Slam Dunk........ to transplant!

Major and KK are playing basketball at the neighbor's house. This is one of Major's absolute favorite activities.

KK went to California last week and met with the social worker(to evaluate his sanity as a father of three), adult nephrologist(to check him from head to toe and clear him for surgery), and to have a 3D CT of his abdomen to look at his kidneys. Apparently it went well, the nephrologist only wants two more simple blood tests on KK. Major also need a few more things or as I say we need to jump through a few more hoops for the medical community. Remember this is written(spoken) from a medical person too! Tomorrow, Major goes to the dentist to check off he has no cavities, then off to do an ultrasound of his neck and chest, then off to the dialysis clinic for his monthly visit and a few more blood test, and finally to the pediatrician's office for a PPD(tuberculosis test). It is my day off tomorrow so we might can rest by dusk!!!! I spoke with the transplant coordinator today and she thinks we will be able to schedule a date within the week. The first week of July is looking very promising. I do not think I can pull it all together and make all the needed arrangements in the next 10 days but I can do it all in the next 4 weeks. We would just like to have a date set for the BIG day! Karroll's mom and Paula, one of his lovely sisters and her husband have volunteered to go to California with us for the initial transplant celebration. I am so thankful to have their help with Karroll and Major. The girls will spend some time with their cousins in Oklahoma and then with my parents in Lubbock. I think the girls might get a little spoiled this summer but they deserve the extra attention. They have been such little troopers having a brother who is chronically ill who needs more help than the average two year old. He is so lucky to have those sweet sisters. I will update more when I have a date set in stone not on floating lily pads!!!! This is a beautiful garden center a few miles from our house. I would love to have the time and energy to create a pond like this in our backyard.

Karroll is a Match!!!! Praise God!!!

We received the call today from the transplant coordinator from Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital. Karroll is a match and will donate one of his kidneys to Major. It will take place this summer as soon as we can get everything organized. Karroll is having a complete physical tomorrow with his doctor and a few more blood tests to make sure he is currently healthy and Major has blood work scheduled for next week. Then Karroll will fly out to California to have a 3D scan of his body to look at his kidneys and structure of his body for the transplant surgeon and he will meet with the team that will take out his kidney. So that is why I do not anticipate this to happen before mid June at the earliest.

We will need some help with the girls this summer. If anyone can help take care of the girls , I would like to organize dates among all of our dear relatives and friends. The girls are expecting to have a fun filled vacation type summer. Remember anything away from home is a vacation to them. So let me know if you have some extra time or energy during the summer. I also need a volunteer, maybe Mother Myrna or one of KK's sisters to go with us during the initial transplant time to help me care for both of them after surgery. Major and Karroll will be in separate hospitals that are connected, but I can't be in two places at once. I'll continue to keep you posted with more exciting drama as it unfolds before our eyes!!

Spring Fever

We had a fun filled weekend with the kids. We took them and Ms June to Marble Falls to visit the strawberry fields, goats and donkeys. We picked fresh strawberries and fed the goats. On Sunday, KK and the girls made strawberry jam with our fresh berries. It was actually pretty good jam! We have also planted tomatoes, carrots, corn, onions, green peppers, and lettuce in our backyard garden to see if we can grow our own veggies. So far so good. The seeds are sprouting leaves and there are a few green tomatoes on the vines. I think we might actually have a green thumb among the five of us. I have great news tonight!!! Major will be listed on the UNOS(United Organ Sharing Program)waiting list this week in California. This means that Major will be placed on the waiting list for a cadaver kidney while we wait on the final testing of his wonderful and generous father. The transplant coordinator expects we will have all of KK's results within the week. I can see that this is going to happen for Major in 2008!!! Here is a sweet video of Major's first push toy cruise down the hallway with the help of his sisters.

Home Sweet Home

We are home sweet home in Texas as of midnight Friday night. Thank goodness our flight did not get cancelled by AA. Major did much better on the way home and I learned my lesson to never give him Benadryl again. We all slept well last night especially Major. He loves his crib! I got up early and took the girls to soccer while the boys slept. The girls had a great time with June and Greg. They are such a wonderful and indispensable support for our family. Thank you both so much!

