It was a rough night here at the hospital, but the sky is beginning to brighten and a new day is just around the corner.
Esther and I will be heading down to dialysis in a few minutes. We are both exhausted.
If you'd like to send an encouraging note to Esther while she is here at the hospital, please click on the link below and follow the directions. Esther's room number is Baird 523. That will change tomorrow, but the volunteers who hand deliver the emails will be sure to find her.
http://www.fletcherallen.org/patients_visitors/visitors_guide/send_a_gift/
News and musings...both notable and mundane
A KIDNEY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SHARE... Have you considered being an organ donor?
Tom's kidney, though no longer functioning, still resides in Samuel
Interested in learning more about being a living kidney donor?...Call the toll-free donor hotline at Fletcher Allen Health Care... 877-467-5102
For more information about living donor paired exchange, visit the National Kidney Registry's website.
Would you consider sharing the gift of life with others?... Register to be a deceased organ donor at DonateLifeVT.org.
For more information about living donor paired exchange, visit the National Kidney Registry's website.
Would you consider sharing the gift of life with others?... Register to be a deceased organ donor at DonateLifeVT.org.
THE SMITH CHILDREN AND THEIR VERY SPECIAL DONORS
Samuel and his sister, Hannah
Hannah donated one of her kidneys to someone on behalf of Samuel as part of the world's largest paired exchange ever performed at a single institution. The paired exchange, which took place at the Methodist Specialty & Transplant Hospital in San Antonio, TX, included 16 pairs of donors and recipients. Samuel received a kidney from someone else in the chain who was donating to him on behalf of a loved one. All 32 surgeries took place on November 11-13, 2010.
Esther and her 1st cousin, Katherine
Katherine came all the way from California to share a perfect match with Esther!... 9/16/09
Katie and a new friend, Kelly
Without knowing our family beforehand, Kelly (on right) heard of the need and offered to donate to Katie... 4/16/08
Samuel and his dad, Tom
Samuel's tragic first transplant... 10/31/07
LINKS
- 12/23/10 "Historic Kidney Swap Gives VT Teen His Life Back" WCAX's story about our kidney adventure
- 11/22/10 "A Chain of Miracles" Commons News Story
- 11/12/10 "Extraordinary S.A. Kidney Operations Make History" Pre-op Interview with Wendy Rigby of KENS5
- 11/12/10 "VT Family Part of Kidney Transplant Chain" WCAX Airing of Pre-op Interview
- 11/11/10 "Giving, Giving, Giving Gifts of Life" San Antonio Express' article about the exchange
- 11/10/10 "Kidney Chains Link Strangers" Katie Couric's story about the NKR
- Send an email to a patient at Fletcher Allen Health Care
- Our family's website
- October 2007 Kidney Update Letter
- Watch a kidney transplant
ABOUT US
For those of you who don't already know us, we are the Smith Family...Tom, Nancy, Katie, Hannah, Grace, Samuel, Esther, and Lydia. We live on a small farm in Charlotte, Vermont.
I am Nancy, the author of this blog and the mother of these great kids. I started this blog in 2007 as a way to share our kidney adventure with family and friends.
Three of our six children were diagnosed with Familial Juvenile Nephronophthisis in the spring of 2007. FJN is a rare autosomal recessive pediatric kidney disease. My 3 children with FJN also have retinitis pigmentosa. The combination of this specific kidney disease and RP is called Senior-Loken syndrome.
The members of our family's "kidney club" are:
* Katie, age 23
- Diagnosed April '07 with 25% kidney function;
- Began dialysis July '07 with 12% function;
- Both native kidneys removed April 14, 2008;
- Transplanted 2 days later with great success on April 16, 2008 after 9 months of dialysis;
- Katie's living donor is a young woman named Kelly, who was once a stranger, but who now has become a dear friend;
- The first 18 months post-transplant were very difficult for Katie as she suffered from some nasty medication side effects;
- In May 2010, Katie completed her B.S. in Business at Vermont Technical College.
- In December 2010, Katie started a full-time job as a customer service rep at a local bank!
