Transplant evaluation: Done.
Erik met with physicians, surgeons, insurance people, a nutritionist and a social worker. Apparently you need to be mentally stable to qualify for a transplant. I'm pretty sure Erik was all "thankfully Amy doesn't have to qualify." I think he fears that when all is said and done he will have some permanent medical records floating around the interwebs showing his name with a * alluding to a side note stating "wife crazy."
You know what? I don't care.
I. Don't. Care.
I get done what needs to get done. It's a valid defense.
Word on the street, though informal, is that he passed all tests, mental status included. The official decision will take about 2 to 3 weeks.
Things Erik learned today:
No one will simply tell us what to do. Each doctor had a somewhat different opinion. One said get a live donor and be done with it, another said absolutely wait for a cadaver donor to get the pancreas transplant, and yet another said get the live donor transplant now and a cadaver pancreas sometime later. Shockingly, I really just want someone to tell us what to do.
The diet and nutrition requirements for a patient with kidney failure is the exact opposite of what you think it would be.
Confirmation of a time line - it's still an average but they were fairly confident….Cadaver kidney only will take about 3 years, Cadaver kidney & pancreas takes about 1 year. Clearly he will be listed for the dual transplant regardless of what we actually decide when the call comes.
After he is listed they can start a live donor search. A live donor transplant can be scheduled at any time…and can be kept on hold pending the receipt of a cadaver pancreas so both can be transplanted at the same time.
Apparently there is a "partner swap" program….credit for refraining from sharing my inappropriate comments please….If Erik has a willing live donor that doesn't match they will swap with another person who has a willing live donor that doesn't match. Everybody gets a kidney from a random live stranger. The amish have their own reality show for heck sakes. Vanilla Ice even went to commune among the Amish for another 15 minutes of fame. How is this entire kidney swap premise not yet a reality show on Bravo?
I'm sure the time between now and the final "you made the list" announcement will just fly by while we are having all sorts of fun with the new dialysis machine. I'll probably have a transplant list themed party when it's official. I do things like that.
So…..
1. Surgery Saturday
2. In patient dialysis all next week
3. Start home dialysis in a week or two
4. Just wait for a transplant call.
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