BREAKING NEWS
I've waited to post this information for general knowledge until I was able to be as accurate as possible as well as give those involved in other aspects of my life an appropriate "head's up"
In the past several weeks things have been progressing quickly and information has been coming from Duke at a good rate. The news that I have been waiting to receive has arrived.
I received a phone call from my donor yesterday. According to what I understand, she is a 4 point match ( 6 being perfect ) which is a very good match.
Surgery is scheduled for 11 Jan 2006 (gee I mistyped 2007 before - it's THIS January!) to remove the natives, "Boris and Natasha" who might be about 25 lbs each and are up under my ribcage in the back and extend down to the pelvic bone. That extension and their size means that, with them in, there is no room for the transplanted kidney. Additionally, the cysts are probably infected and it's going to be impossible to remove either kidney without rupturing cysts - as a matter of fact, the plan is TO rupture cysts to bring the size of the kidneys down to a manageable size.
Transplanting an organ requires for the body's immune system to be disabled and reduced so rejection will not occur. If those medications are administered at the end of the nephrectomy, the possibility of infection is greatly magnified, so I'll be given a porta-cath and will be given dialysis three times a week as the body recovers from the nephrectomy. This is projected to take a few weeks.
When it's determined that I'm healing well enough to have the transplant, around 01 February 2006, I'll be evaluated for the second surgery to place the new kidney somewhere in the neighborhood of the right pelvic bone. I'll be travelling weekly back & forth to Duke for evaluation of the medicine that will protect the new kidney and balance those chemicals & medicines that will keep me AND the new kidney functioning.
I know this is both exciting and frightening for me, as well as for many of you. It must be an exciting and frightening time for my donor and her family, who I know has had to discuss and struggle with the decision to be tested and to donate a kidney which will be my life sustainer as I grow older.
As you remember me in your thoughts, prayers, white or golden light, or in your own way, please include a special thought and prayer of thanks and support for Ann and her family as she shares this unbelievable gift with me.
Godspeed
Tim & Twins
In the past several weeks things have been progressing quickly and information has been coming from Duke at a good rate. The news that I have been waiting to receive has arrived.
I received a phone call from my donor yesterday. According to what I understand, she is a 4 point match ( 6 being perfect ) which is a very good match.
Surgery is scheduled for 11 Jan 2006 (gee I mistyped 2007 before - it's THIS January!) to remove the natives, "Boris and Natasha" who might be about 25 lbs each and are up under my ribcage in the back and extend down to the pelvic bone. That extension and their size means that, with them in, there is no room for the transplanted kidney. Additionally, the cysts are probably infected and it's going to be impossible to remove either kidney without rupturing cysts - as a matter of fact, the plan is TO rupture cysts to bring the size of the kidneys down to a manageable size.
Transplanting an organ requires for the body's immune system to be disabled and reduced so rejection will not occur. If those medications are administered at the end of the nephrectomy, the possibility of infection is greatly magnified, so I'll be given a porta-cath and will be given dialysis three times a week as the body recovers from the nephrectomy. This is projected to take a few weeks.
When it's determined that I'm healing well enough to have the transplant, around 01 February 2006, I'll be evaluated for the second surgery to place the new kidney somewhere in the neighborhood of the right pelvic bone. I'll be travelling weekly back & forth to Duke for evaluation of the medicine that will protect the new kidney and balance those chemicals & medicines that will keep me AND the new kidney functioning.
I know this is both exciting and frightening for me, as well as for many of you. It must be an exciting and frightening time for my donor and her family, who I know has had to discuss and struggle with the decision to be tested and to donate a kidney which will be my life sustainer as I grow older.
As you remember me in your thoughts, prayers, white or golden light, or in your own way, please include a special thought and prayer of thanks and support for Ann and her family as she shares this unbelievable gift with me.
Godspeed
Tim & Twins
posted by Tim -n- twins at 3:58 PM
3 Comments:
What an exciting terrifying BLESSING! I'm so excited for you. God will hear from me several times a day....everytime you pop into my thoughts...which is pretty frequently seeing as how you had such a strong influence on my teaching abilities. Take care, and keep in touch! We'll be praying! Know that you are so loved!! -Mandi
Tim,
Wanted to let you know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I will be praying for you, your loved ones, Ann and her family. May your hearts be filled with peace, knowing that God is in control, may your Spirtit be filled with hope knowing that God has a plan for you and may your body be filled with health and healthing.
In Christ's Love,
Stacie
Poulsbo, Washington
Dear Tim,
I had heard that you were sick but I had no idea that it was so serious. Part of my youth handbell group and I met you when you were the clinician/conductor at the Area III Festival conductor in Hickory, NC in 2003 (?). I had a group of bass bell ringers that you came and talked to and you thanked them for playing ALL the notes, not just some of them. My son was in that group (I'll lose him next June since he'll be graduating and going off to college), but he still talks about getting to meet you. And I'm still impressed that you took your break time to come and talk to them. Thank you so very much. I will be praying for you and will put you on our church prayer list. We're only about 2 hours from Duke and our pastor is an absolutely rabid Duke fan. Best of luck. Godspeed!
Marcia Payne Wooten
Union Grove UMC
UG, NC
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