Response to Linus: June Recovery period

Yes yes. I think of you often. I associate many fine things with you - you'd might be surprised! you represent calmness and happiness and the good things that comes from spiritual practice. You were my first real experience with the catholic church. Previously had read CS Lewis only with curiosity. He said something about the "practice" and "exercise" of bending, kneeling, chanting that I apply now to monk "music", my silence this summer, and newly found yoga poses (reaching toward heaven) we too are also leaving on vacation (dearest of friends in northern california - so we will be in same state. Let's try for end of July. 

I am in good spirits and feel pretty darn good. Am feeling the effects of being immune suprressed but really nothing I cannot kick in the ass! ha I am strong and almost ready for that promised dinner party (my voice has been gone since May 20 - my biggest challenge, but i think it is a bit better. Hard to be around people and not talk! I'd love to have dinner w/my translator JL or a group soon...or you and i when my freaking vox is back) GO ROCK ADELE in California. Love to you

Love, Kim

Pancreas Kidney Transplant

You'll notice that there is a huge gap in time between my dialysis "posts" and this new post.

On Feb 26, 2009 I was transplanted with a cadaver kidney and pancreas.  My diabetes ceased immediately and urine was produced.

This entry will only attempt to summarize the 3 months of recovery that followed. I must say here that I am doing great, strong as an ox and physically working out at 80% of what I was doing before kidney failure!  

In the 3 past months, I was hospitalized 3 additional times; a biopsy revealed that my body was rejecting the pancreas;  I was then IV-treated with some extra beefy meds for 10 days which have reversed the rejection.  I suffered from extremely high fevers (103 degrees average) throughout entire nights with rigors. I had over 200 tests to determine the cause of the fevers (over 200 tubes of blood).  This went on for 3.5 weeks before the biopsy revealed that my body was rejecting the pancreas.  Kidney continued amazing output of urine and all body wastes.  I was told that my organs were "large" and "young" - a very good thing in transplant.  

In the meantime, I got to know every nurse on my floor, had wonderful friends & family stay with me every single night that i was hospitalized (over 30 days), had over a dozen CT scans, a 1 am ultrasound, 2 biopsies and all manner of fluid drains, IVs, stomach tubes, catheters & catheter removals & insertions.   Whew.  Now I know it was worth it.

I hope to post more for anyone about to go through a transplant.  My experience was fantastic...I feel that I am still healing and in the middle of a great transformation.  I will post more later