Sunday, February 26, 2012

Transplant Update: Sophie's Choice

Last week I posted I'd be getting a kidney in April... PSYCH!!  It turns out it is actually going to happen March 15th. Liz and I had requested, demanded even, that it be after April 1st because my parents are scheduled to be in Boston, yep, March 15-April 1 to help my brother and sister-in-law with their second baby. But apparently "medical necessity" for another recipient comes before planned trips- even if it's to help with the birth of a grandchild- and so it has been decreed.

Now we're in the middle our own "Sophie's Choice" on several different plains: Do my parents go to Boston for the baby or stay in Salt Lake City for the transplant? Maybe one can go and one can stay? Okay, which parent goes to Boston and which one stays? No one is willing to choose or say if they have a preference, and can you blame us? Each parent is equally willing, able, and qualified to go or stay. We know it will be fine no matter which goes where, and yet we seem to be stuck in a roundabout, going around in circles unable to exit- or decide.

The pressing uncertainty of how my surgery will go and how the kidney will respond to me is the factor in this equation that can not be determined. My limited knowledge of math prohibits me from making some sort of clever pun here, all I really know I learned from Mean Girls and the mathletes: The limit does not exist. That hardly seems relevant here.

What I do know is that I am a ruiner. I ruin things with my health issues & needs- at least that's what it feels like. Just when everything is fine, wait a time or two and I'll have pulmonary edema or 24+ hours of constant puking or need a kidney transplant right in the middle of everything else that's happening. Leave it to me and my ever constant health needs to put a damper on big occasions and disrupt previously scheduled events.

For now I'm staying in my room or baking a cake in the kitchen while everyone hits possible schedule scenarios back and forth. A kidney is scheduled to happen in 2 & 1/2 weeks and 11 dialysis treatments. I'll be at University Hospital at 5 pm on the 15th, rain or shine, snow or sleet, Mom or Dad.

6 comments:

  1. I would say have your mom go to Boston. The grandmas are always in high demand around the time of a birth. Just my $0.02, though.

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  2. There's no such thing as a "ruiner". They just keep things interesting and everyone on their toes! Without this needed facet, life would be so boring and predictable. I'm right and you know it. With that said, send your mom to be the needed grandma in Boston. I think you've got plenty of family here to go around, and please don't hesitate to call on us! We love hospitals! We're so happy for you and pray things will go smoothly for both you, Liz, & baby Jackman!!!

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  3. You ARE a ruiner! You totally ruined my plan of actually working during my prep and instead forced me to read your awesome blog and neglect my job!

    That said, I am coming down that weekend and I am coming to visit you & Liz (if you feel up to it). I'll bring yorkshire puddings and gravy to the hospital as snack foods.

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    1. Hahaha I cannot be blamed for what you choose to do in your personal time. I am excited to see you! But I don't know if I'll be able to eat yorkshire pudding at that point... you may have to come down again once I'm home from the hospital and make me some then. Deal? Deal.

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    2. Fine, no yorkshire pudding... what other really unhealthy British food can I bring you? Meat pies perhaps? Some trifle? :)

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    3. Lucky for you ALL British food in unhealthy. How bout some bangers and mash or sausage rolls or spotted dick? Perhaps mushy peas or toad in a hole? :) My favorite Brit food is always bread pudding... though I do love a good jam tart.

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