Saturday, January 12, 2008

Kidney Chronicles: 2008

Happy New Year all,

Looks like we are off to a bit of a rough start this year - not sure if we are moving forward or sideways this week! I had hoped to send an update telling of Bob's very short hospital stay this week after he briefly passed out and conked his head on a sidewalk Tuesday. However, nothing is brief with him or USCF, and as of this morning he is still a resident on the 10th floor, as his doctors continue to do tests to find out what happened. It was pretty certainly heart-related, and depending on the results of today's echocardiogram, he will come home today and return next week for an angiogram for a closer look at things, OR stay in the hospital through the weekend and have the angiogram as soon as Monday. They need to determine if there is some blood flow obstruction to a new area of his heart, and if so, if it can be repaired via angioplasty or something similar.

In the bigger picture, this could speed things along for the kidney transplant, if the problem is correctable and the kidney transplant team agrees with moving along quickly to do the transplant before the heart has more problems - or stop the transplant plan completely. "Donor Dave" ( thanks, Kelly D) just finished up nearly all his tests on Thursday this week, and just needs one final visit to UCSF. Bob has just a couple more chores on his "to-do" list for the transplant, so this new development is really not welcome!

Needless to say, he is very unhappy with his current situation.....looking on the potentially bright side is not his strength, as we all know. So feel free to call him, at 415-514-5273. If he doesn't answer, he's off to a test, but otherwise he will be lounging around being grumpy. I have spent most of each afternoon and evening with him since Tuesday, but am trying to catch up with home and business a bit this morning.

I still hope that 2008 is the year for good things to happen, so please join me in positive thoughts that this situation will speed the transplant process along!

Cherie

p.s. Bob's head is fine from the fall!
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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.