2 Weeks Post Op

October 24, 2011

It has been a little over 2 weeks since surgery and things are great!  I had my follow up visit with my surgeon today.  He said everything looks good and I am cleared to go back to work.  I will return to work next week.  I can also begin some light exercise…Yeah!  However, I was told to hold off on running and weight lifting until after the Holidays.  I don’t quite feel like my old self yet, but I am feeling a little better every day.  I am still sore and have trouble getting comfortable at night.  I also have uncontrollable itching in my abdomen.  Yes….IN my abdomen, it is feeling that is hard to explain.  It feels like an itch deep inside that I cannot scratch….drives me crazy!!  And, I seem to get tired pretty easily.  I am sure it will take time to feel 100%, but overall I am feeling really good!

We had a busy weekend!  Ian’s 7^th Birthday party was on Saturday.  He loves baseball and of course wanted a party at the batting cages.  He invited his entire baseball team, it was so much fun!  My sweet sister Sarah came in town a few days early to help me get everything ready for the party.  She was a HUGE help, I could not have done it without her!!  The day before the party, Sarah taxied me around to get some last minute things.  We went to several stores and I was getting pretty tired.  Sarah somehow talked me into riding on the electric scooter at Target…Ha-Ha!  Yes, I was a scooter person....still can’t believe I did that!  But, it did make for a nice shopping trip!  I was able to go back to church on Sunday.  I was so excited to worship and praise God for his amazing blessings!

Ian's Birthday Party



I am happy to report that Gary is also doing very well!  His creatine is down to 2.3!  He is still going in 3 days a week for check-ups.  He is looking forward to having his staples taken out very soon.  He is still sore, but feeling great!  I feel overwhelmed when I step back and think about God’s amazing love.  I read a quote today that is my new favorite, “Faith is not believing God can it is knowing that he will.”

1 week Post-Op

October 14, 2011

Well, it has already been one week since surgery.  Gary and I are both doing great!  The first 3 or 4 days after surgery were pretty rough.  I was in quite a bit of pain.  I was also dealing with a lack of appetite and nausea.  It’s amazing the difference a week makes; I am feeling so much better.  I am starting to get my appetite and my strength back.  I am also able to move around a lot better.  I am trying to take it easy and am starting to feel a little better every day. Gary seems to be recovering really well also!  He has appointments 3 days a week to make sure everything is functioning properly.  Gary’s creatine (waste product filtered out through the kidneys) is slowly going down.  Before surgery his level was at 9.9 and today is down to 3.5!  I think the Doctors wish it would come down a little faster. However, if we have learned anything in this process it’s that everything will happen in God’s time.  The important thing is that Gary’s new kidney is functioning!  I am certain that our Mighty God will continue to do His work & take care of the rest!

Just some “strange” things I have noticed since surgery……..I have a weird tingling feeling in the spot where my kidney used to be.  It is similar to the feeling when your hand or foot fall asleep, but on my insides….a little strange feeling.  Not sure if this will go away or not.  Also, my desire for sweets has almost disappeared.  For those of you who know me, you know that I have always had a major sweet tooth.  However, since surgery sweets do not sound good to me at all.   Before we left the hospital, Gary’s blood sugar jumped way up.  Gary and I joked that he got my “sweet kidney”.  Ha-ha!  I am sure my love for sweets will return someday!  Please continue to pray for Gary as he recovers!  Pray that his new kidney will continue functioning and his creatine level will go down! 

With all my heart I will praise the LORD.  Psalm 34:2

Surgery was a Success!!

October 10, 2011

Well, the big day came and went.  The past few days have been such a whirlwind!  My sweet twin sister, Sarah, sent me a recap of surgery day and recovery.  Since, I was obviously out of it I was happy to read what took place.  Here is what Sarah wrote:

Thursday, October 6th

5:15am-Meet with Gary and Christy to pray before checking in.

6:00am-Go back to wait in Pre-OP. Aniesthiologist and nurse try several times to get IV in and don't have any success. They decide to wait to try again after they get you into the operating room.

