The Rest of the Story

Okay...my gosh!  Here is the rest of the story!

Let me see....where did I stop.  Oh yeah!  The surgery!

This blog post has the same as previously; it was written in increments and it may or it may not flow.  I will do my best.

So, Trenty and I came home from SLC and we had to get things together.  I cleaned the house as I knew I wouldn't be able to do it for a while.  Yes, I know, I had Trent around to take up some of the slack, but I knew he would be going back to work and his schedule wouldn't permit him to take care of me, work, and take care of the house.  I had to pick and chose!  I got a wonderful dog person to come to the house to feed the M&Ms and Soup.  She was great!  I did all the laundry and made sure all the beds had clean linens and clean towels.  All of this did really nothing to take my mind off the upcoming surgery.  I was scared.  I was nervous.

The doctor had told me that it would feel as if I had been hit by a mack truck for a few days (man, oh man, was he not lying).  This is how it was explained to me: Russ would be going into the hospital sick, having surgery to help him, and leaving the hospital feeling so much better.  On the other hand, I would be going to the hospital feeling 100%, having surgery I did not need, taking an organ that was perfect, and leaving the hospital feeling worse.  YAY!  I was so looking forward to that!!!

We left the day before the procedure, Monday, November 20, to SLC.  We had a room reserved for us for our (mostly Trent's) stay whilst in SLC.  We arrived late in the afternoon.  My daughter and her boyfriend flew in from California and arrived almost at the same time.  We decided to have a last dinner and then I had some prep do to at the hotel (I wont bore you with those details, just know it was not pleasant!).  Nattie and Jose met Trent and I at Olive Garden and Ilene joined us.  Russ had to do one last dialysis and would not be able to join us for dinner.

We had to be at the hospital at 6:00am.  I know!!!  Trent and I arrived a bit early.  I was nervous and I needed to get to the hospital and get settled.  Russ arrived shortly after me and we sat in the surgical admit area together for a while.  There were tears.

I got called in first.  My surgery would be performed first.  They took me back and gave me a wonderful gown to dress in!  YAY!!  And I got my IV started and got the low down!  Russ was called back shortly after.  He and Ilene came to my room and we chatted for a minute.  Ilene wanted a picture:

This was it!  Look closely!  No make up for me!  Russ, I think, cheated and had a bit of powder and eye shadow on.  I shall never take another photo without a little something something on!

Ilene had asked if it was okay to post this photo to social media.  Up to this point, I had kept quiet about this whole thing.  I just didn't want people to know what was going on.   For many reasons, but mostly because really up until that very day we had no idea it was going to go forth.  There were so many factors and tests and things that could stop the progress of this.  My health, Russ's health, scheduling problems, the list was really endless.  In fact, right after this picture was taken, my doctor came into my room and told us we might be put off for another week.  There was an emergent case that came in and that pushed us back. The surgery may or may not happen this day.  Really...I would say that was probably the worst part of this whole ordeal.  That very minute when we were told it might not be happening today.  I had psyched myself up and was ready right then.  I don't know if I could go through another week of waiting.  I was scared and I know Russ was too.

In the meantime, back to posting the picture.  I told Ilene to blow it up!  I was ready to share!  Her daughter made the first post and it just went from there.

The plan was to wheel me up to the OR and wait.  IF the surgery was to be done, they could start right away with me, being already to go, and then Russ's part would follow shortly after.  I don't know really where Russ was during this time.  I was in the hallway in the OR watching people go in and out of rooms and I just waited.  I prayed...a lot during that time.  I don't even really know how long I was there; it felt like hours.  Finally, my doctor came and said it was a go!  And a go it was!

