My Kidney Transplant Experience

My kidney transplant experience began in September 2004. I had just started dialysis treatments on August 23 rd. I got the call on September 23 rd telling me I had been listed on the national transplant list. Although this news was hopeful I understood the wait may be lengthy, especially given my rare blood type.

I waited for 4 years and 10 months before I heard anything from the transplant list. Then I got a call telling me they had a potential match for me but needed to “harvest” the cadaver kidney first. After a few hours they called back explaining the kidney was of poor quality and could not be transplanted. About a month later this was repeated as this harvested kidney had polyps.

Finally, on October 13, 2009 I got a called that turned out as I had hoped.

The next morning my wife and I left for the University of Michigan Transplant in Ann Arbor. We arrived shortly after 7:00 am. I checked in and had a seat. At 10:00 am they came and took me into pre-op. It was starting to look like this might really happen.

Back in pre-op they inserted an IV and began doing testing. I got an EKG and a chest X-ray. They drew huge amount of blood for testing. I enrolled in a post transplant drug study of anti rejection medication. I was visited by anesthesiology, my surgeon, OR nurses and med students that asked if they could observe.

Finally, they brought my family back for a short visit and I talked to my granddaughters on the phone. They were on the road from Virginia to be with the rest of the family at the hospital. At last, my three times a week dialysis treatments were about to end. I was excited and apprehensive, but not scared. Then the time came to be rolled into the operating room.

In the OR I was greeted by my surgery team. After a brief chat and best wishes they put a mask over my face. I only remember a few more seconds of that part. I was out.

My surgery took about 2 ½ hours. That is a fairly short time for transplant surgery. In recovery I was groggy for about an hour. Then things started to clear. My surgeon visited and told me the operation went well and the kidney started functioning immediately. I stayed in recovery for a couple more hours, and then was taken to the post transplant fifth floor.

It got in my room about 7:00 pm and met my roommate Donnie. He was a pleasant gentleman in his early 50’s from Dearborn Heights. He also had a transplant. Over the next few days we were friendly, as were our families. Donnie and I talked about our transplant journeys and experiences. He had also waited 5 years for a transplant.

Every hour nurses measured my urine output. Every few hours they drew blood, took vital signs, and gave meds. Every day they told me my creatninine levels that showed how well my new kidney was functioning. Each report was better that the last.

If you’ve ever been in the hospital you know you don’t get much sleep. They wake you several times each night to draw blood or take your blood pressure. They actual got me out of bed to weigh me at 1:00 am!

On the day after the transplant my kidney function continued to get better. My son and his family had arrived from Virginia and we all enjoyed having the entire family together.

There were still frequent blood draws and they checked my urine output every hour. I was visited several times daily by teams of physicians.

On day three they removed the catheter. What a wonderful thing. It was the worst part of the recovery process. Measuring urine output and drawing blood was still a frequent thing. I was now asking about going home.

My surgeon told me he would think about releasing me on Saturday. When Saturday came the nurse informed me they would keep me one more day to monitor my urine output. I was disappointed to say the least.

Then, when Sunday finally arrived, teams of doctors visited me and each signed off on my release. About 2:00 pm all paperwork was complete and my nurse brought me a 90 day supply of immunosuppressant drugs and gave me final instructions. I was going home. My wife, daughter and son-in-law were there to pick me up. I was elated.

I would now have to go to U of M once a week for twelve weeks for checkups. But, I was done with 3 times a week dialysis treatments. A drive to Ann Arbor was a small price to pay.

Through this entire joyful experience I often remember that a family lost a loved one. Their gift of life has improved my life tremendously and given me hope for a longer life. I hope God blesses the family for this wonderful gift.

If you are lucky enough to be healthy, please consider being an organ donor. It will change someone’s life forever.