Well everyone, we have a donor. My results came back yesterday and mom does not have antibodies to my blood. We are so relieved. Although I'm not a perfect match, I'm thankful that Mom won't have to undergo plasmapheresis.
Surgery is tentatively scheduled for 4/23/08, and I have my final work up on Thursday, April 3rd. This visit will include CT-angio scan, chest x-ray, more blood work and urine testing, meeting with the nurse educator and transplant social worker and a doctor's visit with my surgeon. We may try to change the date to 5/2/08 because Nathan has a huge deadline at work on 4/30/08 and I'd like him to be at the hospital the day of my surgery. That change will depend on Mom's blood work next week.
This whole thing is starting to feel so real... I'm thinking about which pajamas to pack for our hospital stay, and whether I should bring my regular or my electric toothbrush. I wish the dogs could come with us--maybe I can buy "Seeing Kidney Dog" vests for them online :)
I think Ally (my nine year old Rottweiler) might actually thinks she's qualified to do the surgery because she's spent so many hours studying with me over the years.
Special thanks to Deb in the living donor office for putting a rush on my bloodwork. It feels like every day counts at this point. I should also mention that everyone at the transplant office and in Dr. Light's office has been very helpful and very understanding. Their empathy is really appreciated.
Take care,
Sarah
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Welcome to our blog
I thought it might be helpful to have a website updating everyone about how thing's are going with Mom's health. This way you won't have emails clogging up your inbox, but you can check in on how we're doing whenever you want online.
Good news and bad news, I guess. Surgery is tentatively scheduled for 4/23/08, however we don't have a definite suitable donor.
As you know, Matt and I are undergoing the work up to donate a kidney to Mom. We have the initial results of our blood work. Matt and I are both 4/6 HLA matches (tissue type).
Unfortunately, Mom has antibodies that attack Matt's cells. This "cytotoxicity" index should be less than 49 and it was 104. These antibodies can be a risk factor for rejection of the kidney, requiring that it be removed and Mom start dialysis. The risk of having antibodies increases with subsequent transplants. We are waiting for my results for this test.
Mothers often have antibodies to their children because while they are pregnant a tiny amount of the baby's blood can cross the placenta through small breaks. We're certainly hoping that Mom doesn't have antibodies to my blood. To receive a transplant from someone to whom she has antibodies she would have to undergo a relatively invasive procedure called plamapheresis. Unfortunately, this procedure isn't a complete fix, and her body can still make new antibodies after the procedure.
On a more humorous note, March is National Kidney Month, and the Onion had a hysterical (but kind of gross) video: Anonymous Philanthropist Donates 200 Human Kidneys To Hospital
Tomorrow I will start two weeks of NICU service, followed by a week of night shifts, so I'll post more as time allows.
Take care,
Sarah
Good news and bad news, I guess. Surgery is tentatively scheduled for 4/23/08, however we don't have a definite suitable donor.
As you know, Matt and I are undergoing the work up to donate a kidney to Mom. We have the initial results of our blood work. Matt and I are both 4/6 HLA matches (tissue type).
Unfortunately, Mom has antibodies that attack Matt's cells. This "cytotoxicity" index should be less than 49 and it was 104. These antibodies can be a risk factor for rejection of the kidney, requiring that it be removed and Mom start dialysis. The risk of having antibodies increases with subsequent transplants. We are waiting for my results for this test.
Mothers often have antibodies to their children because while they are pregnant a tiny amount of the baby's blood can cross the placenta through small breaks. We're certainly hoping that Mom doesn't have antibodies to my blood. To receive a transplant from someone to whom she has antibodies she would have to undergo a relatively invasive procedure called plamapheresis. Unfortunately, this procedure isn't a complete fix, and her body can still make new antibodies after the procedure.
On a more humorous note, March is National Kidney Month, and the Onion had a hysterical (but kind of gross) video: Anonymous Philanthropist Donates 200 Human Kidneys To Hospital
Tomorrow I will start two weeks of NICU service, followed by a week of night shifts, so I'll post more as time allows.
Take care,
Sarah
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