My surgery would start first and then about 20 minutes before the actual removal of my kidney, they would start Russ's procedure.  It was at this point that I was given some kind of anesthesia through my spine.  Not an epidural, but something that would supposedly help with my recovery (it didn't, but more on that later).  I felt every bit of my spine being tapped!  I was cracking jokes and making fun and being my usual jovial self.  In fact, one of the nurses asked my doctor if they could let me stay awake during the procedure because I was so much fun!  He said no. I was kinda glad about that.  The last thing I remember is being told to tell my kidney good-bye and start counting backwards.

Here is a picture of my kidney while it was still mine!!

I can't remember the magnification on it, but you can see my surgeon 's thumb at the top which is really big!  Those are the two arteries that were attached to me and to my kidney.  They left them attached to my kidney (this will be the last time I say "my" kidney, because as soon as it left my body, it was no longer mine!) so they could attach it to Russ.

What an amazing process.  Really.  When I think about it, I am just amazed.

The next thing I remember was coming out of the anesthesia in the recovery room.  I had asked for my husband and my daughter and was told they were waiting for me.  I have no idea how long the surgery took.  The only thing I remember about being put out was I went fishing with my dad.  What a wonderful time we had.

I was in and out and I remember seeing my family come in and out.  Trent, Natalie, Jose, Ilene, Thelissa, Tamilisa, Jeremy, Michelle...probably others, but I have no memory of any of this, really.  I do remember later on that evening having Russ WALK into my room.  He was already walking!!!  I was dying, but he was walking.  It was such a site for my eyes to see.  I thought that if I died right at that moment, it would be okay, because Russell had walked to my room just a few hours after his surgery with a working kidney!!

The next two days were terrible.  Terrible.  Ter Ri Ble!  There was a lot of throwing up, a lot of dizziness, a fever, a neck ache, a headache.  They tried to get me to stand and just sitting up would cause dizziness which would trigger the vomiting.  I could not move without throwing up.  I was injecting myself through the PCA pump with pain meds, but those did little to help with anything else.  They were giving me meds for the dizziness, nothing was helping.  They were giving me meds for the neck and head pain, nothing was helping.  Finally, we got the dizziness under control, I think this was the third day.  But there was still vomiting and a fever.

It was then decided that the epidural thingie (I can't remember what they called it) had probably made a leak in my spinal canal causing the headache and neck ache.  They had to do a blood patch; taking blood and putting it into my back in hopes that it would seal up the hole made from the injection.  I had to lie flat for a few hours and not move.   This helped with the nausea and with the neck ache, but not the headache.  They finally had to give me a major dose of a couple of medications to get rid of the headache.  Finally, I was able to sit up and even stand.  This was the fourth day.  Trenty had even helped me shower!

Russ had continued to make trips to my room and these short little trips did everything to help me get up.   He was so inspiring to watch.  Walking into my room.  I decided that I was going to walk to his room!  This was not like the next room, or even the next, next room.  I had to go clear down the hall on the other side of the wing!  I stopped a few times to rest and drank some water...you would have thought I was climbing Mt. Everest!  But I made it!!!  I made it to Russell's room!!!

There were many visitors in those days.  All Russ's family as well as his ward family.  They brought flowers and cards and drawings from the little kids and a get well sign for my wall.  They took care of my husband and fed him Thanksgiving dinner and made sure he was okay.  They popped in and said hi and always made sure I was doing okay.   My kids called to see how I was.  My brother and mother and aunt called to make sure I was okay.  Several family members texted Trent and kept in contact that way.  I was gifted a few items from the hospital.

Finally, on Saturday they said I could go!!  Although, we had to stay in SLC for a few more days as I had an appointment on Monday for my final check up.  Trent took me back to the hotel and I pretty much slept.  I remember him making me mac n cheese which was delicious!  And I remember Ilene had sent over a case of Diet Coke.  I was pretty much set!  I mean, really...what more could a girl ask for?!

I really don't remember Sunday at all.  I am assuming there was football and of course sleep, but other than that, I have no idea.  I don't even remember what was for dinner that night!  I did take a shower.  My pain meds were only lasting me 2 hours, instead of the prescribed 4.  Trenty, the angel he is, did not once tell me it was too early.  He just would bring me water and my pills.

