End Scene

What a week we have been through. Tuesday morning came around and I was roaring and ready to go. I once again double checked with Aunt Kim to make sure this was ok with her, and once again she said "of course". We both checked in to registration and she was called up to "pre-op" about 20 minutes before I was. When we reached the 2nd floor she was directly across from me and we were able to talk for a few minutes while having our final check over. Nurses checked everything. IV's were inserted. Surgeons stopped by. An Anastegolist came by and discussed risks. Then my OR nurse Erica Rock came in. She is my best friend's sister in law and with her as my nurse, and her sister Kim's nurse, I felt in amazing hands. When Erica came in, I handed her my camera and told her that I always wonder what goes on in an OR, and she was totally willing to take some snapshots. (Those can be found under my Facebook account) I will probably add a few on here for the followers that don't have a FB account. The pictures were amazing, and showed me a lot of interesting information.

Kim and I were under for no more then 4 hours. I remember be woken up and Erica telling me that we were done, and heading back to recovery. It was over. I peed. I was feeling like hell, but I knew the gift was given, and things were going to be only improving. When people ask me how I feel, I tell them that I feel as if I can see more clearly. There isn't so much "fog" in my mind. I am more alert and have a lot of normal color back in my face. I was able to have visitors that evening and even had the long waited Diet Dr. Pepper from the fountain. My poor Aunt Kim wasn't snapping out of the medication as easily as I was. She had nausea and was moving slower then I was. People say that the donor does have a harder time because they are healthy up until the time of surgery and her body is like, "what happened to my buddy, the other kidney?" As where my body is like THANK YOU!!! The stress and pressure have been taken off of us, and the new guy can take over.

On day 1 post-op we were instructed to walk around and sit in a chair. Kim was great about following directions and walking the hall a few times. Me, I went for one long walk, took a 20 minute break in Kim's room, and my walk back to my room was walk 2. Loopholes. Some things about me won't ever change. People asked about the pain or discomfort I had been feeling, but the worst part was well, moving. Getting up and down was horrible. But due to my freaking out about everything, I was worried that the incision would split and I would get a hernia. But 5 days post-op I still worry about that. Probably will for months.

So, here is what has freaked me out since this all happened. The diet I was on prior is completely flipped. Everything I was told to avoid, I have been instructed to eat. And, I have been told to drink a lot more fluids so my Kidney doesn't get dehydrated. My medication which went from 2 pills in the morning to about 16 pills. No lie. Medication has to be taken 12 hours apart so my Kidney doesn't get rejected. I can't lift over 10lbs til 2011... I can't drive for 3 weeks... I think I will lose my mind before either of those deadlines occur! :)

I really really want to thank my family and friends who took time out of their day to come and check in with me. Thanks for Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff (the donors husband) for giving me a bit of her. I now can feel how much he loved her from the inside of my gut. ha ha... My sister, my mom, my brothers, my support system... everyone has been amazing and i know they will continue to support me. And now with a new Kidney, support me for many more years.

Pancreas?? Well, that is like a phone call away. My nurse will be calling me to assure me I am on the list and she said that there are only 4 other people on the Pancreas transplant list. So this may happen sooner then later. This Friday (11/5) I will be going back for outpatient to have my Dialysis Catheter taken out. The following week I will be calling to have all signs of Dialysis removed from the Schrack house.

I will keep people updated as the journey is just starting a whole new chapter!!

less then 44 hours...

Remember when you were a kid and your parents pepped you up for such things as vacations, or Christmas?? Well, my vacation/Christmas is about here. I mean when the date of October 26 was scheduled, there was still months to prepare. There was plenty of time to do everything and hell, maybe the doctor's would finally tell me that all of this was a big joke... well with only hours away, it is not a joke, and it is going to happen. People ask how I have been feeling, and I really think that I am both emotionally and mentally prepared. I have been seeing a Kidney Specialist since high school, and I guess my mind has finally accepted it and is going to allow it to happen. Please don't get me wrong, I am freaking the freak out... but in a calm way. I know what I need to do, I know what is expected of me, I just need to let other people take control and I need to "heal". The next few days are going to fly by. Aunt Kim is already in town and we both have some appointments to go to on Monday. She seems so calm and prepared, as where I am still hoping she wants to do this. I know she does, but damn that Catholic guilt.

I know that I have thanked everyone for everything, but the prayers and support cannnot be thanked enough. I am getting a second chance at a whole new beginning starting Tuesday about 1pm. My family has been so supportive and very direct with me. I appreciate that. I know that a lot will have to change once this surgery takes place, but my god, I am so ready to have a new beginning. "The New Megan... Now with a new and improved Kidney". I really am at a loss for words on how to thank everyone. People are just paying so much forward.

Officially I am done working and hope to go back in a few months. I NEED and MUST give myself time to "heal". I need to look at it as a short term break that may lead to greater things... So this is when all the donations and fundraising money will come in to use. It will help pay my insurance (cobra)and medication as it is being prescribed.

So tonight I do my second to last dialysis treatment and have only two more sleeps... I pray that everyone stays well for the next 40 some hours... and this happens. People who know me, know that I still question all of this. I mean I know this will happen, I just am super cautious. To a fault!!! Here we go....

5 days....

Today I got an MRI to make sure that my elevated hormone numbers were going to be ok. Well, they are. They looked at the pictures and said that nothing is out of normal for someone in my "condition". After the MRI I then proceeded to go to the ground level for "inpatient dialysis". So sweet Dr. Plumb comes down, checks on me and says, "she'll run for four hours"! WTF??!??! At this time it is 10am and I thought everything would happen fast... so I let Lolly know to come back about 1. Well, by the time the port is placed, and the x-ray has been taken, it is after noon. So now I won't be done until after 4pm. Guess who the only person in America is without a cell... my mom! So now I can't get ahold of her to tell her to not wait for over 3 hours. Poor Lolz... when will she learn??! :)

So I am done with Dialysis for today and will be going back to clinic tomorrow and saturday. They hope to get all of the solution from the MRI over the next two days. Looks like Tuesday is still a go....