Brad & I

Sarah & I before surgery

7:30am- Head back to the Operating Room. Family and friends wait in the waiting room and anxiously watch the monitors to change color and tell us if you are still in surgery or not. You were in OR 25 and Gary was in OR 24.

In deep thought before surgery



10:20am- The surgery is finished. The surgeon comes out to the waiting area to tell us you are out of surgery and resting in recovery. He showed us the pictures of your kidney and tells us everything went well. He said they will be starting Gary's surgery soon. We had to wait about another hour before we could go back and see you in recovery.

11:30am- Brad, Sarah and Mom go back to recovery to see you. You were SO tired. They are getting ready to put you on oxygen because you were really struggling to breathe. The nurse tells us that the drugs they gave you during surgery made your body so relaxed and tired that it was difficult for you take big deep breaths and that was causing your oxygen level to be very low. The first thing you said was "how's Gary?" We told you he was still in surgery but good. Then you told me that you were "just too tired to breathe!" umm..that is scary...I told you that was all you had to do right now so you needed to just do it! They tell us it will be another hour or two before you can leave recovery.

1:00pm- Gary is out of surgery. The surgeon comes back out to the waiting are and everyone huddles around him to hear the news. It was so exciting to hear that everything went great and the kidney was already producing urine. Gary was moved to ICU to recover. Brad tried to go back and see you in recovery to tell you but they wouldn't let him back again so the nurse let him call you and tell you.

2:00pm- Brad and I go back to recovery to check on you. You tell me that it is too noisy to get any sleep and that all the machines are too loud. You want me to take your Blue surgery cap off and try to fix your hair....that was impossible!! Mom and Christy go back to see you next. We are told you will have to stay in recovery until your oxygen level comes up and that your kidney is still tired and hasn't produced urine yet. So your dr. tells us they are just going to be very cautious and it will probably be a couple of more hours until you can go to a room.

4:00pm- Mom and Brad go back to see you in recovery again and tell you that they are leaving to pick up the boys from school. I am sitting in the waiting room.

5:00pm- Christy goes back to check on you. I was feeling very anxious because you were still in recovery. While I was alone in the waiting room a woman comes up to me and starts talking. She said she didn't have any family or friends to visit at the hospital she just goes to the waiting rooms throughout the hospital to pray for the families and ask God to give them peace. She then had everyone in the waiting room standing in a circle for a big prayer. At the time I was thinking it was of course very nice or her but she was very eccentric and I was kind of thinking what is going on here? Then when we were done praying I felt a great sense of comfort and was ready to continue waiting.

6:45pm- I go back to check on you in recovery again and you are breathing much better now. The nurse tells me that you will be moved very soon to room 1214. I go get your overnight bag and head straight to your room to wait for you.

7:30pm- After over 8 hours in recovery, you are finally out of recovery and settled into room 1214. They had to put you back on oxygen because you are still having trouble breathing. The nurse tells me to keep an eye on the monitor and if your oxygen number goes below 90 to have you put your oxygen tubes back on. Well, that made for a very unrestful night. I kept waking you up to tell you the number and tell you to put the oxygen back on. A couple of times you would wake me up to ask me if the number was low. The rest of the night was kind of a blur because the nurses would come in almost every 30 mins or every hour to wake you up and check blood and vitals and ask questions. They brought you a liquid diet for dinner which you could not eat. You had a couple of bites of a frozen fruit cup.

Friday, October 7th

4:30am- A nurse comes in and says it is time to start trying to wean you off of the oxygen so to only use it if you are needing it. He also brings the breathing thing (not sure what it is called). He wants you to try blowing on it...that was not happening at all.

7:30am- You become very nauseous and very cranky. Definitely not feeling good and you are in a lot of pain. You kept saying you wanted to get out of the bed and you felt like no one was listening to you. We soon find out why you are feeling so bad and cranky...your blood sugar level was extremely low…only 40! They give you glucose in your IV and make you drink 2 cups of OJ. Then your blood sugar level is back to normal at 117. They give you pain pills and you are much more comfortable. You were so hungry and they brought you another liquid diet for breakfast. You didn't eat any of it.

