A nothing sound.....

Alright, so I've been getting some grief lately that this blog went from 90 to nothing but quite frankly, that's just the way it goes.

I haven't had any exciting calls lately. No major doctor appointments (next big one is in late July).
I did receive  a call from my transplant coordinator after the last fiasco telling me to "not go very far".
I had a couple short trips planned for this summer but she seems to think that anything farther than 2 hours away is really "rolling the dice". But then, as alway, she quickly covered herself and said "Having said that, it may be months until you get another call". Argh.

And so that's where things stand as of now.
I do appreciate you all checking in here so feel free to give me grief anytime about keeping things updated.  ; )

Until the next...

Another bust....

Got the word at 1:30 that the recovered organs just weren't up to par so I'm on my way home. I gotta believe this will happen sometime but until then I feel like the boy who cried "transplant!".
Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and calls.
I'll keep you posted.

Sunday. Sunday. Sunday.

After a very long night, the lead surgeon just came by to tell me that they are recovering organs right now and I should know by noon but, he also said there is a pretty good chance that I may not even get these organs (long story).
I'll keep you all posted.
Give a wink to a statue at church for me today.
Thanks.

Waiting...

Nick kept me company on a lo-fi Saturday nite.
Thanks Nick.

Hurry up and wait...

Ok... all checked in here with some fine accommodations. They are putting me through loads of bloodwork, EKG's, x-rays and now the wait begins. Talked with the surgeon, it may be tomorrow morning if anything happens.

One more time around might do it....

It's a beautiful day here in south-central Pennsylvania. I just got a call from the transplant center telling me that I am number one on the list and they have potential organs. So I'm on my way there to be admitted.
I'll keep you all posted.
Please keep me in your prayers.

From bad things good things sometimes come...

I received a follow-up call from the tx center to explain exactly what happened on the 22nd.

It seems the surgeon who was recovering the organs was completely aghast at the failure of the equipment at the hospital where the recovery was done (the actual malfunction was explained to me in great detail.) so much so that he has petitioned UNOS for a referendum to require all participating hospitals to have the same standard set of tools in each operating room for organ recovery.
I am told that until this measure is passed, Pinnacle doctors will now travel with their own set of surgical instruments to do the recoveries.

So for the silver lining in this cloud of misfortune it is the thought that new standards will be set to ensure this won't happen again. Also, the donor pancreas did not go to waste but rather the islet cells were taken to use in islet cell transplantation and research.

This young donor's organs saved at least six people and gave sight back to two.
How awesome is that?!?!
May God bless their family for this altruism in light of their tragedy.