OMFG!!

Ok, so people who know me know that I always think that something will go wrong. My flight will crash, there will be a tornado, hurricane, etc etc. Well, we are 8 days away from the "new megan, now featuring a fresh kidney" and here is the "hick-up" (NOT REALLY I AM OVERREACTING)... this part is for real, but there shouldn't be any issues for the surgery on Tuesday. They are just taking "extra measure to make sure there isn't any problems for surgery"

Ok, so I have a "high level" of something that some women will get when they are in Renal Failure or due to a lot of medication. I get that, no biggie. Well, the OBGYN and Plumb and Transplant Team decided that I needed to get an MRI prior to the surgery... now try and keep up... There is a dye that they put in your body when you get an MRI. They need ALL of that dye to be out of my system prior to surgery, and with the current form of Dialysis that I do, that wouldn't happen. Sooooo.... Thursday I am getting an MRI, then I report directly do inpatient dialysis at Clarkson where they will put in a "temporary" port in my neck. I will then do Hemodialysis which is the "in clinic form of dialysis". I will do this form of dialysis for 3 days so that ALL dye can be out of my body. Plumb believes that everything will be just fine and doing the test is just double checking everything.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be meeting with a financial advisor and taking a "life after transplant" class. Can't wait for that one! LOL!! My last day at Goodwill will be on Wednesday due to the port that will be sticking out of my neck beginning on Thursday morning. I want to save everyone from having to see the Frankenstein version of me! :)

I have had this port before, and it isn't that bad... but just so damn close to surgery puts me in panic mode. Patti and I have laughed about this all weekend... it was at about 4 today when I lost my mind. Thank god Plumb called and talked me down about 5pm... he gets me!!

So here we are... 8 days out!

Really is happening...

I received a phone call from the nurse today. She set up my "pre-op" (puke in mouth) appointments. Next Tuesday I am to have a History and Physical at 10. Have a "class" about life after transplant (Lolly and Patti MUST attend) at 11. Then following the class, a "financial counselor" will be coming and explaining the cost of prescriptions, etc, etc, etc. (Donations are still be accepted at Security National Bank) I am no longer worried about begging for cash, bc Cobra costs 525 a month. That is a lot of money!!!

Ok, so next Tuesday I meet with the pre-op team and we get going... Patti made a funny, "so this is really going to happen?" Hell yes it is... I have a Shamrock Countdown in my office... that is serious stuff!!

I am fortunate to know the nurses that will be working on Kim and me... they are fans of me and my best friend's family. We will be in very safe and capable hands!!!

OK, feeling hyper and excited! Waiting for the big black cloud to reappear!! :)

Lucky #13

When I go to the casino, I always play 13, 14, 18, 21, 25 on the Roulette Wheel... 13usually brings me luck. Maybe I will force Lolly to play tonight!! Can't get much worse?!? LOL.

I met with a nurse for the last time on Monday. It was weird. I was saying all my good-bye's and getting "good luck" "check in"... it just sounded so odd to think that I won't have to check in with them (God willing). I asked what to expect during my recovery, and they all think that I will do just fine. I will be in the hospital about a week, of course i will be sore, but other then that, she was so optimistic. That freaked me out the most!! She said I will need to get a blood draw every M W F for 3 months. Then, every M TH for like 6 months. Then, once a week for a year. Then, every month forever. She told me that I won't have to see Plumb anymore, but just the surgeons for the next few months to make sure everything is working ok. Just hearing and learning the freedom I will/might have is awesome.

The nurse did talk a lot about taking anti-rejection medication every 12 hours on the dot. She said if I miss some or any doses that the kidney might start to think, "what the F am I doing in this random body". Note to self - don't miss meds!!

There was one downer on the week... I got a well deserved speeding ticket and have to attend STOP class all day Saturday. I tried getting out of it, but I was going way fast and needed some bad luck.

Sure I will be keeping everyone up to date as I learn new stuff. I am actually paying attention to what they tell me from this point forward!!!

19 days

Well, we are 19 days away from Part 2 of the Kidney Adventure. Let me do some clarification. I am tired. I am soooo soooo tired. I try so hard to do things, keep going, etc... but in the long run, it just wears me out for a few days. I have decided that over the next two weekends I am going to rest. I am very low on FMLA time at Goodwill and am trying to work my 32 hours a week. On November 11 I will have used up my 12 weeks of FMLA for one year, and I will be "Medically Terminated" at my current position. My goal is to come back to Goodwill within 3 months so I can "bridge" my employment. Bridging my employment will keep my tenure and well, that's about it. I have been there 5 years, and I want my picture on that damn wall!!


With such a short time left before the surgery, I am not sure what people can do to help. I am really just working and relaxing. I check in with Lolz and Patti everyday because they too are on pins and needles. My goal is just to stay strong and healthy enough for the 26th to still be the day. My luck, I get an infection and this has to be postponed. I am prepared for that! You should be too.

Patti will be running the Blog and Facebook for a few days after the surgery. I don't think that I will be doing status updates for a bit. Email me any questions or concerns you may have... I just know that people have a lot they wonder, and I can try to answer to the best of my ability.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the nice fall weather... I am sure there will be some updates as I REALLLYYYYY begin to panic and freak out at every little hair, itch, pain, etc.... 19 days. I must keep calm. (VERY HARD FOR ME!!!!) Love to all.