10:30am- You want so badly to get out of bed and sit up. With lots of help and using all the energy you had you make it to sitting up on the side of the bed to change clothes.

1:00pm- You get to eat a couple bites of a sandwich and chips for lunch. This combined with the water you drank causes major belly bloating. You finally are able to get out of bed and sit in a chair. This makes you very tired and very nauseous. Catheter is out now and you try to go pee. No success. You go back to bed for a nap.

4:00pm- You get more pain pills and have not used the pain pump all day. You seem to be feeling a lot better just extremely tired and sore. You have some visitors during the day and receive lots of nice flowers.

Surgery day is mostly a big blur to me.  However, I do remember bits and pieces…. I remember them not being able to get an IV started and I had to go into the OR without the “goofy juice”, as Gary calls it.  I did not like that at all; I was laying in the OR and the Dr. tells me, “Vanessa, you are going to sleep now.”  She placed a breathing mask on me and tears just rolled down my face.  That’s the last thing I remember until recovery.  I do recall Brad telling me that Gary’s surgery was a success and his new kidney was already producing urine!!  I was so relieved, so thankful, so overjoyed! Brad said I responded with 5 words, “Oh Praise God…..Praise God.”  I was able to see Gary the day following surgery; it was amazing to see how great he was doing!!  Due to my low blood sugar and lack of energy, the Docs decided to keep me an extra day.  I was finally able to go home around 530pm on Sunday.  I am so happy to be home and sleep in my own bed.  Gary should be released from the hospital this evening.

I am so very grateful for the love and support of my family during surgery and the days following.  My mom was a huge help with the boys, they had a blast with Meme. My sister gave up time with her children to stay with me at the hospital and take excellent care of me.  And of course, my wonderful husband Brad, who has supported me through all of this.  My sweet mother and father-in-law are headed up tomorrow to help out for a few days. We are so blessed to have all of you!! I cannot find the exact words to express how ecstatic I am that surgery was a success! I know we had awesome doctors, but I truly give all the glory to God! I will thank you daily LORD for you unfailing Love!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

Surgery is Tomorrow!

October 5, 2011

Tomorrow is the Big Day!!!  I am full of emotions tonight.  I am unbelievably excited!  I don’t know if any one will ever fully understand my excitement.  It’s still hard to believe that God chose me for this amazing journey!  I’m overwhelmed when I think about God’s love for me; I feel so blessed to be a part of this.  I can honestly say that following God’s plan for my life has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.  My prayer for tomorrow is that God would be glorified!!  If anything can come from this journey I truly hope that God will be the hero!  I pray that He guide the surgeons and allow everything to go smoothly.  I pray that Gary’s body accept my kidney and begin functioning for him. I have faith that God will be with Gary and me every step of the way tomorrow.  We had a slight change; the surgery will now take place at 7am.  I know that God has planned all of this.....right down to the exact day and time of surgery!!

Your love, LORD, reaches to the Heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Psalm 36:5

Praise God

October 3, 2011

Surgery is back on!  We are all set for Thursday at 11am!!  After a long day of testing and doctor appointments we finally got the news that we are good to move forward with surgery.   I had more blood work and an ultrasound today.  The doctor is fairly certain that I have Gilbert’s disease.  This is a hereditary disease that has to do with the way my body processes billirubin.  It is not at all harmful.  I am so thankful to Gary and Christy who both were so sweet to keep me company for my long day of testing!  Thank you to everyone for your prayers!  I knew God’s plan would continue for us, it just had to be in His time!

