Back to life as we knew it ...

It's been a little while since I posted an update.

I haven't officially gotten my letter from UAMS stating that I am not currently a candidate to be posted on the 'the list'.    I have talked with my transplant coordinator who I like very much, her name is Diane.   So with the fact that I am not needing a transplant as soon as I thought, we will be going back to life enjoying my own kidneys.   Any day with my own kidneys while avoiding dialysis and anti-rejection medication is a blessing.   I am still holding out hope that my kidneys will just miraculously stop deteriorating.   It happens, they don't know why, but it does.   I have a pretty good suspicion why it happens and that's what I'm praying for.   My doctor says I could live a long enjoyable life with just 25% kidney function, and I can absolutely be happy with that if that's God's will.   To the medical world they fully expect to see me again at some point.  My nephrologist (kidney doctor) will be deciding how often he wants to measure my kidney function and we will see how it progresses from there.

Besides my kidneys, the tests found a couple of things that we will work with my doctor to investigate further.  I don't know much about either one, but I assume I'll be learning soon enough.  One was an elevated PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen).  I know that it's normal to have some PSA in my system but an elevated number can indicate other issues that I'm not knowledgable enough about to even speculate.   My other issue that they suggested looking into is that my liver seemed to have some very small cysts in it. She said that it's not un-common it's just something else they would want to figure out before any further discussions of transplantation.

I've had a few people ask me about who to talk to about being a living donor.   Before they told me I wasn't ready to be put on 'the list' they had a person to call who would start the investigation into whether a donor was a match for me.   But now that I don't need to be on 'the list' they will not be accepting any living donor candidates for me.   I very much appreciate those that have asked about being a living donor, it's hard for me to understand how or why someone would do that for me, but I am very grateful all the same.

So, I guess for now we just go about our lives and do our best to maintain the kidney function that I do have.

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and support.   Not a day goes by that I don't hear from multiple people saying that they are thinking and praying for me, and while I'm not used to that, I very much appreciate each and every one.

Until our next kidney appointment in August ... stay tuned