I am going to enclose the link to my friend's website to update all of you on Rachel. She is a little more eloquent than I and she has all the information already written! Thanks for letting me "steal" your update, Lisa!
Please help if you can!
www.restaurantwidow.com/2008/05/an-update-on-ra.html
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Changes in Greg's Meds.
Last Monday, the doctors told Greg to quit taking his Cellcept (an anti-rejection drug) for two days. They have been experimenting with the dosage so he will only be taking the amount he needs. Anti-rejection drugs have some very nasty side effects and are hard on your body so it is important to find the proper dosage. Well, his white blood cell count went up and they don't want that as it is a sign that his body is fighting the kidney. So he is now taking 500mg. of Cellcept twice daily. They will continue to adjust this according to results of his twice weekly lab work. He also is still taking Prograf (another anti-rejection drug) prednisone and an assortment of other drugs. He is down to about 22 pills a day after starting with over 40 right after surgery. This has been hard for him as he was one of those people who didn't like to take medication unless absolutely necessary.
On the flip side, I feel like I am slowly gaining back more energy. I have been a little fatigued since surgery but it seems to lessen each month. I hadn't really noticed that I was tired because I am always on the run, but I have noticed that I need less sleep and can live without my afternoon nap. I think I overlooked the fatigue because I actually enjoy sleeping! Especially when it is dreary outside and I think we had a week of straight rainy, chilly weather. I find that perfect for napping! All of my vitals are excellent so the fatigue is just a consequence of the trauma incurred from major surgery. I am still happy that I donated and when asked if I would do it all over again, the answer is still yes. It amazes me each time someone finds out that I donated and they are just in awe that anyone would do something so selfless. It wasn't entirely selfless. I can't imagine my life without Greg, he is the closest person in my life. I just couldn't bear the thought of him enduring dialysis for the rest of his life when I could do something to help. To me, the decision was easy to make. So for those of you who think I am some kind of saint, not really. I have my moments just like everybody else.
On the flip side, I feel like I am slowly gaining back more energy. I have been a little fatigued since surgery but it seems to lessen each month. I hadn't really noticed that I was tired because I am always on the run, but I have noticed that I need less sleep and can live without my afternoon nap. I think I overlooked the fatigue because I actually enjoy sleeping! Especially when it is dreary outside and I think we had a week of straight rainy, chilly weather. I find that perfect for napping! All of my vitals are excellent so the fatigue is just a consequence of the trauma incurred from major surgery. I am still happy that I donated and when asked if I would do it all over again, the answer is still yes. It amazes me each time someone finds out that I donated and they are just in awe that anyone would do something so selfless. It wasn't entirely selfless. I can't imagine my life without Greg, he is the closest person in my life. I just couldn't bear the thought of him enduring dialysis for the rest of his life when I could do something to help. To me, the decision was easy to make. So for those of you who think I am some kind of saint, not really. I have my moments just like everybody else.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Trust Fund Established for Rachel Widomski
I am enclosing a link to an article with information about a trust established for Rachel Widomski at Huntington National Bank. It includes information for mailing donations.
www.vindy.com/news/2008/may/23/trust-fund-established/
www.vindy.com/news/2008/may/23/trust-fund-established/
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Haikuhelp comment
Please be aware that this site will benefit both victims, the owner, Ms. Liu and Rachel. Also, Rachel is in critical condition, not serious as posted.
A Sad But Unrelated Note
This has nothing at all to do with transplants.
Thursday evening, there was a hit and run at the restaurant (Haiku) across the street from the restaurant that I work at. Michael Rose, a patron at the bar, decided to "dine and dash." He had a bar check for over $100. His server, Rachel Widomski and owner, Julie Liu, followed him out of the restaurant to confront him about his tab. He purposely backed over them twice and also hit another patron of Haiku. Rachel is now in critical condition at Grant Hospital in Columbus, OH. Mrs. Liu is at OSU Hospital in serious condition. The other person was treated at the scene and released.
Ms. Widomski will never walk again because this idiot backed over her twice. She had surgery to repair her liver. She was placed in a drug-induced coma until she is strong enough to handle more surgery. There is blood in her lungs. She was to have back surgery tonight to repair a spine broken in 2 places. Only one break can be repaired, the other cannot be fixed. Then she faces yet another surgery. She is a student, 26 or 27 years old and will have major medical bills.
