Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Updates on Post-0p

This is Suzi, here to update you on my amazing, wonderful, did I say amazing?!? husband.  I just got home from the hospital tonight and finally have access to a computer so I can update you all.  Zach's mom, Sheryl posted earlier today as well.  All in all, Zach is doing great!  The surgery went very smoothly, and he was very calm and ready for surgery when the time came.  I was so impressed with his ability to just let go and give it into the hands of God.  He (and the surgeon, of course) did fabulous and we are so grateful for such a good outcome.  The recipient received the kidney and the latest report is that he is doing very well (there's not much detail as it's important to protect privacy).  It is good to hear though, that Zach's kidney is working well in it's new home.  This now means that a "chain" has begun, where hopefully many people will be recieving live donor transplants.  Please look for more details about this in Zach's following posts,it's a fascinating thing! 

Zach has spent the last few days in recovery.  He pretty much slept the first day, waking up mostly just to crack a few jokes, push his drug button, and go back to sleep.  Today he was much more awake, and after a little drug snafu (if you want some good stories, ask me later) is doing great!  He has had a great attitude this whole time and I've been impressed at how he's handled everything.  His remaining kidney is functioning very well and his incisions look good (well, as good as incisions and staples can look).  He has about a 5"incision at his belly button where they removed the kidney, and three small 2" incisions on his left side where the instruments were for surgery (it's called laproscopic surgery and much less invasive than the old way of doing it).  Zach walked the floor twice today and was up for more, although we had to cut him off.  Our good friends Sara, Darren, and their daughter Alice came to visit which was really meaningful.  Darren was the person Zach got tested for originally but was not a match.  Darren received a kidney in Nov. and is doing well.  We have so much to be grateful for!

THANK YOU ALL for your prayers, emails, phone calls, messages, etc. etc.  The love and support that has been poured over us has been humbling and amazing.  There were so many notes and messages to Zach that it took me over an hour to read them all.  There were words of encouragement from those close to us, and some amazing stories from people we had never met, but who had heard about this.  There were even a few with a lighter side - funny kidney jokes and offers for kidney bean soup.  I wish I could share them all with you, because it was truly touching.  Zach and I really felt the presence of everyone with us, and most importantly, God.  So, THANK YOU,  thank you, and thank you again for sharing your hearts (not literally of course, we aren't allowed to donate those, you know!) and kind words with us.  We feel blessed and loved beyond what we could ever imagine.

Suzi

4 comments:

  1. What a fantastic report Suzi- thank you for the update!

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  2. I'm glad it's all going well and I hope he is letting you take a turn pushing the Magic Button :) My husband loved having that honor!! I can't believe he has a 5" incision by his belly button!? My big incision was, well, somewhere no one can ever see :) Much lower than my belly button, we'll leave it at that...

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  3. You two are so amazing, we are so thankful to have you as friends. I can say that Zach was sleeping peacefully as we left last night. Hope today brings more recovery and lots of pee for all involved. ;)

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  4. Thanks for the update. That is fantastic! Zach and others surrounding him will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
    Julian

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