Give A Kidney & Part Of A Liver
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Well, so far I’ve managed to stay home a whole week!

Thursday, June 27th, was a follow-up visit to the surgeon’s office where they took out the sutures. I was also examined, weighed and measured as if I was going to be mounted on a wall somewhere. I still have to stay out of the pool for extended times. I can just jump in to cool off, but have to get out after a minute or so. There is still very little pain and some discomfort. I am often very tired, but really don’t nap for more the 15 – 20 minutes. I’m told by the surgeon that my body if focusing most of the energy on healing the incision and mending my muscles back together. I can expect to feel tired often for a couple of months.

I am planning on using this first week of July to rest and get caught up on little things around here. But the following week, I need to get working again. Many people are thinking: “Don’t bother him, let him rest”. I am fine! I really don’t need to lift heavy objects or do anything strenuous. Most of my work is mental and very little physical. So, I need to work and I will rest when I am tired. I am fine!

I did go out a few times this week to some small events or just out. It was better to sit out with other people than to just sit around here. Plus, it’s good to move around. I do need to take in more liquids than I have been. I can tell in the morning when I wake up with a headache, which I never used to get, that I am dehydrated and try to drink as much water possible.

For those who didn’t know, I started this journey weighing in at just over 200 lbs. and am now down to 175. That’s a hell of a weight loss program. I do have an appetite and want to eat, but I also know that I must go slowly. The couple of times I either ate too much or too late, I then had a terrible night trying to sleep. I’m beginning to feel like a much older person, ‘Where’s the early bird special?’

At a Chamber event this week, a lady there said: “You better get yourself back in bed.” Of course, my response was: “I love it when you say that to me.”

I don’t know what’s going on. Just let me sleep!

After a few sleepless nights and one painful one, I call the transplant office (Friday, June 15) and they told me to come right in. After a few more pokes & prods, and x-rays, I was admitted right then back to Hartford Hospital. I changed into the hospital uniform of the day and just let them do to me what they wanted. I was severely dehydrated, so it took a few tries to start an I.V. line. Next, a tube was inserted though my nose and down to my stomach. I this point, I didn’t care what was being done to me. I really remember only a few things. I do remember having to drink a large amount of contrast liquid for a cat-scan. The cat-scan couldn’t happen before 11 PM, but right after that, back in my room, they started pumping my stomach. A few minutes later the doctor told me they need to get me into the O.R. ‘Right Now!’ I just remember the ‘scared’ look everyone had in their eyes. As I was being rushed along, someone asked me if they should call anyone. It was already midnight and I really didn’t want anyone awakened, plus my daughter was the one who brought me in, so she knew I was admitted. I just reinstated that there is living will there and if anything happens, they better harvest every organ possible.

Once again I woke to more abdominal pain. Here we go again, only this was a much larger incision. The hospital is really not the place to get rest. Every few hours they wake you for ‘vitals’. Again, I really don’t remember much of the first few days. I was staying on North 11 this time and that is the transplant wing. I did encounter people whom attended to the recipient, Eileen, when she was there the week earlier. They all perked up whenever they spoke of her and just how happy and energetic she was. Again, it was very good to here just what a big deal this was and continues to be. Not just for her or me, but to countless others that are touched directly or indirectly by all this. I am still blown away by this. I still look at it as a relatively small inconvenience for me. In a few short months I will be back, and that time is a drop in the bucket compared to the years of a better life for Eileen.

I broke out of HH around 8 PM Friday, the 22th and am holding up at my place for now. I am so looking forward to real rest and jetting back to doing what I do. Someday I’ll figure that one out!

By Ted

The escape was last night at around 8 PM.

The goal now is to lay by the pool and catch up on some rest.

So now, and hopefully for the last time, I turn the site back over to Harry. I’m sure there will be some interesting new posts coming soon.

By Ted

Yes, today is Harry’s birthday. I know we all wish him the best.

As many of you know Harry is still a guest of Hartford Hospital. Not the best way to spend a Birthday. As is often the case one complication just leads to another. He must be feeling a little better since he is using the phone to call people.

So Happy Birthday Harry and we hope you get home soon.

By Ted

On Friday Harry was readmitted to the hospital. There was a complication and additional surgery was required.

I’m happy to report underneath the various tubes and bandages he appears to be doing well. I stopped by and found Juan reading him the Sunday newspaper, though I’m not sure Harry was awake.

Harry hopes to go home tomorrow, but the doctors may have a different idea.

As we find more information we will post it here. As before, if anyone should have news please add a comment and we will be sure it is published.

Around May 24th or 25th I got an interesting telephone call.

“Mr. Kiernan, I represent a person of substantial means who is a match for your kidney. And would like to make sure you are taken care of should you elect my client to receive it.”

Then proceeded to tell me what the believed my mortgage balance to be. My daughter’s college tuition and other liabilities were factored in.

