? I highly recommend it.

I also want to introduce you to @mauraacro, who is soon to be a living kidney donor. She has been active on This and That Transplant discussion. I am going to send you and invitation to meet her there.
Rosemary

Thank you. I will try to answer what I can after my testing experience.

Anyone else feel overwhelmed with the preparations? My recipient and I are going into the paired pool to test the waters for a CMV neg donor for her. We did the testing at the end of November and had a little delay due to a repeat 24 hr bp test. We got the news on December 28th that we are approved. There are so many moving parts that I don't even know how to beging to prepare to step away from my business, home and fur babies.

@rosemarya it really is a good feeling, so much more than what I get from my local PCP. I had an appointment with my surgeon on December 13 at which point he said I could go a year before seeing him again! I ended up inpatient in the hospital on the 17th and he came by to see me, although he was not involved in my care at that point, and said "I thought I told you I didn't want to see you for a year!". I really enjoy him, along with being tops in my book, he is so personable.
JK