kidneys anyone?

hello all!

here's what a lot of you have been waiting for:

1. i had my evaluation today to make sure i was a good candidate for a transplant. although both doctors i spoke with said that i can pretty much be on the list starting today, they still need to officially decide as a team (including the social worker, dietitian and nurses). so that's great! also found out more about the surgery (and post surgery specifics). basically, i have to take medicine the rest of my life, but hopefully i can find a living donor before i go on dialysis. and this leads me to my next part...

2. the testing can begin! if you feel like being tested to be a donor match, please follow these instructions:

i. call 'donor hotline' at my hospital (1-210-575-4483; Mon-Fri, 8-430p)

ii. if you do not live in san antonio, you are able to begin the process over the phone

a. a brief medical history is taken

b. they ask if you would like to be a part of the DONOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM (i will explain this program after i finish the whole process)

iii. if you pass the initial screening, they ask you for simple blood work

iv. if you do not live in san antonio, they can send a blood kit to you to have done at a lab close to your house and the results are sent to my hospital

v. my hospital will contact you in one-two weeks with results of whether or not you are a match

3. DONOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM -- this is a unique program at my hospital where, in case one of my friends or family is not a match for myself, they can be entered into this program. once in this program, you will be matched with other patients at my hospital. if you are matched with anyone else in my hospital, then you can donate your kidney to them ONLY if they have a donor that can donate a kidney to myself. in this case, you are still able to donate a kidney to me, just not yours. make sense?

4. please spread the word about this process to anyone that has expressed interest in donating! the more people who donate, the better chance i have to get a kidney sooner.

a few last minute things -- a kidney from a living donor will last MUCH longer (probably even 10 years longer) than if i wait and get one from the waiting list (deceased donor). also, i have a few packets with a whole lot of info about donating/surgery. i only have a few, but they are really helpful in case you find out you're a match or you want to do the exchange program. let me know if you want one!

i will post tomorrow about the physical surgery details.

love you all and as always, post questions and i'll answer them!

cam