Home Sweet Home

I came back from Barnes yesterday. I like to say that St. Louis was not big enough for both me and the President - so I had to leave. (Really, was it worth having him throw out the meaningless first pitch for all the trouble he caused with the traffic in St. Louis? I-64 is already partially closed for construction, the roads around Busch Stadium were closed earlier due to the parade and Fan Fest, I-64 from the bridge to 14th street was closed beginning at 5pm through the end of the game. Then you add Pres. Ego and his rolling road blocks to get him from Lambert Airport to the All-Star game 2 hours ahead of game time and it was a traffic nightmare. On a side note: did you hear all the boos when he was announced? Must be those "stimulated" fans!)

Whew... I feel better now in so many ways.
Ok, what was wrong with me was a laundry list of ailments which in non-immune compromised patients would have not happened or would have just been like a bout with the flu. One of the Doctors I saw at Barnes said that I was lucky - often transplanted patients with Erhlictiosis (tick disease) end up in the ICU and are sometimes septic. I guess I was lucky after all.

Today, I played with Luke, went to the pharmacy and ran by my workplace to say "hi" and to turn in my doctor's note. I am off work until Monday which seems far off, but after just doing those few chores, I was exhausted and took a 3 hour nap after lunch. I feel like I just can't catch up on enough sleep. All of my co-workers have commented on how skinny I am now. I guess losing 12 lbs in a 12 day period is kind of dramatic. Now what did I do with those "skinny" pants?!

Thanks to everyone for praying, checking up on me, posting on Facebook, driving me, e-mailing me, babysitting, buying magazines/books, sitting with me, buying subs/milkshakes, and in general being concerned for my well-being. Thanks Christy!

I really do appreciate it and will try and tell you thank you in person when I see you.... if I can stay awake long enough.

This Time I Mean It - I Am Getting Better

Well, I am writing the blog from the 10th Floor of Barnes Hopital. It has been a long 10 day stretch for me and those near me. I believe I can safely say, the worst is behind me. I knew I was sick, but I didn't really grasp it until Thursday when I literally fell into bed after a quick shower saying "I think I am going to die". At that point, I was soon to be headed to the ER for the 3rd time in the week and was determined to not be dicharged home until I was well.

I spent a couple days in the Carbondale hospital until being discharged to Barnes Hospital so my Dr and the Post-Transplant team could watch over me. They are an amazing group of Drs who will research drug interactions to the nth degree before giving us renal patients a drug. That is not something that happens at the local hospital... they just don't think of that stuff.

I was transported to Barnes via ambulance yesterday afternoon. That was not a fun ride - fast - but not fun. Anyway, after another round of tests (many of which C'dale hospital had already done) they determined that my numbers were headed in the right direction. I have had 3 chest xrays, 2 ultrasounds, 2 CT Scans, 4 cultures, and more viles of blood collected from me than I can remember. I am so happy, though. My arm is a pincushion and I finally got a shower and shave. (Think Tom Hanks in Castaway)

My Pancreas is working like is supposed to again, my liver enzymes and kidney functions are returning to normal as well. I am feeling much improved and the fever has been gone now for 41 hours. No they are trying to determine exactly what casused this whole thing and I wonder that too.

I should be coming home in a day or two. And I can't wait to eat a Quatros Pizza with some cold ice cream. I finally started eating late last night for my first real meal in 9 days.

Thanks for your prayers.