July 9th 2009

Hi everyone,
As most of you know already, Brigette had a routine doctor's visit on the first of July. I had been noticing that Bridge was paler than usual and not eating or going the bathroom as much. When I got to the doctor's office, I asked if certain type of labs could be drawn on her, thinking that most likely she was just slighty anemic, and to Mark and my surprise it was so much more. Bridgette is in End Stage Renal Failure. So far from what I understand, there are 5 stages with 1 being the least, she is stage 5. Bridgette was immediately sent to Albany Medical Center where she had minor surgery to implant a central line to receive her dialysis. We were in the pediatric ICU for 3 days and then released to have outpatient dialysis every mon/wes/fri. We had a date on the 14th of July at Children's hospital in Boston, but then quickly got a call back from the coordinator stating that the doctor thought that her lab work still wasn't good enough so we are now scheduled for the 28th. In the meantime, like I said she is having treatments 3x a week. She has been having pain with the manipulation of the dual lumen central line, so they think that she might have a clot, they did an ultrasound on Wes but that was negative, they are doing another test this Friday morning before her dialysis at 7:30. Bridge is also now on a special diet, limiting potassium/sodium/phorporus. She is also on a fluid restriction to 1 liter a day only. Mark and I have to measure everything going in and everything going out of her body, so if she voids 200ml, we can add that to her intact that day, etc. Menus have to be created due to the dietary restrictions now and strictly adhered to. We are praying that Mark and I will be a match when it comes down to testing, but the dialysis nurse informed us that kidney transplants last only 10-20 years at the max, so she will most likely need 2, possibly 3 in her lifetime since she is so young. Bridge has been a trooper through all of this, she is scared but is actually braver than Mark and I, she is definetly our teacher. I want to thank everyone for all there love and support which has been absolutely amazing. Bridgette is a special girl that has touched many hearts and I am so proud to be her mom. I will give updates now that I am back online.
Thanks so much and love to all, Megan&Mark
P.S. Matthew has been such a good boy through all of this, I am so proud of him. Bridgette still states that the best thing since this has happened is the dog Matthew got for her while in the hospital, she brings it everywhere with her and lets everyone know that her "brother" gave it to her.