Well the day finally came and went, and what a day. Bridge was admitted like I said the night before and had medicine to wipe out her immune system so as to less likely reject the new kidney. There are many side effects unfortunately to this but it seemed that Bridgette wasn't getting any of them. The infusion takes 3 hours and at 2 hours and 45 minutes, Bridgette got all the reactions, fever, pain, flu like symptoms, rigors, chills, etc. It was horrible, this lasted about 2 hours and with time and medication she finally fell asleep. Mark and I stayed in the room with Bridge, and I finally left around 4:30am, showered and then went over to Colleen and Paul's room. I stayed with them until it was time for Paul to be admitted at 5:30am at the Brigham. I came back to Children's and walked back into the room around 5:45 and they came to take Bridgette down to pre-op. Mark had of course finally fell asleep, but quickly awoke. We were in pre-op for 2 1/2hours and then they came and got Bridgette. We didn't get to see her again until around 5pm when they brought her to the ICU. Surgery for both Paul and Bridge were close to 6 hours each. We went and saw Paul when he came into the PACU and it was scary, even for me being a nurse, I was taken aback. Paul is long and lean and he looked like a swollen boxer and as white as could be. But in Paul fashion he was cracking jokes and making us feel good, and of course wanted us to know that he still hadn't wavered in his decision. I felt like passing out at that point, but I never let on to him, but it really was emotional. We then went back over to see if Bridge was out yet and she was still in surgery. It seems like years. We watched all day long as everyone else came, sat down, cried, family coming in and then the doctors talking with the families, and then the people leaving. I think we were like the 3rd family there and were the last family to leave. My good friend Michelle came with her incredible, gorgeous 15 month old daughter, who you could just eat every time you see her, this was a great distraction. Bridge finally arrived with her new kidney and many tubes around 5pm to the ICU. She to was very swollen but seemed to be in good pain control. They gave her an epidural in her back with a continuous medication called fentyal that helps with pain control. Bridge also has the option to push a button if more medication is needed, which she has been doing. The kidney unfortunately did not make urine right away. The doctors stated to us that this was not uncommon but that's not what you want to hear. You want to hear, yes, there is urine and the kidney is functioning great, but that didn't happen. Midnight was the shining hour, she started making real urine, not just serosanguinous drainage. She put out around 550ml from 12am to 7am. Since Bridgette's new kidney wasn't functioning earlier on they needed to give her medication to help with her rising potassium levels.(6.0) This didn't seem to be working and her 12 lead ekg was showing some T wave increases(for all the nurses), so they ended up giving her Kayexcelate which they had to do rectally. It was very uncomfortable, but Bridge did great, good results, the next morning. Today Bridge is in much more pain, understandably. We got her up to a chair and the tube taken out of her nose, she is on a nasal cannula now instead of a mask and the urine is flowing. Paul looks like the good old Paul we know and love. He looks great. Paul of course has already walked the hallway with his gown open in the back and gotten up by himself with all the iv's, off his iv pain medicine, and eating a liquid diet without problems. He really is remarkable! Sorry it took me so long to update everyone but I'm sure you all understand. Thank you so much for all the MMSing and emails and voice mails!!!!!!!! We feel loved.............................................