Selena’s Pancreas/Kidney Transplant Journey, Columbia, MO (2025)

06/10/2025

So it'll be 6 months this month since my transplant surgery!! Which is WILD! It has flown for sure and I feel great. My labs have been off with my kidney but my team stopped one of my antirejection meds when I was sick so they restarted that med back up to see if it helps my numbers. Last weekend the weather was crappy with rain but Saturday later in the afternoon the sun was peeking through so Trevor and I went on a jetski ride and I decided I wanted to jump in after. It's been about a year and a half since I've been able to fully submerge my body in water with having my dialysis port and although the water was chilly it was 100% worth it! I have one of my biggest cheerleaders in the background cheering me on like always but she didn't want to jump in with me 😂 Michelle Pezley. I'm thankful everyday for my new organs and my donor so I can enjoy these little things!

04/27/2025

Everything has been going pretty good at this point with recovery! I feel pretty damn good! Although I got my labs drawn last week on Tuesday and my white blood cell count came back critically low. MU notified Barnes and not feeling sick at all or not having a fever to cause it to drop that low my team is trying to figure out what's causing it to drop. They adjusted my meds and I have to stop taking an antiviral I was supposed to be on until September and an antirejection medication. I was originally on three different antirejection meds now only taking two different kinds. They wanted to recheck labs on Thursday but my WBC was still critically low but that was only one day with the med changes so I'm praying Monday when we recheck labs it's raised a little. I will always have a low white blood cell count and weakened immune system but having it that low means I have no immune system pretty much and can get sick really easily and that I don't want. I'm cleared to go back to work May 5th and I couldn't be more ready but there's always that fear also but that's another reason I do not need to get sick! I went back to Keokuk to get my hair done and got 8 inches cut and I couldn't love it more! I could use some extra prayers for my labs to be better tomorrow and me getting back into the swing of things with work goes great! Thank you guys! 💕

03/12/2025

I'm loving this warmer weather this week!! ☀️ Seasonal depression just inching away 😂 everything finally has settled down a little! I struggled with a GI bug that was messing with my labs quite a bit but they are finally back to normal ranges so just praying they stabilize and stay put! My next follow up appointment with Barnes is at the end of this month and I'll be able to ask if I'm able to go back to work or if things have to stabilize more before going back. I had a bone density scan yesterday to measure and get a baseline of my bone density since my antirejection and lifelong steroid meds affects the bones. I'm still getting labs twice a week and hopefully at my appointment at Barnes they'll ok me to go down to getting them once a week! 🤞 I'm so thankful for my donor and donor's family for giving me this miracle. I know they lost someone the day I gained something and I pray for their hearts everyday and hope they know everyday how truly thankful I am. 🩵

01/25/2025

I got everything removed yesterday!!!! Trevor and I went to Saint Louis and had an appointment with urology to get my stent removed which wasn't the best experience lol but the doctor did great and the whole process took about a minute and she talked me through everything! The stent was bigger than I thought it was going to be but removing that is a big risk for infection but they took precautions and gave me a one time dose of antibiotics on top of what I already take everyday since after my surgery. Then my nephrologist said my labs looked great yesterday so I can move forward to getting my central line out and that was done at 1130! And last but not least I got to take my steri strips and I am beyond happy with how my scar looks! Everything is healing so nicely! My biggest thing right now is to stay hydrated! I'll post a picture of my scar and a picture of how many pills I'm taking as of today until they start winging me off throughout the year.

I want to thank all my family and friends but specifically want to thank Trevor and my mother in law Michelle Pezley who have been such a huge help with my recovery and healing process! Michelle has stayed with us to help take me to my appointments (which there has been so much) so Trevor can continue to work. These appointments included getting labs drawn twice a week, fluids once a week, Saint Louis follow ups, and Columbia appointments) I feel like they're never ending but it helps so much not to have to stress about getting to these when I couldn't drive. She has helped cooked dinners, do things around the house, help figure out insurance messes, and communicating with my team when I wasn't feeling the best. Trevor has been the biggest support for me even when I was on the highest doses of prednisone and was an emotional wreck about anything and everything! He runs to the store at anytime if anything is needed if we don't have an over the counter med that I need at the time and has been great and so patient with mee and so much more. I could not of done it without them and everything they do! I love you guys so much! 💕

01/14/2025

Today was my first follow up appointment with the surgical team in Saint Louis and everything went great! I got my staples removed and replaced with steri strips for 10 days! It feels so good to have them out! Last week I caught a cold and I'm on the downhill of that! Just shows I have no immune system right now! But, having the cold affected my labs last week on Monday and the doctors were concerned but I told them I was coming down with the cold and we waited to see what my labs looked like later in the week. They continued to get better and I couldn't be happier! My labs showed yesterday that my GFR (kidney function) is 103 and my creatine, and BUN look great also!! God is good!! Thank you all for the continued prayers for healing, my recovery, and checking on me, it truly means so much and I can't tell you how thankful I am. Next week I have two appointments in Saint Louis with nephrology and urology. Nephrology will evaluate if I still need my central line for fluids or not and urology will take my stent out.

