Do you ever get the feeling you
have been someplace, or the situation currently being
experienced has already been
experienced in the past? There is a phrase for it, and I’m sure
many of you know it. It’s Déjà
vu.
So New Year’s was 46 days ago. I
don’t know about you all, but I was kind of happy to see 2017
go to the past. How could I say
that when my daughter was born, which should trump anything else. Don’t get me wrong, amazing
time and so incredible to have her join our life. On the health front however, 2017 sucked ass.
The year started off great, work
was going well, and Lauren the house the dog were all good.
Found out on March 1 st that I
was going to be a dad. Spent a nice long weekend out in California the middle of that month for my
younger cousins wedding. It was after this trip that things started to go a little sideways. On the
Monday after returning from California, I went to MGH for a follow up from the surgery in 2011. It
was a long weekend without the clean eating and a little too much fun with my cousins, so the
planning aspect wasn’t great. As one would expect, the numbers were a little off. My
Dr., who is the same one as before the surgery in 2011 thought it would be best to get a biopsy
done to verify that everything is okay. On March 22nd , myself and Lauren headed to MGH for the
biopsy, I procedure that I have had 5-6 times prior to this one with no issues. You see where I’m
going already, I know you do. The procedure wasn’t done in the same place, and it wasn’t the
same doc doing it, but it’s MGH and I’m in the department that does this all the time so I’m
good. After the procedure you have to lay flat for 4 hours with a saline bag on where they went in
to make sure there is no bleeding. After which you are free to sit up, walk around and that’s
usually when I would be able to leave. After laying down for that long I had to go to the bathroom.
I will spare you the details but needless to say it was discovered that an artery was
nicked during the procedure. That quickly turned going home to getting comfortable in a hospital
bed on Blake 6. I ended up having to go for an ultrasound, a CT scan of my stomach as well as
some other procedures to stabilize what was going on. As a result, things started to back up
into my kidneys more and cause them distress. I ended up being admitted from that day
through Saturday. Went to work Tuesday through Thursday and was watching the Bruins that
night. Went to go to the bathroom before bed and couldn’t go. I kind of knew what was going on,
so back to MGH and into the ER I go. It was discovered that I had a blockage caused but the
hole in the artery that started bleeding again. A number of small procedures were done trying to
free up the blockage, but something still had to be done about the bleed. The following
afternoon, I went in for a procedure that I have never had, or thought I would for that matter. They sent
a cardiac catheter into the artery in my left groin and drove that son of a bitch right up to the
kidney and stopped the bleed. Crazy to think about, and not the most comfortable either. That
stay took me until the following Tuesday with the rest of that week off to recover.
Fast forward to the fall. I
started getting an infusion of IVIG to try to slow the progression of antibodies that were found on the
results of the biopsy. Sorry I forgot to mention that before, got lost in the shit show that
followed. I had a total of 7 infusions over the course of a few months carrying into 2018. During one of
the infusions, while talking with my nephrologist, she said something that both surprised me
and caught me well off guard. She mentioned, in passing mind you, that it is probably a
good idea to start thinking about possible donors. Wait, what did she just say? I could have sworn
I heard it wrong so I didn’t even ask her to clarify at the time. I mean, I knew I wasn’t in the best
shape from a kidney health stand point but I thought it was just a hiccup and that everything
would settle out and I would be fine for another 6+ years.
So why did I talk about Déjà vu
to start off this post? Seems weird right, that I haven’t referenced it one time yet. Well,
here you go. Officially on 1/12/2018, I was added back on to the UNOS organ transplant wait
list. A number of different blood chemistry numbers had to get to certain points in order for
this to happen. It seems like just yesterday I was starting the process with MGH the first time
in 2008. I can actually still picture the room, My doctor, Nina Rubin who is amazing by the way,
my mom and dad were also both there. I was pretty nervous that first day and wanted no part
of anything experimental. Now all I want to do is help out and do all the studies that I can.
The upside to having another transplant so soon from the first one, I know, and remember everything
that is coming. How shitty I can feel before, how I am going to feel after. All of it. And now I
have Madison to keep me going with her constant smiles and ever growing personality. Will the
next few months leading up to and just following the surgery be a little tougher this time around?
I’m sure they will be with coordinating Madison and work, and Lauren’s work, keeping up the
house (I know that Lauren does most of it but I help)
I am never sure how to share this
kind of news. You all helped me in one way or another get though the first one. I know I am
going to need you again this time around as well. I am sorry for the long post, but I didn’t want
to share this, and have it be like, “Hey bitches I’m back and need another kidney, mic drop and
done.” Many of you know all that took place last year but more of you didn’t.
Please don’t hesitate to reach
out and ask any questions or just call to gab….. I know there is a
delete button but I like sounding
like a mom from the 80’s or 90’s.
One love to you all.
