Kevin's Blog

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.

We had a great Easter celebration with family and friends and hope you did too. Here is Kevin with his donor and hunting for Easter eggs.

I have decided to post as Carrie has convinced me that I may still have one reader out there somewhere. Kevin is still doing well although last week’s results were a little off and he also received a shot to boost his low red blood count. We will go back again Wednesday for a recheck. Carrie is slowly improving but claims she needs to leave town almost every week for health reasons. Also, we haven’t had anyone bring a meal for weeks. We are trying to come up with another surgery to get them started again but Carrie and Kevin aren’t stepping up and I am just about out of body parts. The good news is that my Alma Mater, West Virginia University, made it to the NCAA final four and I got a new catalytic converter for my car for only $1200. Kevin’s Ipad arrived today so maybe he will start posting soon. I have to go, the game is starting in a few minutes and maybe I’ll write later if I am not too depressed.

Carrie and I are in the desert for a few days and Kevin once again refused to join us. Seems like he has cast us aside once he got Carrie’s kidney and doesn’t need me to drive him around. Carrie is painting so guess I’ll head over to the clubhouse and see when they play bingo. I’m posting from my phone and thumbs getting tired. Bye.

We are back from UCLA and Kevin’s creatinine is 1.3, indicating his kidney function continues to be stable. What a great six weeks. Some questions regarding other lab work so he will repeat the tests in a few days. The only bad news came when we asked his transplant surgeon about his group’s mission trip to Brazil in August. She strongly advised against him going on such a trip this soon. This was a disappointment for Kevin but, to be honest, not too much for me. Way too far away right now. Carrie is still seeing doctors regarding stomach pain but the fluid issue is improving, which is good as she is running out of elastic waist pants. Me, I’m fine as long as I don’t have to walk or bend over. That’s it for now and I hope to get Kevin back on his blog soon. Thanks.