Surgery in Progress
by jeff on Feb.09, 2010, under Site News
We arrived at UCLA at 7:30, in good spirits with a little anxiety. Carrie and Kevin were in pre-op rooms directly opposite each other with me bouncing back in forth trying not to miss anything. I will try to post a photo but they might be out of the hospital by the time I learn how. Kevin’s lab work was good and they both were seen by nurses, anesthesiologists, surgeons and it has been quite busy. Carrie was taken to the operating room at 11:15 and then Kevin was taken at 1:00. I have been told to expect 4 hours for Carrie and 5-6 for Kevin. They looked great when I last saw them, but it may have been the drugs. I’ll try to get to the computer again as soon I have some information. Thanks for the prayers.
My First Post
by jeff on Feb.08, 2010, under Site News
This is my first post to Kevin’s blog, or to any blog for that matter. Thank you for checking in as we prepare for tomorrow’s surgery. I just brought Kevin home from what we pray is his last dialysis treatment. He went through it the same way he has gone through the others these past five months, without a word of complaint. He may revoke my privileges after the drugs wear off and he sees what I have done to his blog, so I have to write this now. I do not have words to express the pride I feel as I watch him face the many obstacles that he has had to overcome. I continue to be amazed by his strength and courage, though I don’t know why. He has always been this way. I pray that I will be able to post some good news tomorrow. Thanks again, Jeff.
Almost Time!
by Kevin on Feb.08, 2010, under Site News
Yikes… a lot can happen in such a short amount of time! I was hospitalized again during the last week of January for a few days with chest pain, but luckily it turned out to be nothing. After checking my heart and lungs, the doctors couldn’t figure out what happened, but everything appeared to be working normally.
Also, I am just 36 hours away from my kidney transplant! Even though the recent hospitalization could have delayed things, I saw the doctors and my surgeon this past Friday, and I am still good to go! My mom and I will be the second transplant case of the day this coming Tuesday. Her surgery will start around 11am, and my surgery will start around 1:30-2pm. It is estimated to last approximately 4-5 hours altogether. Although I am somewhat nervous, I am far more excited about the potential for good health that will come with this transplant. It will be wonderful to just “feel good” again… and not have to deal with dialysis three days a week!
This past Wednesday, February 3rd, we also had a wonderful fellowship/prayer evening at the home of our family doctor and good friends, Dr. Leland & Sally Reitler. What a nice evening it was! I can’t thank them enough for their kindness and generosity. We had about 35 friends and family over for an evening of hanging out, eating a wonderfully catered dinner from 6th St. Bistro, and some prayer for the upcoming transplant. Thank you to the Reitler’s for opening their home that evening!
So this is it… just a day away from surgery. Can’t believe it’s already here. But we thank you for your constant encouragement and prayers leading up to this time. And we know you will pray us through the day on Tuesday! To stay current on our operation and how we’re recovering, please continue to check back to this blog for updates. My dad will be writing posts to keep you all updated with the latest info. And hopefully next time I write to you all, I will have a new kidney!
Thanks for the love and support.
Transplant Date Announcement
by Kevin on Jan.10, 2010, under Transplant
Hi Everyone,
Well… the time has finally come. Nearly 7 months later, after numerous tests, poking and prodding, I have finally reached the end of the pre-transplant process and have been rewarded with a date.
On February 9, 2010, I will undergo my third kidney transplant!
Yesterday, Friday, I completed the last two procedures that were required before moving onto the transplant surgery. And this Monday, the 11th, mom and I will go in to have our final blood crossmatch, EKG, x-rays, and meet with the transplant doctors and surgeons.
What an exciting time! I can’t thank you enough for your prayers and support going through this process and leading up to the transplant. It’s been a challenging few months, but the time has gone by quickly. I am fortunate and blessed to have my mom available as the donor, and look forward to the good health her kidney will provide me for years to come!
-Kevin
Hospital Visit #3 this Month
by Kevin on Dec.31, 2009, under UCLA
Hello Friends,
I am writing you from my home-away-from-home: the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. As indicated by my post title, this is the third time now I’ve been hospitalized just this month. What a drag! While I have been busy dealing with kidney issues; both from my current transplant and my upcoming one, this visit caught me totally off-guard.
