Kelly's Kidney Campaign

28/03/2022

14/03/2022

And so I’m back, from outer space…

Actually back from a day of pre-op testing at UCLA ahead of my transplant in two weeks!!! (March 29).

I’m exhausted, but mostly because of stupid daylight saving and a VERY EARLY start.

They took a ton of blood, did urine test, had the head of the department pummel my kidneys (fun), the surgeon pummel my kidneys (more fun), chest X-ray, EKG, lots of info thrown at me. The list of potential horrible things that could go wrong but rarely do (rejection, losing a leg!!!!😱).

On the plus side the surgeon told me I am the healthiest transplant patient he’s met. You know, if it weren’t for crap kidneys I’d be a picture of health. This means they aren’t even going to have to put me on dialysis before the transplant!!! I’m thin, I’m not overweight, I don’t have diabetes or heart or lung problems. I’m their ideal patient.

I knew if I stuck around long enough I’d be top of the class in something!

People ask am I nervous? Not yet. I’m just excited and sooo grateful. Let’s do this!

18/02/2022

Very exciting to receive just now this folder via FedEx with lots of paperwork and info about my upcoming kidney transplant. Feeling more real every day!

18/02/2022

Not to get too graphic but... oh who am I kidding? I'm getting graphic. I am so thrilled and lucky to be getting a new kidney and everyone's love and support is overwhelming (in a good way). But, as I mentioned in a previous post, thousands of people die every year waiting for a kidney. There are myriad illnesses that cause kidney failure. But because I suffer from PKD, here is a graphic about exactly what this does to a person's body. I'm sharing it because I want every single person facing this illness to find their own Pamela Armstrong Stockwell (aka living kidney donor).
If you are healthy, please consider the gift of life and become a living kidney donor. 💜

21/11/2021

I have lost count when it comes to the number of blood tests I have endured over the years. And certainly over the last year. I still need to LIE DOWN to have my blood drawn lest I pass out - even though I have these tests regularly. It's not that they hurt (if they're done correctly by attentive nurses), it's mostly psychological. There is something about knowing there's blood flowing out of me and a needle in me that makes me lightheaded and woozy.
But yesterday, I had THE MOST IMPORTANT blood test of my life to date. One. Single. Vial. (very rare, they usually take at least three - once I had 11). But that one single vial was taken at the UCLA lab. And that one single vial is going to be mixed with someone else's blood draw. That person is my potential kidney donor. That means we've reached a BIG milestone. Cross matching is done when you're getting closer to your donor being a match.
This is in NO WAY a done deal. It does not mean this match will happen.Things can still go wrong (including my blood rejecting their blood). But it DOES mean that we're closer than we were a week ago, or a month ago or even 9 months ago when I was eligible for a transplant and placed on the UNOS (United Network Organ Sharing) list and started looking for living donors.
I am trying to temper my expectations. It's too much of an emotional roller coaster to get my hopes up too much. "Cautiously optimistic" is where I'm at. Until both myself and my potential donor have finished jumping through all the hoops, I will keep my British reserve in tact.
However, I'm told I must celebrate the small victories. So here I am. Celebrating. Small.

12/10/2021

And on the eighth day she was officially discharged and it was good - Cedars-Sinaians 10:12

It will take most of the day to get me out of this building: paperwork, meds, blah blah blah. But as I said to the doctor, “I’ve been here eight days, I can wait a few more hours.”