A Party and a Procedure ...or... A Festivity and a Fistulogram

Wednesday will be a particularly busy day at the hospital for us. Samuel will be "celebrating" his 300th dialysis treatment. He spent all afternoon baking cookies (all by himself!) to bring for tomorrow's party. It will be a time to recognize and thank the team of dialysis nurses who has taken such good care of Samuel for these past 27 months.

A couple months ago as we were driving to dialysis, Samuel said to me, "Some days I wish that I didn't have kidney disease [long thoughtful pause], but then I think about all the nice people that I would never have met." Samuel proceeded to list many of the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff whom he has come to know and enjoy.

After all the terrible and difficult things that Samuel has been through these last 2 years...after all the pain that he has endured...after all the disappointments...after all the days, weeks, and months that he has spent in the hospital...for him to have that as his focus is pretty incredible! I am so thankful for the young man that the Lord is shaping and the amazing attitude that He has given Samuel.

Today is Samuel's 550th day on the waiting list. We are still waiting, but not so patiently. Every time the phone rings, I wonder if it is "the call". Most mornings, Samuel optimistically announces, "Today I am getting my transplant!" One of these days he will be right!

Wednesday will also be a busy day for Esther. As you may know, she started dialysis back on June 24th. It was not a very auspicious beginning. After two dialysis sessions of multiple needle sticks trying to get her hooked up and her fistula working properly, Esther had had a total of 50 minutes of dialysis and was black and blue from her wrist to her elbow. They started talking about putting in an ash split catheter (like Samuel had for so long). As far as I was concerned, things were moving too quickly and in the wrong direction!

I petitioned for a time out and we shipped Esther off to the Jersey shore with some dear friends for a week of R and R. She came back home this past weekend and we are ready to try again. The consensus is now that she has a narrowing (called a stenosis) in her fistula that is causing all the trouble. Tomorrow, while Samuel is partying, Esther will be having a surgical procedure called a fistulogram. I'm guessing they will use angioplasty to try to expand the stenosis and make the fistula useable. If they are successful, a groggy Esther will be wheeled directly up to Shep 4 for dialysis. If they are not successful, I fear we will have to resort to the dreaded catheter. Based on Esther's labs from Monday, we no longer have the luxury of postponing treatment.

I'd be grateful for your prayers tomorrow. As I've probably shared before, one of my least favorite things in all the world is having multiple family members in the hospital at the same time. I can manage okay when everyone is in the same place, but when they start getting spread around the hospital, I have a harder time being calm and serene. On the bright side, I'll likely get my exercise tomorrow running back and forth between the 1st floor and the 4th floor. I sure don't want to miss the party!


Lydia and Esther on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Thank you, Brian, Katherine, Faith, and Lark! What a gift!