For his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22

The Peace of God Transcends All Understanding

September 29, 2011

Just wanted to give a quick update, I have an appointment scheduled Monday with a Hepatologist (liver doc).  I am still waiting to have an ultrasound and lab work scheduled.  We are praying that all tests can be done and come back fine next week.  If so, we could be rescheduled for surgery as early as Thursday.  But, as we are learning this will all happen on God’s time.  I am a bit of a controller and I like for things to be very planned out.  I have to admit, this is a challenge for me to give up control and allow God to fully work in my life!  Today was a bit of a struggle for me.  Every time I looked at the clock, I would think what would have been happening at that moment had surgery taken place as planned.  I know Gary is meant to have my kidney…...just not today.  We have to allow God’s plan to fall into place in His own time!

Gary shared some amazing scriptures with me that have brought him comfort today.  Jeremiah 29:11-13, Romans 8:26-28, Psalm 42, Psalm 46, and the last verse:

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:4-7

While we may never fully understand the mysterious will of God, we must fully trust the will of our God!

I would also like to report that my sweet friend Dana’s surgery today was a success!  PRAISE GOD!! Jennifer’s new kidney is producing urine & functioning!  Jennifer and Dana are both doing well.  I am so thankful that God has blessed them with this miracle today!  Please continue prayers for them as they recover.

Setback

September 28, 2011

Today was a very disappointing day…..surgery has been put on hold.  I don’t know if I can put into words how I am feeling right now.  I had an appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Campsen, to ask any last minute questions.  Everything seemed fine while I was in his office.  However, on my way home I got a phone call from Dr Campsen.  He asked if I could come back to his office to discuss my lab results.  It turns out that I had an elevated bilirubin count.  Bilirubin is produced when the liver beaks down old red blood cells.  A high bilirubin count can mean several things.  Dr. Campsen said for me it could mean one of 3 things, it could be stress induced (obviously I am stressed), It could mean something is wrong with my gall bladder, or it could be something called Gilbert’s disease.  If stress is causing my billirubin count to be elevated, they are concerned how my body would handle the stress of surgery.  Dr. Campsen said if the liver becomes so stressed during surgery it could cause my liver to fail.  If it is my gallbladder they will have to remove it before we can proceed with surgery. The last possibility, Gilbert’s disease is the one that I am actually hoping for.  Gilbert’s disease is disorder that affects about 5% of the population; it causes elevated bilirubin counts without being a danger. If it is Gilbert’s disease, we could proceed with surgery in the very near future.  So, I need to have MORE testing done.  I am waiting to hear back from Dr. Campsen’s office on when exactly my test will be scheduled.  They are hoping to have me come in sometime in the next few days for an ultrasound of my gall bladder and bile ducts; and of course more blood work.  I will meet with a hematologist on Monday; he will review my results and determine if we can move forward with surgery.  If cleared, we could have surgery next Thursday.  While I am thankful that the Doctors want to make certain that everything is safe and not put Gary or I in any danger, I am devastated. 

Gary and I both had appointments with the surgeon today.  When I saw Gary this morning he had just come from dialysis.  I said to him, “I bet you are excited that you just had your last dialysis!”  Needless to say, it was heartbreaking when I had to call Gary and tell him the bad news.  I feel horrible for Gary and his family; I can only imagine what they must be feeling. Gary and Christy are two of the most positive people I know.  They both assured me that God is in control and everything will go according to His plan.  The doctor did tell me that he still feels I am a great candidate for surgery and he feels that everything will be fine.  I told him, “I know everything will be fine because God has called me to do this and I know that Gary is meant to have my kidney.”  I know God’s plan will continue for Gary & me and I am certain there is a reason for this.  This was an emotionally draining day for both my family and the McNeil’s.  I am asking that everyone please pray hard for Gary and me!! I know that God is in control, but I feel He is testing my faith.  I am trying to stay strong and give it all to God!!

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”  Mathew 11:28

Today was not all bad; I did get the pleasure of meeting Dana. Dana is the sweet woman I met through my blog who is also a donor.  I know God makes no mistakes and I am certain he crossed mine and Dana’s paths for a reason.  Dana is a very special woman who has a heart for God.  Dana will have surgery tomorrow.  Please keep her and Jennifer in your prayers!!

Me and My new dear friend Dana