Hello Again

Well, it's been a LONG time! Sean made his 4 years post transplant this past Dec. Thanks to our donor, life is busy as a normal person these days would be.

Now, we are searching for a kidney for my mother-in-law. She is nearing the point we need to begin the search to keep her from dialysis. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the process of donation, please contact Jbinns@tgh.org

You should know that due to privacy laws, we will never be made aware of who has called or been tested. We appreciate all the thoughts and support as we begin our search.

Thanksgiving 2011

Well as the holiday season approaches, we remember all we have to be thankful for. It is unbelievable that it'll be almost 2 years since transplant! Life went right back to normal-errands, games, school, etc. I am personally glad for the extra set of hands fully able to help out now. The kids are busy & we must divide periodically to get it all done.

We will have our first full house for Thanksgiving since 2008. Of course transplant year we didn't do it & the following year we visited someone else. We are back to normal & all the crazy it brings. Haha. We are happy to be hosting it again with family, friends & even some new guests. ;-)

We wish you all a great holiday season. When things start to get crazy remember the little things life brings that makes the season important.
Happy Holidays,
The Hoefling Family

Past the Year Mark!!!

Well Dec. 29th was the one year mark! It seems like yesterday that he had the transplant. So happy to make the year and them some.

Our donor is finally working again. Yeah!

Life is trucking right along. Busy with bowling, chess, softball & the other joys of childrens' obligations. Life is always busy, but happily attending these functions. It is great to see the kids thriving.

Looking for colleges-who knew that would come so quickly? We have another year to nail that down, but a good plan helps (at least for the planner in me).

Thanks again to all those that gave us support, encouragement, & guidance during this time in our lives! Much to be thankful for & prayers daily to those who lifted us when we needed it.

Six Month Check Up

Sean had his 6 month check up and the doctor seemed thrilled. It was funny to watch. The doctor says something like: You made your six months! Isn't that great? Sean says I guess so, yeah. Once the doctor said we should be thrilled because the bulk of the statistics for rejection are in the first year, but higher in the first six months. So, we are thrilled!

We knew from the beginning that we were blessed to have so many matches-three in case you didn't know. Having this information certainly helped ease some fears in the rejection arena.

We have started walking again. Food is tasting good so Sean is bulking up a little. I am being a little bit of a nag about "portion size" and walking. So we are getting back to our WW training. The portion control does two things. It keeps us at our appropriate sizes AND saves us money on food.

We have a full house again! Dayle is home from ETSU and we are sleeping better. I turn my cell off at night, but leave it charging at my bedside. However, for five weeks my phone has been on all night and I'd glance at it through the night to see if I missed anything. So, I am back to turning it off and sleeping more sound. I guess in two years we will go back to restless sleep when she goes off to college. Ha ha...

I finished painting Garett's room and we've found some wall art and things to finish it. He can search some antique shops to round out his decorations. He loves it and that is what is important. His room is red and white by the way. I was a little nervous about red, but it isn't that bad. It is a deep enough red for me to be comfortable. When I began, I thought I would only paint one wall red and the rest white. However, he has two big walls red and the other two are red and white. It looks nice.

Dayle seems to like her room and is motivated to clear more out. She worked on her closet the other day and got rid of some clothes she doesn't wear. She even did some of her dresser drawers and got rid of more than we had. Yeah!!!

We are still in the "clearing out" mode. We are downsizing all linens, furniture and such. We figure in two years or less, we will move somewhere else in Clarksville AND we don't want to move useless (or large) stuff if we can do without it.

On the agenda for the remainder of our summer is a trip to KY to visit G's best friend, a trip to MO to visit family and friends and I believe that is it!

I hope everyone enjoys their summer and doesn't get too overheated!

Update for June

We both went to the doctor this time since I was unhappy about his white blood count falling so very low. After the April appointment and subsequent injection, blood work was done locally to see progress of the injection. At mid-month, it appeared that the injection was working as the WBC was improving.

I voiced my dissatisfaction at letting that WBC fall so low to the intern doctor we had during the transplant stay. Since I feel like we have a good relationship with him, I was quite honest about my feelings. He of course, told the doctor and we don’t think it went as well with him.

He came in quoting studies and years of experience as the reason to not worry until it is that low. "Oh well" is my thought. Our thought/belief is we “hire” the doctors, and we continue to hire doctors who listen to us or we find another. Now with that said, we aren’t there yet. He wasn’t rude like some others.

The labs showed additional improvement almost to the “normal” range. However, the doctor still doesn’t want to take him off Prednisone even though we voiced our concerns prior to putting him on it. We kind of think it’s a “don’t tell me what to do” sort of thing since we questioned him.

