Kevin's Blog

Friday was a good day. Carrie had her first follow up with her surgeons and they don’t need to see her again unless she has more organs to donate. Kevin’s doctors also pleased and he will begin once a week visits if all goes well next week. That will be good for both of us for several reasons. We seem to have settled into a routine of arriving at UCLA before 6am, at which time, I wake Kevin up and point him toward the lab. After his blood draw, I take him to breakfast, which is usually eggs, potatoes, fruit, a side of this or that, and the most expensive drink he can find on the menu. It takes several hours before we finish with his doctors so we have to stop at the snack bar to get him supplies for the ride home. Then I pay the outrageous parking fee of $11 and soon we’re back on the freeway. At some point during the drive, Kevin will announce his lunch selection which I then pick up to bring home. I have already spent $50 and I haven’t even fed Carrie yet, and you know that’s not cheap. I’m not complaining but the pre-transplant renal diet was a lot easier on the budget. I would tell you more about my life but Carrie continues to point out that this is Kevin’s blog, not mine. Maybe I can sneak something in my next post. Hope you all have a good weekend, we are doing great here.

It has been a slow day today so I thought I would take this opportunity to thank all of you for the many things done for us these past weeks and even months. I don’t want to mention names as there are too many and I know I would leave someone out. We have been blessed my countless prayers, meals, gifts, and so many encouraging comments on this blog, and we are all so grateful. Our family, friends from RHCC, The Rock, Georgia, Utah, neighbors both new and old, even friends from high school and college, have all been a tremendous support and I am forever grateful. I am at a total loss for words in trying to tell you what an amazing effect you have had on our family. I started posting on Kevin’s blog as a way to keep you all informed but have come to realize that it has been both therapy and a needed distraction for me. Your comments have supported me and encouraged me in a way I had not expected so I thank you for being such generous friends.  I wish I could think of something amusing to say but I am too overwhelmed with gratitude to even try. Kevin and I will be at UCLA tomorrow at 6am for his checkup and Carrie will follow at noon to see her surgeon. We all appreciate your prayers.

Sorry about not writing anything yesterday but consider that  a good sign. It was busy, pleasant and almost normal. I played some tennis, Kevin made it up to RHCC for lunch and visiting with friends, Carrie looking better every day (hope she reads this one), and our generous friends delivered, not one, but two dinners. We are looking forward to Friday’s clinic visit and Carrie’s first follow-up with her surgeon. Hopefully, all the news will be good.

Many of you have asked if there are things besides meals that would help me with the workload I have around here. I checked my schedule and, after I bring the trash cans in today, I am free until I take them back out next Tuesday. Other than that, it is just devoting myself to Carrie and Kevin’s needs and I have been doing that since I retired so have it down pretty good. As for financial needs, I guess that is OK too. I called my financial planner yesterday who said my funds should be adequate as long as I don’t live very long. What a relief. I’ll call if I think of anything else I need. Hope you don’t have call blocker.

I was done posting for the day, knowing that I am at risk of boring our last few readers, but had to share this with someone. Carrie is showing signs of recovery that I had not expected so soon. She is starting to purge. After dinner tonight, I guess I was a little slow in my cleanup and she had some sort of flashback and started to help. For some reason, the refrigerator, where she once found such solace, became a frustration. She began to pull out all the wonderful leftovers (thank you so much for the dinners) and with each one, asked me “Are you going to eat this?” Not wanting to waste some good food, I would say “Yes”, thinking we could go back to watching TV. That was not enough and she would follow with “Tomorrow?”. Wanting to avoid confrontation, I would also say “Yes”. Well, if I keep all the commitments I made tonight, I will gain 10 pounds by Wednesday. Once I got her calm and settled, I went back to the fridge to see where this problem started. Granted, it is a little crowded but I pulled out Jello Cups that we got for her colonoscopy in 2008. It seems her favorite little snacks have some sort of protected status. I hope she avoids my closet until she is over this phase. I just read what I have written, and I have to agree with what you are thinking, it’s not very interesting. I think I just had to vent. Maybe I just need some sleep. I’m not sure.