Our last day in California was busy once again. We were at the hospital by 8am for Major to undergo anesthesia for a MRA and Chest CT. All went well but I don't know any results yet. KK had his blood drawn to check for any antibodies and for matching purposes. We should know for sure in a few weeks if he is a match. We are very pleased with the team at Stanford and believe that Major would be in the best hands. In my perfect planned out world, if KK is a match we are planning to do the transplant with the Stanford team in the next few months. We will look for a place to stay in California. If any body knows anyone in the Palo Alto, San Jose, San Francisco area who might have a guest house or other housing, please let us know. We are looking at all the available options! I am also going to submit the paperwork to apply for Children's Organ Transplant Association( www.cota.org )so we can do a few fundraisers over the next few months. This would allow all the donations to be tax deductible. We are excited about the adventures coming our way and we want to share this journey with our friends and family.

Second Day in California

Look at the beauty on the West coast!


Today we had another full day of visits with the transplant team. We have been very impressed with the facility of Lucile Packard and the team. Karroll will have more tests run tomorrow and Major will have anesthesia to do a MRA of abdomen looking at the vessels and placement options for a kidney and hopefully a CT of his chest to look for any problems pulmonary wise prior to transplant. I had heard rumor from a friend, yes you Jill, that we would be expected to stay here and plan to stay for 100 days post transplant. It is a little scary to think we will have to arrange our lives to have one of us here with Major for 3 months at least and then arrange for care of the girls during that time too. I know it will all work out and I believe God will show me the way. I am extremely excited about the research going on here with pediatric transplant patients. I like the possibility that Major may qualify for a steroid-free or low dose steroid medication regimen post transplant. This option could really benefit him from a growth potential and development perspective. The transplant surgeon was so good with Major and assured us that he is the only one who will do Major's surgery from opening his body to close(this is a teaching hospital so there are many residents and students here). I will try to post the picture of the surgeon with Major. Dr. Concepcion insisted on taking a picture with Major. Of course, everyone has been drawn to Major with those sweet blue glasses and the amazing "scooting show." Another big day tomorrow and then a late flight home as long as AA doesn't cancel the flight between now and then.

First Day in CA

We made it to California and Major endured his first day of testing. The plane ride was rather daunting with Major. He screamed for a good portion of the trip and those of you who know him realize that is totally out of his character. He also was the only child under 12 on the plane. Yesterday Major had a full day of testing including EKG, Echocardiogram of his heart, Chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and video urodynamincs. Maj reacted like a two year old screaming whenever someone touched him and then he was fine. I don't blame him for screaming during the urodynamics study--it is very invasive as they put a catheter in his penis and bottom and electrodes all over his private area!!!! But we have some good news, the urologist here feels like Major's bladder is capable of having a transplant now. He feels like his bladder will stretch naturally with more urine flowing through with a healthy kidney. He also recommends not doing bladder augmentation unless it is a last resort to save the new kidney. Yeah!!! Today we meet with the transplant team and Major and Karroll will have their blood drawn to check for compatibility. I'll keep in touch. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.

Off to California

Today is the day we are leaving with Major to California. I am both excited and very nervous. Major unfortunately is not happy this morning so the plane ride might be quite interesting. I think the oak pollen is affecting him too. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who have been so generous and thoughtful to our family over the years. We truly appreciate each and every one of you. I am praying that we hear some exciting and promising news for Major's next challenge in life-his kidney transplant. We will be very busy with appointments and tests all week. I promise to update the blog at the latest when we get home Friday night. Please continue to pray for Major's health and happiness and a covering of protection for our girls while they stay here with June. You know, June may need those extra prayers too!!!!! Love to you all as we go on our next adventure out west!!!!

On another note, Kari is having vision problems again related to the Multiple Sclerosis. She is such an awesome person and I know that this is both physically and mentally difficult for her. I ask for special prayers for her that God will restore her sight ASAP! Hang in there Kari. I love you sis!