As we are pulling out of the parking garage, Vandi called asking if he is coming for a Reclast injection (a one year calcium infusion). I explained to the nurse that the reason he hasn’t gone is that no one will “schedule it” and Sean looses money every time he has to go to Vandi. He is out of sick time, vacation and personal time. So she did tell me that she would schedule it for our next appointment. So it is scheduled for the end of June. It seems simple, but they kept telling us “just go over after an appointment and they’ll get you in.” It is difficult enough to get in when you have an appointment. Why on Earth would we want to go without one? :-)

The following day, the nurse called and lowered Sean’s Prednisone and put him back on Celcept (he had been completely off of this one for over a month). We will see how that works on this next trip. I might actually request mid-month blood work. The book that we lovingly (no offense) call The Transplant Bible needs to have the pages changed every time they change his meds. Since I don’t track what he takes as much anymore, that thing MUST be correct. So Sean is working on that again. I explained that I need to grab that and head to an ER in an emergency. The bottles are not correct since they continue to change the doses, so I need some sort of reference. Anyway, it’s getting done.

Dayle is off at school. The school is very strict and not sure the head counselor is completely with it. He keeps calling “meetings” when they should have some study time. So she is a bit stressed about that. She would like to plan her time for studies herself and clearly that is not happening. I think she’ll get it worked out, but until then her daddy wants to fix it all for her. I think this is good for her. It’s kind of like a work situation where there are personality conflicts, but you still have to be productive to get the job done. She is learning at a young age so hopefully that will make her a stronger, better adult.

The dog seems lost without her. He follows me to her room, he’s looked in my bathroom for her and waited right at my door as if she’d magically appear from the show-some old movie flashback ;-) He’s taken her spot on the couch which is totally not allowed! We are taking her bed apart in her absence and I think that’s when he’s going to loose it. I don’t know if there is such a thing as doggie anxiety meds, but he might need some-kidding by the way!

Garett enjoyed his visit with a friend recently and watching the raccoons and a bear eat! Yes, these were real and oh my goodness so cute unless you got too close to them and they banged the railings :-)

Me, well, I’m hanging in there. I moved rooms by choice to be at the end of a hall with no adjoining room. It is nice to move and clean out things.

Ha, so I thought cleaning was fun! I've been working on Dayle's room for a week trading furniture, etc. I did put some boxes back into her room for her to sort through. I have ideas where she can hang things on the wall. However, I am letting her choose the frames which is the only reason these items aren't hung. I wanted her room completely done when she walked into the house.

Meds Roll Coaster

Well, with as much as we want a "normal" life, there are still things that are not quite normal.

Sean's white blood cell count has continued to drop over the last few months. I'm sort of kicking myself that I wasn't more on it in requiring the doctor to do mid-month labs so it didn't fall to 0.7. (Our hospital shows normal as 3.8-11.0) Last month it was low at 1.9 and they made some changes but did not check mid-month and here we are at 0.7.

So another med change, but a big one. AND another trip to Vandi for a shot to encourage blood cell production. The shot itself was easy, but when Sean asked if there was anything that he needed to know, they said no. This is not quite the reality. It caused him great bone and muscle pain. This pain looked to be worse than the pain he had with those huge kidneys.

The plan now is to keep him off of Celcept until we go in May. For now he is on Prednozone which we are not at all thrilled about. He will go to our clinic or doctor for labs mid month to see how the shot and Prednozone are working. I am taking off in May to go with him.

I hate to complain considering how easy it went for us. However, I think you have an expectation of stress and drama with the transplant, but figure life to be normal/calm. The reality of it is this: with any foreign body part, normal is not exactly what you remember it to be. With that said, still very greatful, but need to adjust our thinking about the after care. We need to be as persistant as before and knowledgable. I believe that I was lacking in this post transplant, but will get back to my job!

I have heard people want me to update this, but much of the time, we run our butts like everyone else now. His scars are a reminder of the good deed our friend did and the hope of a normal life.

Our kids are doing well. Our daughter got accepted to Governor's School and leaves at the end of May. She was awarded some other honors at school last week. We are very proud of her. She has maintained a 4.0 through all of this and hopes to finish the year the same way. She is finishing her softball season. She has been catching some of the games and "loves it!"

Our son finished his bowling league. However, he and Sean will begin a youth/adult league on Monday. It will be difficult with him this summer. His best friend of 5 years and his sister both leave at the end of May. His friend is moving 3 hours away. I worry how he will handle all of this, but like a child, he should bounce back.

I have stopped leading Weight Watcher meetings and prefer to just reception. I feel like I have more interaction with them at the counter than in the meetings. I am enjoying my change. I will continue to work in 1st grade as I really love this age.

Sean would like to take up golf again and I will try to encourage that. So if anyone stinks at it and would like to go hit some balls, call him. He used to do this before I came along, so it has been quite a while. I think he needs a hobby.

Wow! Our Daughter Rocks!

Well this week was a good one for Dayle. She made the softball team AND got accepted to Governor's School in East TN. This program will allow her an opportunity to earn 7 college credit hours and experience what it's like to live away from home. She will be gone for 5 weeks over the summer. It begins just days after our school year ends.

