April – Iowa Donor Month – Donate Life
No, we haven’t run away, although we have been tempted! It
has been much quieter around here since we last blogged – thank goodness!
Charlie has been back on the transplant list for over a month, but no calls! We
did meet with the transplant surgeon and the transplant coordinator nurse last
week just to get caught up etc. The
surgeon reviewed Charlie’s latest scans and talked over the proposed transplant
and we just generally quizzed him about several things. Charlie is number one
for O’s – they said that they had transplanted several A’s, but no O’s. They are very surprised that we have been
here this long waiting – no kidding!! We did feel good about the meeting and
keep thinking soon, soon, soon!!
The problem that Charlie is having now is the fluid buildup
(ascities) in the abdomen - about every two weeks he has been going in and
having the fluid tapped off (paracentesis.) He has been having between 8 to 10
pounds taken off each time! Gee, he is having a baby every two weeks – the days
preceding his getting this procedure done, he is very uncomfortable – kind of
like a woman in the last month of pregnancy – his back hurts terribly! He feels
so much better as soon as the procedure is done. Another problem is that he is so tired all
the time – he is exercising most every day, but he sure does take good naps
every day. So the goal is just maintaining the status quo and continuing to
exercise!
Charlie’s sister, Diane, came for a week in March. It was so
good for Charlie to have her here and to get a little break from my intense scrutiny!
Since Charlie was doing well and his sister was here, I went to Des Moines
overnight for a get together with school friends! It was so GREAT to get away
and we had such a good time playing cards, laughing, and sharing about old
times.
Spring is having a hard time coming to Iowa – today was only
40 and I know it was much colder with the wind chill. There is a little green
starting to show on lawns, but not a whole lot. The weather report does show it
getting warmer and rain, which is very much needed. Got to get the ground ready
for the corn crops!
It is donor month here, I am not sure if this is nationwide,
but please do talk to friends and relatives about getting registered to be an
organ donor! As of April 5th,
127,966 people are waiting for an organ transplant nationwide. 16,472 are
waiting for livers, 102,566 for kidneys, 1,197 for pancreas, 2,205 for Kidney/Pancreas,
3,509 for a heart, 1,705 for a lung, 49 for heart/lung, and 263 for an
intestine! It is truly a tragedy that so many organs are not allowed to be
used! Please do help to get this message out – it is a matter of life and death
for 127,966!
A big hi to all of you - we miss you!
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