John and I made the 4 hour trek over the mountains to Portland yesterday after dialysis.
We had a great time, just the two of us. In the every rush and with all that has been going on we haven't had that time alone together. We made a decision not to let this happen again, and to plan time for just the two of us.
We met with Dr. Norman at OHSU, who is my assigned Transplant Surgeon. After being less than impressed when we all met in September, we were pleasantly surprised and decided we could handle working with him for the rest of our lives- til death do us part as it were :)
The best news is that he said GO! Everything they wanted done was done, and now we can get moving.
Needless to say, John and I were pretty giddy after that appointment. He made me stop giggling with joy til we got to the car. All the way home, I was doing the Happy dance!
OHSU Things to Do:
1) The are listing me on the UNOS waiting list (for a cadaver donor), and moving my wait time for the Denver Porter Adventist list. Since the OHSU average wait time is 2 years, and I have 3 years on the Denver listing- I shoot right to the TOP!
20 We will begin testing living donor candidates asap. Everyone who has expressed interest will be contact tonight and can begin calling OHSU tomorrow for pre-screening.
Pre-screening involves an over the phone health questionnaire, then a simple blood test where my blood and theirs are combined and cross-matched. If that is ok, then they will have a series of tests done locally to them and billed directly to my insurance.]
All this will lead up to a scheduled date for everyone to meet in Portland for transplant. The process, from the time a suitable candidate is found, is about 3 months to the actual surgery.
My hope is to transplant this summer.
______________________________
So, now we begin the task of locating candidates through several avenues, including the precious help from some of you that have agreed to post info on your blogs, websites and other Social Media. As well, several frineds are having this information given out during the annoucement time at the church. If you are interested, let me know and I can send you some information :) and THANKS!
_______________________________
We also begin the process of fundraising to cover the post transplant costs not covered by insurance.
This includes things like travel and lodging for the donor, my housing and support for the month or more I am required to stay in Portland after surgery, etc.
We are going to be using giveitforward.org for the fundraising efforts.
The fundraiser is located at:
http://www.giveforward.org/kidney4kelli/
(Our initial goal was to go through the National Transplant Assistance Fund), but things didn't work out with them, so we have change direction.)
_____________________________
This Friday, the 29th (my 45th birthday), I am going to do a segment on our local morning show "Good Morning Central Oregon" to talk about organ donation and the need for living donor candidates. W are so excited to have this forum to educate the public about this need- most people have never heard about this need, and don't understand about being a designated organ donor upon their death.
I think that is it from the Back camp.
Whew! Alot of information !
Thank you all for your continued support, emails, calls and everything! You all mean the world to this family.
Much love,
Kelli
We had a great time, just the two of us. In the every rush and with all that has been going on we haven't had that time alone together. We made a decision not to let this happen again, and to plan time for just the two of us.
We met with Dr. Norman at OHSU, who is my assigned Transplant Surgeon. After being less than impressed when we all met in September, we were pleasantly surprised and decided we could handle working with him for the rest of our lives- til death do us part as it were :)
The best news is that he said GO! Everything they wanted done was done, and now we can get moving.
Needless to say, John and I were pretty giddy after that appointment. He made me stop giggling with joy til we got to the car. All the way home, I was doing the Happy dance!
OHSU Things to Do:
1) The are listing me on the UNOS waiting list (for a cadaver donor), and moving my wait time for the Denver Porter Adventist list. Since the OHSU average wait time is 2 years, and I have 3 years on the Denver listing- I shoot right to the TOP!
20 We will begin testing living donor candidates asap. Everyone who has expressed interest will be contact tonight and can begin calling OHSU tomorrow for pre-screening.
Pre-screening involves an over the phone health questionnaire, then a simple blood test where my blood and theirs are combined and cross-matched. If that is ok, then they will have a series of tests done locally to them and billed directly to my insurance.]
All this will lead up to a scheduled date for everyone to meet in Portland for transplant. The process, from the time a suitable candidate is found, is about 3 months to the actual surgery.
My hope is to transplant this summer.
______________________________
So, now we begin the task of locating candidates through several avenues, including the precious help from some of you that have agreed to post info on your blogs, websites and other Social Media. As well, several frineds are having this information given out during the annoucement time at the church. If you are interested, let me know and I can send you some information :) and THANKS!
_______________________________
We also begin the process of fundraising to cover the post transplant costs not covered by insurance.
This includes things like travel and lodging for the donor, my housing and support for the month or more I am required to stay in Portland after surgery, etc.
We are going to be using giveitforward.org for the fundraising efforts.
The fundraiser is located at:
http://www.giveforward.org/kidney4kelli/
(Our initial goal was to go through the National Transplant Assistance Fund), but things didn't work out with them, so we have change direction.)
_____________________________
This Friday, the 29th (my 45th birthday), I am going to do a segment on our local morning show "Good Morning Central Oregon" to talk about organ donation and the need for living donor candidates. W are so excited to have this forum to educate the public about this need- most people have never heard about this need, and don't understand about being a designated organ donor upon their death.
I think that is it from the Back camp.
Whew! Alot of information !
Thank you all for your continued support, emails, calls and everything! You all mean the world to this family.
Much love,
Kelli
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