The short version of the transplant saga is that Hospital #1 held onto my older brother's medical records for 15 months before rejecting him as a potential donor, based on a medication he'd been taking. He is actually no longer on this medication, but apparently Hospital #1 values their statistics over actual patient care, so after 15 months wasted, in August we found ourselves back at the beginning.
Luckily, there are a number of transplant centers in our metro area, so I quickly got on the phone and did some scouting. Of the four programs I spoke with, only one rejected my brother as a donor outright. The rest said, well, let's do some tests and base a decision on medicine. Radical, right? This past week I registered at Hospital #2, and if all goes well (we still need to run tissue typing and antigen cross-matches), we might be able to schedule the transplant for January 2012. John will be able to go in for his lab work in a week or two, so we should know fairly quickly.
As John is my only family member with my blood type (B), Plan B is for Michael to register as a paired donor (where we would be matched with another patient + donor who don't match each other, but who match us). There are more inherent risks with paired donation, and the idea of both of my children's parents undergoing major surgery does not thrill me, but it's a serviceable Plan B.
I remaining optimistic, though harried. It seems I will be job-hunting in the near future, as well, so I will be password-protecting the blog soon for the duration. Leave a comment if you will want the password, and I'll email it to you. Onward!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
More About the Transplant
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18 comments:
So much unnecessary drama or so it seems to me, Ruth. I'm sorry for all you've gone through and will have to go through. John will be fine as a donor, I'm just sure of it.
Good thoughts continue coming your way, and yes, I'd like a password, please.
My love goes out to you.
Marcia
job hunting? Oh dear. Sounds like fun. I really, really, really hope that you can get this settled quickly and that your brother will be approved as a match.
Of course I want the password. And of course I want this to work. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Oh, Ruth, bless your heart--I'm sending all my postives your way. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed.
And yes, I'd like the password, please.
Leigh
Ruth, you know everyone is wishing you the best, especially with your transplant but also with your job search. Please add me to the list for a password to your blog; I appreciate good writing, and you certainly fit that description.
Leslie
Hi Ruth! I continue to pray for your transplant surgery to move ahead and for your job search. Please include me in your blog password list.
Blessings, Sally Woods :-)
Password = yes for me. I'm glad you're remaining optimistic, Ruth. I do wish I could shoulder some of your load, or do something besides type.
Things may seem dark right now, Ruth but they will get better.
Whatever you need, we're here for you!
Send me the password.
Hugs, AG
adorablegirlfriend@gmail.com
password please!!
Your mother would like the password, esp. since poetry workshop conflicted with last night's gab. Hang in, girl!
Love, Mom
You are in my prayers.
And please give me the password, too!
Thanks for explaining the transplant comment. I'm wishing you all the best for (hopefully) January. I, too would like the password, please. As a member of the huge transplant waiting list myself, I am eager to hear of your outcome.
Thoughts, prayers, and best wishes, as well as mucho lawyerly mojo, beaming your way. Password, please?
So I said to myself, "Self, it has been a few months since you checked in on Ruth's blog." Boy howdy, honey - you have had a time of it over the past 8 weeks. I am so very sorry to hear about your dad; what a brave battle he fought. Also - what a lovely blog about Michael and his fatherly abilities. While meeting him during the auditions for "Heidi Chronicles" didn't give me the same conviction :), I too knew that he was one of a kind and I, thankfully, got to know you in the process! And you know I am now putting all my prayerful energy your way for a successful January transplant. Please send me the blog password and I'll do better at checking in. Much love to you and all!! Donna
Password, please!
Thank you for bringing me over! Much love and good thoughts headed your way.
~HG
ty for the blog access. :-)
Password! Am pulling for you. You are a fighter. :)
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