Sunday, February 11, 2007

Transplant Tribune: Update

Dear friends and family,

Bob/Irving delegated this edition to me - he's happily tuned into watching the beginning of the racing season in Daytona and does not want any other distractions! So we know he is feeling better now that the Season has begun.

His cardiologist at UCSF and nephrologist from John Muir have agreed that he needs to start on dialysis, even though his kidneys are still working a bit. They want him to get rid of all the extra fluid he's carrying, to help reduce his pulmonary and cardiac pressures. So, moving right along, he will check into John Muir Hospital early Tuesday morning, and have an access tube installed. Sounds like they will put him through one or more treatments of dialysis before sending him home. After that he will go to a local center one to three times per week to continue the treatments, depending on how he does. By March 6 the cardiologist hopes to see definite improvement when he repeats the right heart angiogram.Then
maybe he will get onto the transplant waiting list at last, but we know now not to assume anything!

As always, he enjoys hearing from everyone, even though he is not often taking the initiative in making contact......contrary to some opinions, he does not have a broken finger! Thanks for all your positive thoughts, prayers and support. We know it's making a difference!

Cherie
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RJ/Bob/Irv is a 61-year-old beloved husband, father, uncle, brother, motor racing fanatic, and Livermore resident who received a heart and kidney transplant in February of 2010. Bob's recent years have been defined by his health, which forced him into early retirement. Unfortunately, many of his days were spent in a dialysis center or at various medical appointments, primarily due to his living with diabetes for over 40 years. Numerous were panic visits to various Emergency Rooms all over California for treatment of chest pain. But now no more dialysis and no more late-night dashes to UCSF! The main focus of Bob's family, friends, and doctors has been a prompt transplant, so that he can get back to traveling with his Sweetie, driving fast cars, enjoying great music and laughing with his friends. This blog will function as a way to communicate with all interested parties and to keep everyone informed. And hopefully it can serve a great purpose also, in making people more aware of the importance of organ donation and how each life saved has a positive effect on dozens of related friends and relatives.