Well, I was scheduled today to donate my right kidney to my uncle. As I posted previously, with all of the issues and obstacles thus far I would believe we were good to go when they rolled me back for surgery. Checked in yesterday, got admitted, did blood work, ekg, urine sample, and several other tests. Met with my transplant coordinator who is awesome. She gave me a t-shirt and requested my uncle and I take a picture together with our t-shirts after surgery and send to her. Then, my uncle's tests showed he had really, really low red blood cell count, toxin levels off the chart, and was too weak to proceed with surgery. He had a kidney transplant previously that is in failure. We found out that his current kidney is functioning only at 6% as well. Rather long story regarding miscommunications with his home doctor and the transplant team. So, he is still at UAB for several more days doing blood transfusions, dialysis, and several other tests. I am back home.
Next steps is to get his system built up some, repeat the cross-matches since new antibodies could form from the blood donation, and re-schedule. Hopefully that won't push us out much longer. I anticipate September timeframe but you never know.
Just glad that we did not risk his life and proceed prematurely. The folks at UAB in Birmingham rock! Best facility I have ever set foot in. And, though we are disappointed, as I noted earlier - I am learning to let things take their proper course. We will have our day for surgery soon and in the right time. I have to be patient and continue focusing on doing everything I can to take care of myself so in the end I can take care of him.
-Scott