Sunday, the 27th, I woke up with chest pain. It wasn’t very intense, but enough for me to realize something was going on. I thought perhaps I had just slept weird, and that I should just get up and move around; go about my day as normal, and the pain will go away. So, my friends called me up around noon and invited me out for sushi lunch. “Perfect: this is what I needed”, I thought to myself. “I’ll get out of the house, breathe some fresh air, and this pain should go away.”
Well, by 2pm when we sat down for lunch, I was in such incredible pain that I was having severe problems breathing, and could hardly eat any of the food in front of me. My friends were worried, too, but we decided to power through lunch and then walk around the mall for a bit. That didn’t help. As we walked around different stores; my friends trying on clothes and shoes, I could hardly stand or see straight because I couldn’t breathe right. Something was clearly going on…
After finally leaving the mall and heading back to my friends’ house, I immediately got in my car and drove home. I called ahead and asked my mom if she could set an Oxycodone pain pill out for me so I could take it the instant I walked in the door, which was at 4:30pm. I got home, took the pill, and went downstairs to lie down in bed. I couldn’t even do that. After being up all day, the pain got even more intense when I tried to lie down, and the pain pill wasn’t helping much.
OK, time to go to the ER. This isn’t right. By 6pm, dad and I were in the car headed to Torrance Memorial to check into the ER and find out what’s going on. Once arriving and getting checked in, they did lots of blood tests, started and IV, and did X-Rays and a CT Scan. Well, long story short, the CT scan showed a small amount of pneumonia behind my heart. Pneumonia? How the heck did I get that?! Goodness… one more thing to worry about.
So how did I end up at UCLA? Well, after the doctor saw me at the Torrance Memorial ER, he decided that I was a little more “complicated” than most cases, due to my extensive medical history, and the fact I am close to getting a kidney transplant. Which is why they decided to send me to UCLA via ambulance early Monday morning around 2am. And that is where I’ve been since then. I have been receiving large doses of antibiotics through IV, and they have been helping. The pain is much better, and I am able to breathe normally again. The doctors are continuing to keep an eye on me and make sure I’m getting better and receiving the right medications. It is looking like I will get to come home either Thursday or Friday. It would be great to be able to celebrate the new year at home!
Thank you all for the encouraging emails, facebook comments, phone calls, texts… everything! Such a blessing to feel so loved from such a miserable place. Let’s hope this is the last time I’ll be here before my transplant!
Surgery Update
by Kevin on Dec.15, 2009, under Site News
Dear friends, this is Jeff filling in for Carrie and Kevin on the e-mail update. The bad news with me writing is that this will not be as well written. However, the good news is that it will be much shorter.
The transplant surgeon, who was also going to be removing Kevin’s kidney tomorrow morning spent 45 minutes with us discussing the risks involved in this surgery. Kevin’s workup has indicated that the surgery would entail considerably more risk than originally thought and also that necessary transfusions might cause Carrie to be lost as a donor. The surgeon and transplant team have just finished a lengthy discussion (now 10pm) and it has been decided to cancel the surgery, step back, and attempt to reach a consensus on where we go next.
Starting high doses of steroids again and hoping for a better response. We will be coming back next week to consult with all the specialists involved and further evaluate Kevin’s options. There is a chance that we could move forward with the transplant or we could find ourselves facing this same surgery in a few weeks. We pray for the transplant, of course.
We want to express our sincere thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and feel that this last minute change of plans was for a purpose. Sorry this is so short but Carrie will be returning with the usual three page update soon. Jeff.
Goodbye Kidney
by Kevin on Dec.12, 2009, under Transplant, UCLA
Hi Friends,
It has been quite a whirlwind of a week, and there is a lot more in-store, so I thought I would update you all.
As you may recall, I was supposed to have two tests done on Friday, December 4th. These two tests were the only thing I had remaining in order to schedule my kidney transplant. Unfortunately, I had been experiencing pain in my side where my current kidney is, so the doctors thought it would be best for me to get checked out before having the tests done. Well… long story short, just as I was about to be put out for my procedure, my blood results came back and showed that I had an infection, and the procedure needed to be canceled. This subsequently led to me being hospitalized that evening at UCLA, and spending 5 days in the hospital.
Surprisingly, this is the second time I had been hospitalized for this pain, and similar to the first time, the doctors thought that giving me high doses of steroids would fix the problem. Well… this worked the first time, but unfortunately, it didn’t work this last time. After three days of IV Solu-Medrol, the pain and swelling was still there.
