Kevin's Blog

I know that I have mentioned this before, but Kevin has once again advised me that readership is down on his blog. I feel like an “American Idol” contestant begging for votes to get me into the next round, but I could use a little help here. I know several of you have been very loyal, and I don’t think it is just because we are related. OK, what I am thinking here, and this is just one idea, is that if a few of you would commit to logging on to this site 100 times each day, Kevin would see this rise in activity and I might have job security for a little while. If that seems like too much, how about 50, or at least 25. I’m pretty sure this is how Chris beat Adam Lambert last season. If you aren’t willing to support this effort, don’t worry about it and keep watching TV. It’s not like I don’t have better things to do with my time. Well, maybe I don’t, but I’m sure I can find something. Oh, I almost forgot, Kevin and Carrie are doing fine.

I sense that my nursing days are nearing an end. Kevin is starting to become annoyed when I wake him to take his temperature, blood pressure, and give him his pills and something to eat. I try to take Carrie’s temperature without waking her but it’s almost impossible so now she is getting frustrated too. Tomorrow I will try it orally and see if it makes any difference. I see now why you don’t have the same nurse day after day in the hospital as you will begin to take them for granted, no matter what a great job they do. There are other subtle signs too, such as comments like “Get out of here and leave me alone!” and “Why don’t you go visit your brother for a month or so?” Has it only been three weeks since I was so popular and in demand?  Yes, but what an incredible three weeks this has been. Thank God for my nursing career being so short.

I sensed this was going to be a good day when Kevin was actually ready to depart on time. We arrived at the UCLA lab and after a short wait, we were on our way to the surgical center. All went smoothly with the all too familiar preparations for surgery, other than difficulty getting an IV in, and I watched him wheeled away once more. I will never get used to that. He was choosing the flavor of his anesthesia gas when I last saw him (he chose apple). In less than an hour, his transplant surgeon arrived in the waiting room to say that all went well and his morning lab work was also good. I learned my lesson after the transplant, so this time waited for the nurse to let me know that he was ready to receive visitors. He looked pretty good, even in a hair net. We are all home now, celebrating the removal of the last medical devices and an all natural Kevin, if you don’t count a used kidney and some new scars to add to his collection. Tomorrow will make it three weeks since surgery and we all feel truly blessed. Having so many of you share the journey with us has made a huge difference.

I am about to wake Kevin up for our trip to UCLA. Besides his usual checkup, he will be having his dialysis catheter removed after six months of service. This will be done under anesthesia and they will remove a stent at the same time. Another step toward normalcy. Carrie and Kevin continue to heal well but struggle with fatigue and lack of stamina. At least they pretend to when any work needs to be done around here. This will be short, aren’t you glad, but I will try to write an update after our hospital visit today. Thanks again for supporting us in so many ways.

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.