Hello -
So many of you kindly ask about Mike and our search for a new kidney, but right now there isn't much to report. No news is good news, at this point! Mike's latest blood work reveals that his situation is 'stable'. Sadly, this does not mean his need for a kidney is any less urgent, but it does mean we still have time we need to find the right one. Testing continues and with any luck at all we'll have the perfect candidate waiting when the time comes!
A common question we get is about the timing of the transplant operation. There are clear indicators/mortality factors (for example, dangerously elevated levels of potassium in Mike's blood), but no clear timeline. A lot will depend simply on when Mike and his nephrologist agree that to continue any longer without the transplant means more health risks and misery for Mike. And, of course, there will be discussions with the donor! Right now Mike just has to take excellent care of himself. Some patients in his situation can be very adversely affected by a bad flu or illness, which would accelerate the timeline. We don't want that, so sleep, nutrition and fitness play very important roles on a daily basis.
So, for now, no news is good news, and thank you to everyone who has Mike in their thoughts!!
Ever gratefully, Samantha