Rick is Home

After another chest x-ray yesterday, they let Rick come home. He has to blow into this tube a few times per day to keep his lungs working and he has to go back to get a CT in 4-6 weeks. Other that that- it is an answered prayer! On Saturday, they actually moved him to the transplant floor- I guess because they want any transplant patients on the floor, no matter how long it has been. The funny thing, it was like going from the Super 8 hotel to a Ritz. His first room was small, old, nothing on the walls, and a view of the former courtyard that is now enclosed by buildings. He moved to a view of the bay and Raymond James Stadium, a room with a couch, a chair, pictures and a clock on the wall, and one nurse to every 3-5 patients! Too bad he only got that room for the last 24 hours! I told him to request that earlier if he has to go in again... which he won't... but just in case. :)

We do have to change our summer plans, we were going to go camping (which Rick did not want to really do anyway) and the doctor told him that was out- we can go to the beach, but not to camp! That sounds good to me!

The Real Problem

I was able to drive over to see Rick today. My dear sister kept my kids all day! Finally, we saw the pulmonary doctor. Luckily I was there to ask the right questions and hear the answers! The first thing is that the chest x-ray did not really show the pneumonia but did show something. The CT scan they did showed the pneumonia, so if that had not been done, they would not have known he even had it! It is in his lower right lung and probably in the left. The main problem is that transplant patients sometimes get different strands of illnesses that cannot be treated the same way. So he is in the hospital for three more days, waiting to see if he has the common form of pneumonia and if these antibiotics work. If they do not work (if his symptoms do not go away by Sunday), he will have to have a procedure to get a sample of what is in his lungs on Monday. So keep praying that his lungs will clear and he can come home Monday.

So He Had to be Admitted

Rick was admitted to the hospital at 3:00 am and the ER dr. said he thought it looked like he had bronchitis. So we were hopeful he would come home today. They did a CT and it turns out he has pneumonia. He has to stay tonight to get IV antibiotics. The nurse told him it would be once a day for four days! He saw a doctor this morning, but no since, so he told them he wanted the doctor to come see him tonight... and he still has not, even though it is 9:00 pm. It is very frustrating because the nurse tells you answers that may not be the correct answer and the doctor cannot be found to give the correct answer. Also, Rick did not want me to drive over there since I had the kids, so now he is lonely since he has not seen us for a day! So tomorrow we will make the drive and visit for a little while. Hopefully this won't be a long stay!

Just to vent about Emergency Rooms

My dear husband had to go to the emergency room tonight- not what we would consider and emergency, but his doctor told him to go straight there. Although "there" was two hours away in another city. With his kidney transplant, he has a doctor here, but the transplant hospital is in Tampa. He may have an infection in his lungs, his medicine has been making him feel funny, and he has lost some weight since they changed his meds. All signs of concern, but this has been going on for two weeks or so, he has been going to work, and is functioning. So of course he has to go because the doctor said so. SO here it is 1:23 am, 8 hours after the doctor told him to go, and he has STILL NOT SEEN THE DOCTOR! First, he had to drive (and stop to get something to eat thank goodness!), then he had to be admitted and seen by triage, then he had to wait. Since he was not critical (and could have waited until tomorrow when the doctors were working!) he was pushed back from getting an ER room. Finally at 11:30 pm he got a room. He had to give some blood, get the second x-ray of the day, and wait. I just called and he still has not seen a doctor. How is it possible that this was an emergency!!!!!! I am going to try to go to sleep now and wait for his call to tell me if they are keeping him or releasing him or if anything is even wrong. He will not drive back tonight, but do you think anyone there is offering him a place to stay! No hotel rooms at the hospital. Fortunately my parents have a home 30-45 minutes from there, but still- what time will it be when he has to drive?????

Okay now, I am done venting. I will update later this morning on his condition... if I am not over there.

A one year anniversary!

Yesterday was a very special day. It was the one year anniversary of my husband's kidney transplant. And for those that don't know me, my mom gave my husband a kidney! He has had a wonderful year without any problems or complications. He and my mom recovered well, although he was out and about in a week and she took a few more weeks to feel somewhat normal. The whole story is amazing, with the most amazing being that Rick and I were a blind date, my mom could not stand him at first, but grew to love him. She was the first to get tested for compatibility and matched. She was 54 when she donated. Rick has polycystic kidney disease which make the kidneys grow with cyst that take over the kidney function. He had his transplant at Lifelink in Tampa, Florida. He continues to have doctor's visits and blood drawn, but other than that, you would never know- unless you knew him before and he looks so much better now! If you are ever confronted with a relative or friend in need of a kidney transplant, don't let fear stop you from being tested. A person needing a kidney transplant can wait for years. Check her for the Living Donor FAQ. As of today at 9:55 pm, there are over 95,816 people waiting for transplants. You also find info on being a donor at http://organdonor.gov/.
And, by the way, PKD is a genetic condition and fairly common. My kids could both have, and I pray that they don't. But I will be ready to hand over a kidney if the time comes!