01/02/2025

Today before I went to the hospital for fluids, (I have to go three times a week to keep the new organs hydrated and labs drawn), Trev and I went to the dialysis clinic to return some of the many things we get to return! 🎉 I also wanted to see Bri again, it's so bittersweet not having to go to the clinic anymore but everyone in that clinic was amazing but especially Bri! She is just amazing at what she does and helped me through my dialysis journey. Since the day I met her with my many of questions or scares never did I feel like a burden and I felt she truly cared and always went above and beyond! That whole office helped me in so many ways and I will miss them dearly! When we came to return the stuff a lot of the staff came out to congratulate me and were just so happy for me. It truly felt like family in that office and I would recommend DCI to anyone starting PD dialysis 110%. We were laughing bc both of us were smiling with our masks on 😂

12/30/2024

12/30- Update from Selena herself! 😂 the love and support I have is just amazing. I've heard multiple comments in the hospital from my nurses and team that I have one great support system and that I do!! Last night I got moved to a different room on the observation unit and man did I sleep so much better! Blood sugar checks ever 4 hours instead of every hour/2hours, still hooked up to everything and continuously on an Iv but I will take it, and of course I can't forget I'm on a regular diet now but still getting full super fast so we're taking little steps! Both organs are doing what they should be and I couldn't be more blessed. I didn't go low at all last night which is great. The nursing staff I've had this whole stay have been wonderful! So next step will to be to meet with the transplant team today and see what happens next. Still waiting for my drain tube to come out and to go to a step down unit. My incision is looking great just bruising everywhere which is to be expected. Thank you for everything and I can't say it enough it means the world to see your guys' messages and to feel the prayers. God is my number 1 getting me through each step of this. This is all just so surreal to me STILL! I had texted Trevor a couple days ago to say my insulin is ready at hyvee just so we didn't forget not even realizing I won't need it anymore. 😂

12/29/2024

12/29 update on Selena. Last night was a little more rough of a night for Selena. She’s texted me this morning and said she didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. Her blood sugar went a little low last night, so they had her drink an apple juice to raise it, and she ended up throwing up from chugging it. She’s not used to have a somewhat normal diet, so introducing foods back and chugging the juice caused her to throw up. They told her she needs to sip on drinks and to take it really slow with the foods. They did a chest X-Ray and everything looked good with that. They said her pancreas is working normally so that’s why it went low. They did a lab draw again this morning and her Creatine level was 0.77! Pain has increased a little, but normal with all the trauma she’s been through with surgery. She’s ready to get home and lay in her own bed! It sounds like they will move her to the Observation Unit sometime today, which is good. Please continue the prayers and well wishes. She appreciates everyone reaching out and it also helps with her recovery!

12/28/2024

12/28 Update on Selena. She stayed in the ICU last night because they didn’t have a bed ready in the observation unit. The transplant team came in this morning and said her catheter can come out, she can be on clear liquids, and she will be going to a step down room today. They said her organs are working great and her most recent labs showed her creatine level was down to 0.83, which is in normal range. Her GFR, which measures her kidney function, is >90%!! She is doing so good and in good spirits! God is good!

12/27/2024

12/27 Update on Selena. She continues to do well and getting much needed rest. She’s more sore today as the anesthesia is wearing off, but they are continuing to give her pain meds which helps. Selena told me after her lab draw last night, her creatine level went down even more! Now, it went from 2.1 down to 1.34!! Her kidney is doing really well and her pancreas continues to do well! They took her dressing off her incision to let it air out a bit. It looks really good considering she just had surgery a day and a half ago! We also got some good news that she will get out of the ICU today and be transferred to the 16th floor Observation Unit! Thank you again to everyone for the continued prayers and well wishes. She’s a fighter and she continues to rock this recovery!

12/26/2024

Update on Selena. She had a lab draw this morning at 8:00 A.M. and her creatine levels went from 3.36 to 2.10, which is really good and means her kidney is working like a champ. She is producing a lot of urine, which is also good. Endocrinology came in and said they are discharging her, so she is officially Diabetes free! She has been up and walking around few times and doing amazing with that. I have to remind her baby steps at first! Her pain levels are doing pretty good as well and she is in good spirits. She’s been a trooper through out the recovery so far. They are going to do another lab draw tonight at 8:00 P.M., so we can’t wait to see if there are anymore positive changes. Thank you everyone for all of your support and prayers. It means the world to us, especially Selena. She is currently napping, but feel free to reach out anytime.

12/26/2024

12:30 am 12/26 - Selena is in ICU awake & thanking all the doctors 😂. Kidney is producing lots of urine & pancreas is bringing down sugar levels. Doctor was happy & we are waiting to see her before we go to the hotel for a little sleep. Christmas miracle right here! ❤️. We have a long recovery but knowing Selena she will bounce back quick! Good night for now…

Selena’s Pancreas/Kidney Transplant Journey

06/10/2025

04/27/2025

03/12/2025

01/25/2025

01/14/2025

01/02/2025

12/30/2024

12/29/2024

12/28/2024

12/27/2024

12/26/2024

12/26/2024

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