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I can hardly believe the changes that have taken place since our day of surgery. Kevin and Carrie are getting better every day, both physically and emotionally. I, on the other hand, am in a steady decline. Well, who wouldn’t be getting better if they had someone taking care of their every need 24 hours a day, every day of the week. At this rate, I’ll be the one in the hospital which doesn’t sound too bad right now. UCLA spent months preparing Carrie and Kevin for this ordeal, providing consultations, seminars, literature, counseling, etc. Well, hello. Did anyone think of giving me a little hint. I should have been paying attention when they  were told what there limitations would be as they recovered because I think they are making most of this stuff up. Kevin says he is not allowed to lift over 5 pounds so he makes sure his laundry piles up to at least 10 so I have to do it. Neither of them can drive but that doesn’t seem to affect their desire “go places” or need items from the store. If they continue to sit in the back of the car, I’m going to get myself a chauffeur’s cap. There’s more but I don’t want to sound like I am complaining. I gotta run now because I have to vacuum while everyone is awake. Please don’t worry about me, let’s all keep our focus on Carrie and Kevin.

Hoping to report good news today, instead I am happy to report great news. His creatinine is back to 1.4 from 1.7. Kevin’s doctor had the biopsy scheduled for today based on last Friday’s lab results. When he gave us the results of today’s labs, Kevin said “I guess we don’t have to do the biopsy then?” The doctor’s reply was “Biopsy, who put that idea in your head?” He was clearly pleased and I think a little surprised with the improvement. We don’t have to return until Friday and one week from today he is scheduled to have the dialysis catheter removed from his chest. He is looking forward to taking a shower with no plastic hanging from his body. Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement.

Big day today. We will arrive at 6am for his blood draw and then wait for the results and talk to his doctors. Kevin has been drinking as much as he can this weekend to avoid dehydration so we hope his numbers have improved. If not, he will have a kidney biopsy today. We hope to avoid that and once again would appreciate your prayers.

Bad news today, but just for me. Carrie and Kevin continue to do well. Kevin informed me yesterday that readership to this blog is falling faster than my IRA. Smart guys like him have a way of checking the number of visitors to his site each day (don’t worry, he can’t tell who you are) and he did not seem pleased. He did not come right out and say that it was my fault, but the implication was clear. He seems to think my writing skills are the problem, and also pointed out that the decline seemed to coincide with my posting more photos of myself. I countered with the argument that as he and mom improve, people just don’t care any more and want to move on to something more interesting. The previous post by Kevin could be the first move in an effort to ease me out of this blog so I am considering, in the words of Barack Obama, “Change We Can Believe In.”

I am considering changing the primary focus of this blog from Kevin and Carrie’s transplant, to an emphasis on me and my life. I may be polling the readers we have left to get a feel for what you would be most interested in. Stories of my childhood in a small town in West Virginia, my life in high school and how I became a member of the Chess Club and Treasurer of my senior class, amusing stories from my fraternity house at WVU, personal heroics from the Vietnam War, and exciting moments in commercial aviation that will make you forget about Sully, are just a few of the subjects running through my mind. Please don’t respond yet, I still have to run this by Kevin and I don’t want his  feelings hurt if you are in agreement with me.

Hello Everyone!

Well, I’ve managed to steal the controls to my own blog away from dad now that he’s asleep. Don’t tell him.

I’m glad to report that I am doing great and recovering well. Although I’ve had several days since being home so far that I feel quite tired, overall I am healing well, and glad to be rid of my two drains. The clinic visits have been quite exhausting so far, as they take up most of the day. But hopefully as I continue to heal, the visits will lessen over the next few months. My next big goal to celebrate will be at 3 weeks post-transplant when I can drive again!

Well, I wanted to take the time to share a video with you. During my stay at UCLA, we had a video camera with us and were able to capture little videos that will help us remember the experience for a lifetime. This one was taken by dad the day of transplant while mom and I were in the pre-surgery unit. Just a little glimpse into the process!

-Kevin

P.S.: If you would like to view more of my videos, visit my YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/kmgeorge

The weekend is starting well. I took Kevin his water, watched him take his 24 pills, blood pressure, and temperature, eat some toast and go back to sleep. Carrie is out for a short walk. More good news as I opened my mail. I get a $25 gas card if I enroll in “Smart Cremation” by March 15th. I don’t know if one of you submitted my name or they saw my picture on the blog.

On a more serious note, this morning I had a Dr. Phil moment that I feel I need to share. We are never too old to learn. Carrie has tried to point out for years that I can be a little bit negative and that I need to work on being more encouraging. If you too are weak in this area, acknowledge the fact and make a decision to change. Your uplifting comments to this blog make me realize now, more than ever, what an impact positive and uplifting words can have on others, especially if they are a bit down. Do you know that saying “You’re looking good, are you losing weight?” will have a more positive response than “You’re not gaining weight as fast as you used to.”  How could it have taken me this long to get this concept. If I can change, you can too. Have a great weekend.