Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Celebration of the Gift That Keeps Giving

Celebrating my Wife's Birthday

Hi All,
As I approach my 1st year anniversary (Sept 10th) of my kidney transplant, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on this amazing and sometimes challenging experience.
First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and taking interest in reading my blog, “a kidney for ken”.  My son and daughter-in-law started this blog over a year ago to document my journey before and after my kidney transplant. My loving wife and my “rock of support” during these last 2+ years epitomizes what true love is all about. My children and grandchildren have always been there to raise my spirits during the frustrating times and share in the happy times. I love you all so much.
I would like to share some of my experiences this past year since this blog was created primarily as a source of information for other people who may have kidney disease problems and may be on kidney dialysis or waiting to receive a transplanted kidney. When I first went on peritoneal dialysis (home dialysis) in April 2011, I thought will I be able to endure this process every day for the next 5 years until I would hopefully get a kidney transplant?  It was a tough thing to “wrap my head around”, but I knew it was the only way to make sure my body wouldn’t shut down because I valued life too much. Like everything in life, you do your best to accept those life changing events and put it in God’s hands. Fortunately, that 5 year waiting period turned into 15 months because my son-in-law made the ultimate sacrifice and donated one of his kidneys to me. I remembered how touched and grateful I was for this selfless act of love and with much anticipation awaited the scheduled surgery that would restore my quality of life.
 Overall, the surgery went well. My son-in-law and I were released within 2 days after the surgery and although sore and walking very gingerly we were both on our way to total recovery. My son-in-law returned to Greenville, South Carolina less than a week after the surgery and I was enjoying my transplanted kidney. Unfortunately, within 2 weeks after the surgery I was back in the hospital with a major blood clot in my right leg and in my right lung. How fortunate I was that the clot didn’t invade the new transplanted kidney also on my right side or even caused death. I truly believe that it was another example of divine intervention taking place again. As I look back, that was probably the most painful time over this last year. It is believed that the blood clot was a result of the proteinuria (protein spillage) caused from my kidney disease….membranous nephritis. I recovered from the blood clot, but was being monitored closely to prevent any further occurrences of blood clots. As most of you who read this blog know I experienced various setbacks such as: pericarditis, elevated BK virus, elevated creatinine levels and increased protein levels. Based on the last of 4 biopsies on the transplanted kidney, it appears there is some indication that my original disease is present. I’m mentioning these setbacks not to cause concern for anyone who may have a kidney disease or will have a kidney transplant, but as valuable information of what could happen. I have to admit I was a little naive thinking that once I received the new kidney that my life would return to normal. That may or may not happen, but don’t be alarmed if there are setbacks because medications are greatly improved and have been successful in preventing rejection of transplanted kidneys. I’m often asked if I knew in advance about all the setbacks I would experience after having the kidney transplant would I still do it. Well the answer is an emphatic YES because my quality of life is immensely better. In fact, my new philosophy on life is to take one day at a time and make the most of it.
In closing, I would like to share a brief story that somewhat puts everything in perspective. About 4 years ago the pastor of our church, who was battling leukemia gave a sermon. He said this might be the last time he would be able to say mass because he was getting weak and it was a struggle for him to even speak. Anyway, at the end of the speech, he asked the congregation not to feel sorry for him because this was God’s plan. He ended that sermon with these words……”this is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it”.

May we all cherish each day and may God bless all of you, 
Ken