Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire GREAT NEWS! APPROVED for a Kidney Transplant!

Monday of this week was the day I have been waiting for all this time. I am finally sick enough to be a patient at the U of W Transplant hospital aka Virginia Mason transplant center. At the same time, the many, MANY tests they ran on me over and had other providers run on me over the past couple of weeks indicate that while my kidneys are shot, my heart function, vascular health otherwise, lifestyle, diet, caregiver team and all other factors are just fine and so I am now officially their patient.

I have so far two people going through the steps to see if they are a match for me to donate a kidney. Statistically I am told that it takes on average 10 potential donors to be tested before a good match is found, but this is obviously not always the case. I am a blood type "O" so can accept a kidney from more other blood types than some other more limited or specific blood types. This works much in my favor.

However many potential donors I have to get through to find a match, I am very hopeful that one will be found for me soon and I can become again the hard working productive citizen I once was. Again able to take better care of my family and enjoy life without so many pills and drugs. Those who have not been through it cannot know how hard it is to not be able to do this and I think especially hard for a man.

It will take a while, (about two years or more all told and together) but we have begun and I am excited and hopefull.

The surgery for me will be a bit risky because both of my old kidneys need to come out, being very enlarged and being the source of much pain. But, I know the healer and builder of my body and so I know that I am in GREAT hands.

To those who have been holding me up in prayer and offering support, many thanks. There is at last a light seen at the end of this long dark tunnel. And it is NOT a train coming the other way!

Exciting times and news that I had to share.

Prayer sent. Best of luck.

Good to hear. Best of luck to you.

good luck, hope you find a match soon.

I'm glad to hear that Mark...I'm getting kind of old,(63) & ain't sure I'd be a good candidate (smoke, sometimes drink) but my offer still stands...pm me if you'd like me to get tested.

Are they convinced both have to be removed?

Will there be a lag time of the renalectomy, then a window of dialysis...then the transplant

or will it be a 2 out, 1 in same day operation?

Wonderful news!!! Prayers for your recovery and health to improve!!!

Not 100% sure that both have to come out, but they cause me a lot of back pain, digestive issues, stomach distension, and are now throwing off cysts to my liver so I want them both out if possible. That decision will come later, after we find me a match /donor.

If you PM me your address, a donor info card with where to call and how to take the first steps toward being a possible donor will be on its way to you my friend. I am not being picky right now! Thank you SO much!

Good to hear! I ain't doing to good and might be checking out soon. Send me your name, address and number and when I go you can have mine (if their any good)! I already know they won't let me be a living donor from that liver thing a short while back.

Hope things go well for ya and you can get this over soon. I hate having to live as a cripple and often think I'd rather be a memory!
If there's any cost for the testing I won't be able to pay it but if it's not to much maybe my doc can slip it in in my next visit.

Mark,

That's FANTASTIC news, prayers going up for you my friend.

Kevin

Right now I am 'healthy enough' (???) to keeping a search only for a living donor. A kidney from a still living donor can last 10-12 years and sometimes longer. A kidney from a deceased donor lasts only about 5-7 years. Or so I am told at the transplant hospital. I will be very fragile and sick for a month or more after a transplant, so if at all possible I am working and hoping toward that living donor with them.

THANK YOU, however, very much for the offer.

I am going to let the cat out of the bad so to speak and let everyone here know that it was Ghetto Sportsman here who was offering Sandits wife, Char, a liver transplant right before she died. Sandpit (John) was just over at my home here last week and he seems to be doing OK, all things considered.

HOW TOUCHING! And funny!

Unfortunately, there probably are a few here who really would prefer to see me kick off, and this is just an internet site where they have never even met me or know me in any real sense. Sad, mostly for them. Oh well, hateful people are gonna hate. I am thankful for my many, many friends and will focus on them and the good things in my life.

Geez! How useless can one person be! I can't even give away organs! I sure understand though! Sounds like you'll have more time with the family from a living donor.

You promised you'd keep quiet and ya didn't! If I ever get to meet ya (Not likely), I'm gonna slap ya! (if i can)

This is an amazing site with an even more amazing group of folks. The goodness and altruism of most never ceases to amaze me.

Godspeed Mark!

Best, Mark.

Yours is a living testimony for folks signing up as full tissue and organ donors upon their death. It is probably the very last thing we can do for our fellow man and do it anon if we wish.

Don't forget to sign up and support your State Organ Procurement org.

Only completely useless ones are liberals that want to destroy this country, you GS are not one of them.

Good luck Mark, I'm praying for you.

I knew my gut feeling about you was correct.