* Samuel, age 17
- The first of our children to be diagnosed in March '07 with 5-10% kidney function;
- Began dialysis 2 days after being diagnosed;
- Left native kidney removed September '07;
- Transplanted with complications Oct. 31, 2007;
- Kidney from Dad was irreparably damaged after Samuel had an anaphylatic reaction to an immuno- suppressant drug administered during the surgery;
- Multiple doses of epinephrine used to resuscitate Samuel ultimately raised his blood pressure too high, causing the iliac artery to pull away from the newly attached renal artery which then resulted in a traumatic bleeding episode and more hours of surgery to repair the damage;
- New kidney from Dad is irreparably damaged after suffering "multiple insults" during the transplant surgery;
- Renal biopsy on December 6, 2007 marks the beginning of a 2 1/2 month hospitalization;
- Right native kidney removed December 7, 2007;
- Laparoscopic nephrectomy is converted to an open nephrectomy after discovery of significant bleeding from previous day's biopsy, Samuel ends up with a large midline incision;
- Spent Christmas & New Year's in the ICU;
- Transplanted kidney starts working enough to be off dialysis at the end of December, though Samuel is still hospitalized;
- Exploratory laparotomy (abdominal surgery) performed January 31, 2008 in hopes of discovering why Samuel is not getting well;
- Finally discharged February 18, 2008 after 75 days in the hospital;
- Restarted dialysis treatments May 13, 2008
- Hospitalized again starting May 18th for 11 days to drain a collection of fluid in his right renal fossa and to address his malnutrition;
- 200th dialysis session November 18, 2008
- 6-inch incisional hernia repair December '08;
- 300th dialysis session July 8, 2009;
- Listed with the National Kidney Registry March 2010;
- "The call" we've been waiting for came on October 15, 2010... possibility of a transplant through a paired exchange;
- 500th dialysis session October 18, 2010;
- Quick trip to San Antonio, TX to meet the team at the Texas Transplant Institute October 23-26, 2010;
- 3rd anniversary of Samuel's first unsuccessful transplant;
- November 5, 2010, traveled back to Texas to prepare for a transplant as part of the largest paired exchange ever to take place at a single institution...16 pairs of donors and recipients!
- November 12, 2010 Samuel received a new kidney!
* Esther, age 14
- Diagnosed April '07 with 50% kidney function;
- 40% function a year later in April '08;
- 30% in July '08;
- 28% in October '08;
- 24% in November '08;
- Had a surgical procedure to create a fistula for future dialysis use December '08;
- 19% function in February '09;
- Esther's name is added to the organ bank's waiting list for a kidney, April '09;
- 12% function in June '09;
- Started dialysis June 24, 2009;
- Bilateral nephrectomy and surprise appendectomy September 14, 2009;
- Short 2 1/2 month dialysis career ends on September 16, 2009 with a transplant!!
- Donor is Katherine, Esther's first cousin once removed. Amazingly, these two young ladies are a perfect match, both sharing the exact same 6 antigens! A priceless gift made even more special. Thank you, Katherine!
- Esther was hospitalized for the month of January and a week in March 2010 before she was diagnosed with Myfortic toxicity.
I am Nancy, the author of this blog and the mother of these great kids. I started this blog in 2007 as a way to share our kidney adventure with family and friends.
Three of our six children were diagnosed with Familial Juvenile Nephronophthisis in the spring of 2007. FJN is a rare autosomal recessive pediatric kidney disease. My 3 children with FJN also have retinitis pigmentosa. The combination of this specific kidney disease and RP is called Senior-Loken syndrome.
The members of our family's "kidney club" are:
* Katie, age 23
- Diagnosed April '07 with 25% kidney function;
- Began dialysis July '07 with 12% function;
- Both native kidneys removed April 14, 2008;
- Transplanted 2 days later with great success on April 16, 2008 after 9 months of dialysis;
- Katie's living donor is a young woman named Kelly, who was once a stranger, but who now has become a dear friend;
- The first 18 months post-transplant were very difficult for Katie as she suffered from some nasty medication side effects;
- In May 2010, Katie completed her B.S. in Business at Vermont Technical College.
- In December 2010, Katie started a full-time job as a customer service rep at a local bank!
* Samuel, age 17
- The first of our children to be diagnosed in March '07 with 5-10% kidney function;
- Began dialysis 2 days after being diagnosed;
- Left native kidney removed September '07;
- Transplanted with complications Oct. 31, 2007;
- Kidney from Dad was irreparably damaged after Samuel had an anaphylatic reaction to an immuno- suppressant drug administered during the surgery;
- Multiple doses of epinephrine used to resuscitate Samuel ultimately raised his blood pressure too high, causing the iliac artery to pull away from the newly attached renal artery which then resulted in a traumatic bleeding episode and more hours of surgery to repair the damage;
- New kidney from Dad is irreparably damaged after suffering "multiple insults" during the transplant surgery;
- Renal biopsy on December 6, 2007 marks the beginning of a 2 1/2 month hospitalization;
- Right native kidney removed December 7, 2007;
- Laparoscopic nephrectomy is converted to an open nephrectomy after discovery of significant bleeding from previous day's biopsy, Samuel ends up with a large midline incision;
- Spent Christmas & New Year's in the ICU;
- Transplanted kidney starts working enough to be off dialysis at the end of December, though Samuel is still hospitalized;
- Exploratory laparotomy (abdominal surgery) performed January 31, 2008 in hopes of discovering why Samuel is not getting well;
- Finally discharged February 18, 2008 after 75 days in the hospital;
- Restarted dialysis treatments May 13, 2008
- Hospitalized again starting May 18th for 11 days to drain a collection of fluid in his right renal fossa and to address his malnutrition;
- 200th dialysis session November 18, 2008
- 6-inch incisional hernia repair December '08;
- 300th dialysis session July 8, 2009;
- Listed with the National Kidney Registry March 2010;
- "The call" we've been waiting for came on October 15, 2010... possibility of a transplant through a paired exchange;
- 500th dialysis session October 18, 2010;
- Quick trip to San Antonio, TX to meet the team at the Texas Transplant Institute October 23-26, 2010;
- 3rd anniversary of Samuel's first unsuccessful transplant;
- November 5, 2010, traveled back to Texas to prepare for a transplant as part of the largest paired exchange ever to take place at a single institution...16 pairs of donors and recipients!
