Kevin's Blog

I was having an uneventful day today, which is pretty good around here. Things picked up once the mail arrived. I can’t believe my good fortune as I opened an envelope and found that I had been invited to join the Neptune Society. OK, this just happened today and I admit that I don’t know too much about the organization, but it sounds good and we had been considering the Elks Lodge anyway, so the timing was perfect. If any of you are interested, let me know. I don’t know if I can get you in right now, but maybe after we get established and make some connections. I hope they have some nice dances and dinners where we can socialize and make some new friends. I have visions of a nice seafood buffet at a reasonable price. I’ll let you know after our first function. Just the invitation is uplifting right now as I have not been asked to join anything for a long time, except for some internet stuff which I declined.

My week started so well with Kevin’s visit to UCLA. Then things changed, I had to report for jury service yesterday. I packed my computer and a good book, expecting to spend the day in a room full of strangers, speaking to no one, and then go home about 4. Well, just my luck to be there on the very day they are initiating a trial selection process to see if they can seat more qualified jurors. Instead of choosing jurors at random, as in the past, they were making selections based on “most intelligent looking.” Needless to say, I barely got seated in my chair when I was selected to report to a jury room upstairs. Before I could even think of a good excuse, I found myself seated as a juror and the trial had begun. Some good news though, I get paid mileage to the courthouse which is more money than I have earned in several years. The judge said I was not permitted to say anything about the case but look for me later on Nightline or 60 Minutes explaining how I reached my verdict.

P.S. If this new selection process is implemented, it could be good news for most of my friends who’ll never have to serve. You know who you are.

I have to report today. I tried to tell them that I play tennis on Tuesdays but court not impressed. I wish I could send Carrie because she is a dedicated viewer of “Judge Judy”, which she claims to watch not for entertainment, but to “learn about the law”. If she is learning any law, then I think she has watched enough to pass the bar exam. I admit that I have had to watch a few shows, mainly to be able to enter in to the stimulating conversations between her and her dad Vince about the latest episodes.  I try to put my “listening ears” on and learn as much as I can. As a result, I feel completely prepared to do my civic duty today, but only if I get the case a young couple who were in a serious, committed relationship that has sadly ended and they are now fighting over an XBox game system and a flat screen tv. He says she bought them for him as a gift, she says it was a loan because he had no credit. Oh, and she is getting government assistance while their baby lives with grandma. I can accept a case like this as I know it takes only 15 minutes. I will decline any case more involved by explaining how I am still taking care of two people in my home who seem very selective in the activities they are capable of performing. I have to go now, Carrie likes the coffee ready when she awakens.

Sunday Walk With Carrie

I don’t care if anyone is reading my stuff besides my dedicated Russian friends who send me spam each day, I am going to write anyway. Great news at the clinic today. Kevin’s blood work back to normal (1.3) and he doesn’t have to return for 2 weeks. After that, he will return to the primary care of his local nephrologist and only go back to UCLA every 3 months. Tonight, I may celebrate and stay up until 10pm. Without going into detail, this transplant was especially challenging for many reasons, and I cannot believe how far Kevin has come in less than 3 months. Your prayers, meals, comments, and encouragement have made this an incredible experience for all of us and I thank you once again. I appreciate family and friends more than ever, just don’t expect me to tell you personally.

I am writing from clinic to try to stay awake. This is how these days go. I get up at 3:45 and make coffee. Read the news, shave, and shower. At 4:30, I awaken Kevin, and this must be done gently with low lights and a soft voice. We depart the house at 5 and Kevin tries to be back asleep by 5:10. At 5:40 we arrive at UCLA, where I awaken him for the second time, and he checks in at the lab to wait for his blood draw. After this, we head to the grill for breakfast and then check in at the transplant clinic to await our doctor visit. Kevin then goes back to sleep. It is now 9:00 and we hope to get his results and see the doctor within the hour. I will post today’s scores when we get home. Kevin will likely go back to bed while I resume pigeon patrol. Praying for better results today.

Well, Kevin didn’t exactly dazzle his doctors at clinic today. His creatinine was up to 1.7 rather than the 1.3 we have celebrated the past few months. They tweaked his medicine a little and we will go back Monday to see if his kidney function shows improvement. His anemia was a little improved but still had to get another shot.  If any of you see him this weekend, tell him to drink more fluids. Carrie will be back tomorrow so I guess I’ll be forced to watch American Idol. Thanks again for checking in to see how we are doing. We are blessed.

Please disregard this post as it is not the least bit interesting. I am writing it and even I am bored.  Carrie left this morning for a church conference in northern California and Kevin is out to dinner and the movies. This has left me with me with total freedom to pursue my own interests. So far, I have played tennis,  used the spa, eaten a salad, and now watching “Police Women of Maricopa County”. It is past 8pm so I think I will go to bed. Kevin and I will be back to UCLA early tomorrow for his checkup and I hope to post some good news after that. Went to the desert again last weekend while Kevin stayed home and went to the Dodger game. Here are a few photos.

Just in case anyone is still interested, I will attempt to bring you up to date on our life. Despite having a cold for over a week, Kevin’s UCLA report was good yesterday, his kidney is stable in it’s new home but his red blood is still low requiring another shot and the doctor prescribed antibiotics after listening to his lungs. Carrie now has the cold along with the continuing stomach issue, and I’m thinking of moving to the guest bedroom, or maybe another house. Deanna, Monica and her 7 kids were here for Easter week. Well, maybe only 3 but it seemed like 7, except for the day at the beach when it seemed like more. They sure can move fast. Had a great week until Noah called me “grandpa”. Don’t know if he saw me walk or noticed what my friend Matthew refers to as the “old person smell”. I’m off to harass the pigeons while I wait to check the health status of my patients. If they are improving then Carrie and I are off to the desert for a few days. Kevin refuses to go. Seems like when I was 24, I wanted to spend all my time with my parents. Oh, by the way, he wants a motorcycle too. We need more prayer.

I think you are up to date on our transplant team, at least medically. I know Carrie is improving emotionally too and getting back to her old self. Last night she presented me with a challenge, and my ego accepted before my mind could say no. She thought I couldn’t go through a whole day without being negative or critical, and I thought “how hard could it be?” I was thinking about going two days just to show off. I awakened this morning full of confidence that she had grossly underestimated my resolve to be positive and even toss out a compliment here and there. Well, I almost made it to our second cup of coffee before I slipped up.  Now I have some idea how difficult it is for smokers to quit a habit just “cold turkey.” At least they have a patch or some gum or something. Is there anything like that out there for me? Tomorrow is a new day and I have lowered my expectations and will try to make it to mid morning. There is some lesson here but I just can’t think of what it is.

First, the good. Kevin had a great clinic visit this week with a creatinine of 1.3 (kidney working good) and we were in and out in only four hours, maybe a new record. They are still working to get his red blood count up so he is still tired, but then I am too. Doctors are pleased and we are elated. Thanks again for your continued thoughts and prayers. Now the bad. Kevin’s Ipad stopped working after only two days. I have not seen him this sad since dialysis. Don’t worry though, he is much better today. I don’t know if it was the deep and insightful wisdom I shared about responding to life’s adversities, or the fact that Apple gave him a new Ipad last night. As for Carrie, I think she may have misunderstood her surgeon in thinking her stomach issues would resolve in 6 to 8 weeks. I think he may have said 6 to 8 months. She now goes to the doctor more than Kevin, but is on the road to full recovery we think. This week’s highlight was celebrating Deanna’s birthday at Benihana’s and Vince picking up the check. I should have ordered the lobster.