You Have a Spare Kidney, You Say?

So what else have I been up to besides ranting about juvenile adults? Well...

Tuesday I was in surgery, yet again. Yes, this graft clotted once more. Difference is, it clotted the day before I was to travel to Chicago, to meet with a transplant team at UIC. You know how I've been on dialysis for 5 years now? Well, up to this point, I've basically been too fat for anyone's transplant list. UIC has no weight requirement.

I found it fairly early and I called the doctor's office and told them, do what they had to do because I was NOT going to miss this trip!

So, believe it or not, what is normally an all day ordeal, happened 3-8 pm from beginning to end and including an hour on the dialyzer! I've NEVER had unscheduled surgery happen that fast!



Well, I went home and got some sleep and got up at 4:30 am with my trusty sidekick Kid #2 and got on the road. My appointment was at 10:00 am and I got there a little early, but I didn't have to wait long.

I spoke with a transplant coordinator, surgeon, nutritionist, financial coordinator, psychologis/social worker and pharmacist. I had and EKG, Xrays and a TON of blood work done. So now I wait for them to call and schedule the second half of the tests they need from me and then comes the wait.

UNLESS.....I have people willing to be tested as a possible match.

If you are interested in finding out more how the transplant process works, you can look at www.transplantliving.org, www.unos.org and www.optn.transplant.hrsa.gov

You can also google Kidney Paired Donation if you're interested in donating even if we aren't a match.

If you are interested in being tested to see if you are a match for me, please email Xenia Lopez, Transplant Coordinator xlopex@uic.edu or call her at 312-413-9489