Finally, Monday was here.  I did a little hair and make up...though it was really, really hard!  I did some labs before my doctor's appointment.  They released me and told me I was good to go!  There would be no future follow ups on my side.  I will have to do some blood work over the course of the next 2 years, but nothing like preoperatively.  After a tearful and heartfelt goodbye with Russ and Ilene, we were headed home.  I just wanted to be home, sleep in my bed, hug my fur babies, shower in my own shower...you get the picture.

A quick little side note here - we had to stop every 30 minutes or so on the drive home, per doctor's orders.  During one stop somewhere in Utah, I don't remember what town it was, we had stopped at a Subway.  Trent was in line getting us our sammies whilst I went to the little ladies room.  The lady in front of Trent struck up a conversation with him.  He told her what we had done in SLC and that we were going home.  She paid for our sandwiches.  I know, right?  That was super duper sweet.

After an extended period on the road, we were home.  Nothing feels better than crawling into your own bed after a week in a hospital bed.

As I look back and read and edit this blog, I will try to breeze by the rest of the story for you.  This has just drug on and on... I am so sorry!

The recovery has not been easy, but it wasn't expected to be.  I have recovered pretty much as expected.  There have been some highs and some lows, but every day seems to be just a bit better than the day before.  I am feeling almost back to normal.  I still tire very easily and sitting up for too long is still a problem, but I just continue to take steps forward.  As I had mentioned previously, Russ's story is not mine to tell, but I will tell you that is doing really, really good.  His kidney is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing.  He is still on a number of medications for antirejection and other things, but he is just doing amazing.  He may have to have one future procedure, but it will be nothing like the transplant surgery.  He just amazes me!! So far - so good.

A couple of things I needed to mention but didn't know how to incorporate it all in:

• Russell had to name his kidney!  It is like a right of passage thing, I assume.  It is his kidney now and he needs to claim it and naming it does exactly that.  He named the newest addition to his family, Elvis.  Yes, Elvis.  Russ is often heard around Utah saying, "Thank you, thank you very much." 
• My husband, my rock, the love of my life; I just don't know how I would have been able to do any of this without him by my side.  He has lifted me up and carried me.  When I was asked why I did this, my answer is because I love my husband.  
• My family -- amazing!  I have the best family, both immediate and extended.  They have loved me and prayed for me and worried about me.  I know, I could not have recovered as well or as quickly without them by my side.  
• My friends!!!  Thank you!  I know you have kept me close in your hearts and it means so much to me.  
• Ilene.  She is one classy, classy lady.  She was always put together, every single day.  She looked like a million bucks!  She smiled and she kept everything together.  She gave me help when I asked and even when I didn't.  She checked in on me every single day, even though she really didn't have to.  She is so strong and such a wonderful person.  I didn't know her very well before all of this, but now I know I will never forget her.  She is my sister.  
• The bond between Russ and I is something I am not eloquent enough to express with words.  Outside of my marriage and birthing my sweet babies, this has been the best experience of my life.  I am so grateful to Russell for giving me the opportunity to be a better person.  He tells me what I have done for him, but I really don't think he understands what he has done for me. 
• My name will be engraved in the Celebration of Life Monument at Salt Lake City's Library Square in August 2018.  I will keep you up to date on that!!  
• A few pictures of gifts from the hospital, my family, and my friends:              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

As of today, it has just been over 6 weeks since the procedure.  I am doing well.  I am still healing but getting better every day.  I still tire easily and have to take it easy.  The scars are healing and not near as angry, soon they will blend in with the rest of them!  As I am on the path returning back to my old self, I realize I will never be my old self again.  I am a better person for having this amazing experience. I have grown without knowing I needed to.  I have experienced something that really has opened my eyes and my heart.  I have learned to love life even more. 

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Winston Churchill

XOXO