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.

Small Faces

More breaking news info from Kara... FB Donation.

I don't even do Facebook but if it helps with organ donation awareness.....

So what's going on?

And so a lot of people have been asking me just how the events of this past week could have happened and all I can tell them is what I've said here from the beginning -

"There's a lot to this transplant stuff."

The whole procedure is very intricate from the beginning (recovery of the organs) to the end (finished transplant).

Kara recently gave me a link that details the procedure:

Simultaneous Kidney / Pancreas Surgery

It helps to put the whole operation into perspective.

There are others on the Additional Reading page.

Thanks Kara!



Perhaps the dream is dreaming us......

Dreamlike. That's what yesterday seemed like. I remember looking at the hallway ceiling as I was being wheeled to the operating room, after saying byes to my kids, and I was thinking "So this is it. I never thought this would actually come to pass".
Now lo and behold ...it hasn't. Not just yet anyways.
Today I felt really, really, rundown and just couldn't get it out of second gear.
Just mentally and physically exhausted which is kinda weird 'cos I sure wasn't doing anything "physical" yesterday.

I really, really, want to thank everyone for all the calls, texts, thoughts, and prayers.
I have the best bunch of friends that anyone could ever hope for.

3...2.....1....Hold it!

AAAAAARGH! Yes, this is yours truly.
I was prepped for surgery, given meds, said goodbyes and love you's to my kids....was wheeled to the operating room where I was being instructed by the anesthesiologist as to what was about to go down and.......BOOM! Another surgeon came in and said that the pancreas had been damaged and there would be no KP transplant for me today.
Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.
I am exhausted. I will sleep very well tonight.
God Bless all of you. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.
It just wasn't my time.
More later.

Its a go. Operating time has been bumped up to 6pm. Wish me luck. See you on the other side.

Update...

They are in the process of recovering the organs right now and I am a perfect match so this looks like a go. They plan to take me to the OR at 8pm. Surgery is to take 4 to 6 hours and then i'll spend some time in ICU. It's gonna be a long day. Kara will be updating here as things go on. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.