As part of the server community in the Short North area of Columbus, I feel the need to do something to help Rachel. She is the best friend of one of my coworkers. We are planning on organizing a couple of fundraisers and will have a website set up soon for any donations to help with the medical bills. We will be meeting with a local bank on Monday to set up a fund for her. I will post more info and links as we get it all together. If you can give, please do. In the meantime, please keep Rachel and Ms. Liu in your prayers.
Michael Rose is 43 years old with two DUI convictions. He was awaiting trial for theft charges when this occurred. He turned himself in earlier this evening but this does not bring peace to Rachel and her family. His behavior is an atrocity and hopefully he will pay for this crime.
Here is a link to the story in the Columbus Dispatch: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/16/haiku.html?sid=101
Thursday evening, there was a hit and run at the restaurant (Haiku) across the street from the restaurant that I work at. Michael Rose, a patron at the bar, decided to "dine and dash." He had a bar check for over $100. His server, Rachel Widomski and owner, Julie Liu, followed him out of the restaurant to confront him about his tab. He purposely backed over them twice and also hit another patron of Haiku. Rachel is now in critical condition at Grant Hospital in Columbus, OH. Mrs. Liu is at OSU Hospital in serious condition. The other person was treated at the scene and released.
Ms. Widomski will never walk again because this idiot backed over her twice. She had surgery to repair her liver. She was placed in a drug-induced coma until she is strong enough to handle more surgery. There is blood in her lungs. She was to have back surgery tonight to repair a spine broken in 2 places. Only one break can be repaired, the other cannot be fixed. Then she faces yet another surgery. She is a student, 26 or 27 years old and will have major medical bills.
As part of the server community in the Short North area of Columbus, I feel the need to do something to help Rachel. She is the best friend of one of my coworkers. We are planning on organizing a couple of fundraisers and will have a website set up soon for any donations to help with the medical bills. We will be meeting with a local bank on Monday to set up a fund for her. I will post more info and links as we get it all together. If you can give, please do. In the meantime, please keep Rachel and Ms. Liu in your prayers.
Michael Rose is 43 years old with two DUI convictions. He was awaiting trial for theft charges when this occurred. He turned himself in earlier this evening but this does not bring peace to Rachel and her family. His behavior is an atrocity and hopefully he will pay for this crime.
Here is a link to the story in the Columbus Dispatch: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/16/haiku.html?sid=101
Monday, May 12, 2008
Lab Updates
Everything is fine with my kidney function. The trace of protein was caused by my body producing more yeast in response to a change in my birth control pills. It is not enough yeast for an actual yeast infection but I am going to change birth control pills back to my old ones.
Greg's creatinine is 1.8 for the day. His BUN was a little high but nothing major. His blood glucose level is 101 and he no longer has to take insulin shots. His sugar was high as a reaction to his prednisone, Prograf and Cellcept medications. They were causing it to go from one extreme to another so he briefly had to take insulin shots to get it under control. He will now be taking a pill to keep it regulated while taking all the anti-rejection meds.
Greg's creatinine is 1.8 for the day. His BUN was a little high but nothing major. His blood glucose level is 101 and he no longer has to take insulin shots. His sugar was high as a reaction to his prednisone, Prograf and Cellcept medications. They were causing it to go from one extreme to another so he briefly had to take insulin shots to get it under control. He will now be taking a pill to keep it regulated while taking all the anti-rejection meds.
Monday, May 5, 2008
May 5 Updates
Well, there is a trace of protein in my urine so I am repeating the test tomorrow. They are going to measure protein ratio and creatinine clearance. I am not really too concerned about it. There were trace amounts of protein in my urine in December and I found out it was caused by some medications I was taking. It cleared up when I stopped the medication so I am going to see if my Dr. will change my prescription. My blood pressure reading today was 106/64 and my blood work was fine.
Greg's creatinine is at 1.8 today. They lowered his Cellcept dosage because it was causing his white blood cell count to be too low. He is down to 22 pills a day after starting with about 42 immediately after transplant. He is also taking insulin shots for the time being.
I urge anyone who is considering living donation to check out the message boards on the living Donors Online website. You can link to it through my site. It is a great source of information and support. It was a huge help to me to be able to read stories of others and ask questions of people who have been through the transplant process.
Greg's creatinine is at 1.8 today. They lowered his Cellcept dosage because it was causing his white blood cell count to be too low. He is down to 22 pills a day after starting with about 42 immediately after transplant. He is also taking insulin shots for the time being.
I urge anyone who is considering living donation to check out the message boards on the living Donors Online website. You can link to it through my site. It is a great source of information and support. It was a huge help to me to be able to read stories of others and ask questions of people who have been through the transplant process.
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