Obviously, something needs to be done. The plan now is to remove my kidney. Because it continues to act up, this could cause complications for my upcoming transplant, and that’s not a risk that either myself or the doctors want to take.
So, next Wednesday, December 16th, I will have a procedure called a nephrectomy at UCLA. It will take approximately 3-4 hours, and I will be recovering in the hospital for 4-5 days. This also means there will be a 6-8 week delay in the transplant as my body recovers from this surgery. Although I had been hoping to avoid this surgery, it is agreed that this is what’s needed to keep me healthy not only now, but also in the future after my upcoming kidney transplant.
So we continue to move forward! Thank you all for your constant prayers, encouragement, and support throughout all of this. I have never felt so loved and cared for. I look forward to continuing to bring you updates! I always welcome your comments; just click on “Contact Me” at the top of the page.
-Kevin
I’m Thankful For…
by Kevin on Nov.27, 2009, under Random
…so many things this Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for the fact that just over five months ago I was told I needed a third kidney transplant. Even though that in itself isn’t the greatest thing, I am thankful for amazing doctors and medicine that make it possible to even have a transplant
I am thankful for my mom who, without hesitation, offered to donate her kidney this time. And after all the testing, she was approved as a suitable donor
I am also thankful for the process of dialysis that has been keeping me alive since August 18th. Although it is one of the most mundane things that I have to do, the fact is I wouldn’t be alive today without it. And as boring as it is, the amazing nurses and staff at the dialysis center do a terrific job to make each patient as comfortable as possible.
I’m also thankful for my grandpa, Paparon, as we didn’t think he would even be with us this Thanksgiving. After being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis last year, the prognoses was not good. But Paparon soldered on to celebrate his 90th birthday earlier this year, and is still with us today.
I am thankful for the prayers of so many that have kept my faith strong and carried me in my weakness. You prayer warriors are one of the greatest blessings I have.
Lastly, I am thankful for the AMAZING group of friends that I have. Honestly, I would have been a crazy person by now (maybe I already am!) if it weren’t for the love and kindness that I am constantly surrounded with. And the people that I consider my closest friends I have known for almost a year now, so it’s amazing how God can put people in your life that you grow so close to in such a short amount of time!
Anyways… there was a lot to be thankful for this year. I can’t wait to see what I will be thankful for next year!
The Blessing of Friends
by Kevin on Nov.21, 2009, under Random
I feel extremely blessed to have been surrounded (and still am) by the greatest people I know. Friends are a large part of what makes life worth living for. To see a familiar face; a friendly smile; to exchange a hug with someone… all little things that make such a huge difference.
But it’s not just the pleasant times that make friends worthwhile. It’s also when friends care enough to kick your ass because they know you’re being stupid. And I’m not just talking literally here. I would say friends are most valuable when having to confront you on actions that need challenging, or when your character needs investigating. But, doing these things out of love is the difference, and it’s the key. As difficult as it may be, I would rather have someone care about me enough to challenge my character, my thoughts, my actions… than to continue to just be a distraction, although sometimes that’s what you need.
So thank you, ALL of you. You are all friends. Don’t ever doubt how instrumental you are in someone’s life.
-Kevin
What’s the Latest?
by Kevin on Nov.17, 2009, under Transplant
This is a question I get asked almost anywhere I go. And I guess now that I have this blog, I can answer that question for a lot of people! And although it will change almost daily, here’s where things with my transplant stand as of now:
It has been 5 months now (June 15th) since I was evaluated for my third kidney transplant at UCLA. The time has gone quickly, and I am almost to the goal. But there are still two more tests that need to be completed before I am given a transplant surgery date. These two remaining tests will allow the surgeon to look inside my bladder and make sure my “plumbing” is intact and working correctly. I tried having these tests done about a week and a half ago, but they weren’t completed successfully. So, I am waiting for the tests to be rescheduled, and this time, I will be under anesthesia as to lessen the pain that goes along with these tests.
So… we are close! I would have had the tests done last Friday, but unfortunately ended up in the ER instead due to stomach pain. Luckily, it didn’t turn out to be anything serious, but it caused enough concern that the tests had to be canceled. Oh well.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. I honestly don’t know how I could do this without being surrounded by so much encouragement. I look forward to sharing more good news with you all soon.
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