Hi everyone, sorry it has taken so long to write another blog, but it has been a rollercoaster ride. For the last several weeks we have been working with our 2nd donor(Wendy) and going to Boston as well as her having appointments in Albany to determine if she is a continued match. Our last appointment was Monday the 5th of October in Boston where Wendy underwent series of exams. We left at 5 am and were back in Albany around 5:30pm, feeling very excited from the feedback we had received from everyone. Tuesday night brought about a different emotion, we got the call that Wendy at this time would not be able to be the donor due to some lab work. We all were devasted once again, this is such a emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved, it is hard to describe the feeling but I think the closest would be powerless, we have no control, and just when we think we have a little back, it gets ripped right away again. So that was Tuesday the 6th, now Wed the 7th we were admitted to Children's in Boston to get ready for her double nephrectomy which is the removal of both of her kidneys. Surgery per the surgeon takes 4 hours and would be done laparscopically, but if complications arised it would turn into an open surgery with large incision. Good news it turned into a 2 1/2 hour surgery only and she did great!! She has 4 tiny stab wounds to her abdomen with stitches inside her so nothing to take out later. I had her up walking within 4 hours after the surgery and taking deep breaths and splinting her abdomen and coughing. The nursing staff was like, that is incredible, I haven't told anyone that I am a nurse. This morning the 9th brings a different day. Bridgette had a horible night with pain never seemly getting her under control. Her blood pressure has been very low and her heart rate has been very high with a low oxygen saturation. They did a portable chest xray this am to see if possibly during surgery they nicked her lung or if she could possible have what they call an ileus which is where her stomach is full of air and her intestines are asleep so to speak. Unfortuantely she does have an ileus. They had to drop a nasal gastric tube down her nostril into her abdomen to decompress the stomach, so far that seems to be working but she is completely out of it now, they gave her ativan and her pressure is 60/30 with a heart rate of 145 for all my medical friends out there, and she is currently on her way to having dialysis in 1 hour. During the surgery yesterday, our brother-in-law, Paul who was also a match had further testing done. He drove to Boston and completed the testing, after Paul left and he was here all day, the renal coordinator called and told us that the donor advocate doctor wants more testing. I can only say that both donors have been perfect with all of there #'s and tests, we just don't get it? On top of all this, while we were waiting for Bridgette to get out of surgery yesterday, we had a immunosupression meeting, which is where the doctors discuss the medications Bridge will need to be on the rest of her life. There are 3 regimens to choose from, and we found out that all 3 regimens could bring on high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer. Bridgette will need to be on the multiple drugs to keep the kidney from rejection as well as blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medication , antiviral medication for 1 year as well as an antibotic for 1 year, the rest of the medication is for life. Each regimen has a different degree of obtaining cancer, so we have to way that in also. It is so overwhelming, but I know with all the love and support we have been shown by everyone through all of this that we will get through this. Bridge is here for a special reason and she is teaching Mark and I everyday, and we are so lucky to be in her life. We love her so much!!!!! I will let everyone know to what the rest of the day brings. Thank you to everyone who will be participating in the Bridge The Gap race this weekend, have a great time and take lots of pictures.
Love to all, Megan and Mark