- November 12, 2010 Samuel received a new kidney!
* Esther, age 14
- Diagnosed April '07 with 50% kidney function;
- 40% function a year later in April '08;
- 30% in July '08;
- 28% in October '08;
- 24% in November '08;
- Had a surgical procedure to create a fistula for future dialysis use December '08;
- 19% function in February '09;
- Esther's name is added to the organ bank's waiting list for a kidney, April '09;
- 12% function in June '09;
- Started dialysis June 24, 2009;
- Bilateral nephrectomy and surprise appendectomy September 14, 2009;
- Short 2 1/2 month dialysis career ends on September 16, 2009 with a transplant!!
- Donor is Katherine, Esther's first cousin once removed. Amazingly, these two young ladies are a perfect match, both sharing the exact same 6 antigens! A priceless gift made even more special. Thank you, Katherine!
- Esther was hospitalized for the month of January and a week in March 2010 before she was diagnosed with Myfortic toxicity.
Posts
OUR THANKFUL LIST
- Esther's donor, Katherine, for her life-changing gift of a kidney!
- Katie's donor, Kelly, for her precious gift of a kidney!
- All the amazingly generous, caring, selfless people who have offered to donate, but who were unable to for various reasons. Thank you all for your willingness to give such an incredible gift!
- God's faithfulness to our family
- The many, many people all over the world who are praying for us
- Dr. Guillot, our awesome nephrologist
- Our great team of caring dialysis nurses who, time and again, go above and beyond
- Joanne, our dear friend who has faithfully disseminated our prayer requests
- Uncle Warren, our hero - how would we manage without you??
- That God preserved Samuel's life during the complications of his transplant
- The many, many delicious meals that have been made for us - what a blessing it has been!
- Our family, church family, and homeschooling community for their love, prayers, food, and financial gifts. We are so grateful!
BLOG ARCHIVE
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▼
2009
(27)
-
▼
September
(15)
- Happy Birthday, Samuel!
- Home Sweet Home
- Healing Up and Heading Home
- Pictures for Your Pleasure
- Saturday Update
- A Very Happy Kidney and a Peaceful Night
- A Happy Kidney and an Unhappy Girl
- The Wait is Over!
- The Long Wait
- Cleared For Take Off!
- New Day
- Rough Spot
- Surgery Complete!
- Surgery in Progress
- Exciting News!
-
▼
September
(15)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6,7
Philippians 4:6,7
4 comments:
Oh Nancy... I just read the last three entries.
What a rollercoaster you guys are on.
I just want to be one of the other people in your life mothering you! Here are hugs and soft strokings of your head and mumbles of "it's ok, it's ok"... which is what I do with my kids when their going through something rough.
And thank you to Kit for the good advice - as someone who tends to do to much - I know how valuable a friend who says, "say no" can be!
Hopefully Esther will forget much of what she went through last night, but unfortunately you won't. But by seeing the good in it, and focusing on Esther's sweet nature, you've redeemed some of those hours.
I keep wishing there was something we could do to help or that I could think of just the right words of encouragement.
but lacking eloquence I go with practical:
Don't forget your vitamins, drink lots of water and know you are all loved.
-Kelly
I sent her a little note. I hope that you get it!
Get well soon, Esther.
Lydia
Dearest Nancy, Stephen and I checked the blog tonight and both of us wept. We will say our prayers tonight holding you all in our hearts. I would sandwich you in a big hug. I have faith that this transplant will be helpful and worth all the trouble. There is so much in my heart that I wish I could say but there are not words good enough. I sent an email to Esther but I am not sure that I signed it. Give her a hug from me and one to Tom too. Much love, leslie
Hi Nancy, Esther and family, we are praying for you; Dear Father in heaven, please give Esther a peaceful and restful night. And grant the doctors skill and success in the transplant tomorrow. Hold Esther in your loving arms, Lord Jesus. In Your name, Amen.
Our love to you all, Anje D.
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