I just sat there listening and being totally shocked. Of course, when this happens, you really don’t hear half of what is being said to you.

I’m really not sure of exactly what I had said to him except “I can’t do that. Someone has already been matched with me and I couldn’t do that to them.”

After a nice exchange of other words, the call ended.

Shortly after, my daughter entered the room and I had told her about the call.

“That’s freaky!” was her reply.

After digesting everything for a few minutes, here is what I came up with:

If this was truly a person of substantial means, they would have the means to know about the list and our match. Also since I had just refinanced my mortgage last year, the amount is public record. It would be safe to guess that not much of the balance would be paid down within one year.

Also knowing my daughter is in college, it is again not difficult to assume tuition cost. And throw in a bit more for good measure.

The second scenario is there is some type of reporter doing a story on this and trying to see just what kind of person I am, or just trying to discredit me.

My Blog Guru, Ted, suggested I wait until after the procedure before posting this.

I’m still not sure if this is something to posted. I need your comments on this as to determine if I should keep this post active.

Thank you!

Thanks Ted, for keeping everyone (or is that just one) informed.

I went back and made entries for the past few days. So, go back and see what I thought I remembered.

I woke up this morning very concerned. Yesterday was the only day I did not get a visit from the family. I hoped nothing was wrong with her. I know I couldn’t inquire directly and I also did not want to make her uncomfortable. So, I had inquired indirectly, with no response.

I am trying to make more than a few laps around the floor every two hours. The more I walked, the better I felt.

Time crawls so slowly when you’re waiting.

I was laying there and I get three visitors, Jess, Jim and the neighbor. I told them of my concern and they assured me everything is just fine. We spent a good half hour joking around. It is important to me that they know I’m just fine. Actually, this whole experience has made me a whole lot more then just fine.

I then commented on the neighbor’s Red Sox shirt: “Red Sox?!”

Jess replied: “Dad, now Mom’s going to go out and get a Yankees shirt and start dancing around the house. I heard the recipient takes on some of the traits of the donor.”

I told the other two they had to leave the room for a minute. When they closed the door, I said: “Jim, she’s going to want a lot of ???”.

We both laughed and he said:”THANKS!”

My doctor came by around 3:00 and said: “Go Home!”

Katie was already on her way up with her boyfriend, Jay. They had with them, a bag of clothes I had packed Tuesday.

We were finally able be get out of there around 5:00, after all the proper paperwork was filled out. Jay drove us home and felt bad every time he hit a little bump in the road.

I was gone for such a short period of time, some people didn’t even relies I was gone. I was able to walk around outside without a problem. Stairs also were not an issue at all. There really isn’t much pain at all, just some discomfort.

Here’s a lesson, when they take out the catheter, stop the non-stop of IV fluids. Every hour I had to get up. So guess what? Again, another sleepless night. When can I go home and get some rest.

Some friends came by today and I’m trying to get up and walk a lot more today. You get a soar butt from laying on it all day.

The IV started bleeding today so I convinced them to leave it out. Everything is working just fine.

Looks like Sunday is the day.

by Ted

Harry is doing even better today. His doctors report that ‘both’ of his kidneys are working fine. Just not in the same room. That’s great news!

People have been stopping by and his guest book is filling up. Flowers are also lining the window sill.

He is also taking strolls around the 8th floor around every 2 hours or so. So if you stop by and he’s not home don’t panic, hang out and he will wander back in.

It’s still up in the air about when he will be going home. Ask Harry and it’s tomorrow, the doctors may have a different idea. It appears that he is actually listening to what they are saying. Wonders never cease.

I printed and delivered all your comments and words of encouragement when I stopped by. He was touched and quite a few made him smile.

As we know more we will add it here.

Hey it’s Friday and I’m still here! Everything is still the same with the exception of me finally getting some sleep last night. I don’t think I had a choice anyway. The catheter came out today and that means no bag, so my entourage is shrinking. My friend, Steve, brought Katie up to see me today (she had not been feeling well, so I suggested she stay home). It was good to see her. Scott also came by again, this time with Italian Ice. That is probably one the best things you can have at this time. Some one else brought some good dark chocolate. All ten pieces didn’t even last 24 hours. They also were another good thing to have.

We were all there when Jess came into the room with her father. Immediately, I sat up to greet them. I didn’t want them to think I was in pain or discomfort. I also took Jim’s hand with both of my hands and said: “Jim, this is alright. This is just a temporary condition that is only going to get better every day. I’m glad your wife is doing great and getting better. It is truly my honor to be able to do this for your family”.

They showed all of us a picture that I believe was about fifteen years old, and her mother was smiling. She said her mother is smiling like that again. They went on to tell us about her situation before she got the call of a match. I’m so glad Katie was there to experience all this directly from the family. If she had just listened to me, she would probably have thought the same as me: ‘This is no big deal’. But, to hear it directly from the family, you understand just how big of a deal it is. I am so thankful they shared that with us.