Kevin's Blog

Kevin and Dan

OK, I admit that I have done a poor job of keeping my remaining reader(s) up to date. I have become a little lazy and also thought that most of you have moved on to other interests (sorry Martha). I vow to do better, but I said the same thing about yard work and failed.
As I commented in my previous post, I thought Kevin had gone missing, but now realize he was living downstairs the entire time and we just missed each other due to different schedules. I have dinner about 4:30pm and go to bed at 8 so I would miss Kevin leaving and returning. I should have checked but don’t want to go to lower level until I get my stair chair installed for the return trip. Anyway, he is here and doing well as evidenced by his Dodger game photo and Benihana’s dinner.
We had not been to UCLA for a month but yesterday’s visit confirmed that his kidney is doing great. His creatinine was 1.1, one of the best yet and he is actually having to monitor his blood pressure because it is “too low.” What a wonderful problem after fighting high blood pressure all these years.
If I can use another excuse for not keeping up, our son Jason has been visiting from Italy for several weeks and we have been busier than usual and having a great time. We would keep him longer but Nathalie is anxious for his return.
This is rather long, I know, so I will refrain from going into detail about what I have been doing lately, but be assured that it is interesting and exciting. I just don’t want to make this about me. Thanks for your loyalty.

Visitor from Italia

With the Charlins at Benihana's

Go Dodgers

If you happen to be checking here to see how Kevin is doing, I’m sorry. I have only seen him a few times since we returned from our trip so have not been able to update this blog with his status. I have received reports that he has been spotted playing his guitar at church and seen at a few restaurants in the area, but I cannot confirm these sightings. However, I have seen his car parked on our street a few times and can say with certainty, he has not been to the car wash since well before his transplant. The next time I see him, I will try to find out how he is feeling and post his response. The rent check is still coming so I’m pretty sure he hasn’t moved out. Carrie is doing well and we continue to be amazed at the incredible support that we have received. If you are reading this, I’m speaking of you.

"I am holding my stomach in."

Carrie and Kevin just called from UCLA, and his measure of kidney function (creatinine of 1.2) is great, the lowest it has been since the transplant. Needless to say, the doctors are very pleased and he will now follow up with his local nephrologist and only every three months at UCLA. I know to focus elsewhere and not at the numbers, but I cannot seem to avoid a degree of anxiety when we wait for his lab results. I will get better.

My fear now is that Carrie and Kevin will attribute this great news to our vacation in Hawaii and use these results to try to manipulate me into repeat visits. I refuse to believe that coconut shrimp, mai tais, and parasailing can improve one’s kidney function. Anyway, we are doing well and wish the same for our family and friends who have been so thoughtful to check in here from time to time.

Fortunately, bail was low.

Snack Time on the North Shore

Leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when we’ll be back again, but had a great time. Won’t  bore you with details but wanted to post a few pictures and thank you for your prayers in getting us here.

Pali Lookout

MoPed Texting

Dinner at the Hula Grill

We are celebrating good health in Oahu. Have been here since Thursday and having a great time. You cannot believe how many ways you can spend money in Waikiki. Tomorrow I think I will just go out and toss what’s left off the lanai so I can go to the the beach and rest. Check out these photos of parasailing, riding, sightseeing, etc. if you don’t believe me. For those of you who have never seen Kevin with a suntan, which is all of you I think, you are in for a surprise. I think he is gaining weight too because he orders like his mother. I will write more later, I think it’s time to eat again since it has been two hours since lunch.

If you happen to be one of the few people still checking in here, please disregard my last post. I have done some further checking on the Neptune Society and it is not exactly the social organization I thought. It seems that membership only entitles you to attend one party, and if you happen to be the guest of honor, you are not likely to have a good time. Sorry if I mislead anyone.

As for a health update, today we celebrate the 3 month anniversary of Kevin’s kidney transplant and both he and Carrie are doing great. Neither are fully recovered but well on the way. Thank you all once again for being with us in this miraculous journey, your prayers and support have steadied a rocking ship through a difficult storm but the weather ahead looks fantastic. Bless you all.

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.