Her softball practices are Monday through Friday so her life just got super busy. We are going to allow her to drive herself because we won't be able to get her to games on time with the new extended schedule. She will be required to be at the games by 4:15 and I won't get off work until almost 4:30 now. She has been driving herself around this weekend to practice. Interesting that her license came in the right time frame.

New Life, Back to Routine

Well, I am happy to say that some things never change. When the TV wasn't working because of snow on the dish, my husband went outside, stood on the camper and cleaned the dish so he could watch the news in the morning. Routine!!! (If I balk, his response would simply be.....I didn't lift!) My husband!

Also, his frustration with "cooking every night." Yes, for those that don't know, I married very well-I do NOT cook! Thank you Lord. He would rather have gone out in 20 degree weather than cook last night, but payday isn't until tomorrow, so dinner he made. His creative nights are the best dinners. He gets bored so he takes an old favorite and changes it. This one was a hit. Funny-he NEVER writes it down or I might actually cook some nights.

He looks fabulous, for those that haven't seen him. He is keeping the weight off and once the weather clears up some, he will go walking with me in the early mornings to take off some more. Some say he needs no more weight off, but under 200 is the goal. He isn't really that far away, so it is certainly attainable. I get to reap the benefits of a hottie husband. Ladies isn't that called "arm candy" or something-haha. Anyway, sharp dressed is the goal. His stupid T-Shirts are like 3 sizes too big-hard to put my arm around him with all that fabric hanging off him. We are slowly buying new things, but outwear is the most important since he needs to look presentable at work-T-Shirts are not the priority yet.

The donor has been back in CA for a while now. Doing well-Sean talks to him. I feel like I was a pain in his butt keeping up with his appts and such that I leave him alone mostly. That poor man is not used to having a nagging wife, so I figure, I'll let Sean handle the updates on him. I do think he might have liked to ban me from his room when I was making him walk during his hospital stay. I did it because I love him!

We are trying to plan a visit to see him. He's been in CA for 9 years and we've never been, so...it is high time. I really don't want to be on a plane that long (I'm not afraid of flying just used to two hour flights.).

Funny-I thought I had nothing to say-lol.

Meds, new stuff, whatever....

Well I have been told that I need to keep writing so here we go....

Life is fairly normal. Sean went back on Jan. 18th-only 20 days post transplant! Whoo-hoo for my hubby! He wanted to go back then and he did. Still going to appointments, at first weekly, and now two weeks. All the extra crap is out of his body-stint, dialysis port, etc. He was quite excited when the last thing was removed.

He came home on NO steroids! That was great considering the side effects of them. I think that this wonderful thing is due to Dr. P. Clark for saving the glands when he did the removal. This man was fabulous-a total pleasure! He takes a mess of meds still, but luckily NO steroids.

My sister in law is looking for meds so here they are: Cellcept 500 mg 2 times/day, Prograf 5 mg 2 times/day, Dapsone 1 time/day & Valcyte 1 time/day. He just began taking a low dose of something for his cholesterol. What has not been introduced back and I hope it continues to stay that way is a BP med. I am impressed with the BP since the new kidney!

Sean has done well at managing his meds . However with the snow and fun yesterday he was a few hours tardy in taking his meds. Please for my sake, don't bug him about it! He realizes the issues and was so irritated with himself that I said nothing. I only had him call the service to advise on the next dosing. Very proud-I do not babysit this process, so he now has a back up plan in place. He was in the process of changing over the documentation sheets which is part of the reason. I usually do glance at the pages (honestly, I think the kids do too) to make sure it's being done. Pills are in boxes on the fridge door, so you'd think I would have noticed. Oh well, lesson learned by all.

I am letting go of some things that take me out of the house in the evenings. I will still bowl on Monday nights and reception at Weight Watchers on Wednesdays. I did give up leading my Tuesday night meeting and leading on Wednesday night. I love my groups so it was a difficult choice. Last week in church it just became clear that I needed to find me in all this mess. I've been so focused on one thing and luckily for me I had these things to keep me focused on only the positive things. I credit working WW and bowling for that focus. Now however, I need a little rest. My daughter is getting older and will likely only be here for another 2 1/2 years. (She wants to go to school in FL.) and Garett is getting older too. We only have one life and limited time with our kids. I don't want a "new life" full of regrets-not to mention I kind of like spending time with my hubby. If not, what did I do all this for? So, I'm downsizing my responsibilities outside the house. I am happy with my decision and hope others will at least respect it.

From Zero to Sixty

Well this was the week Sean went back to work. I think he did well at the beginning of the week easing into it, especially since on his first day both of his other teammates were sick. He was on his own the first day.

However, by today, Friday, he was wiped out!!! He said many work orders came in yesterday and they had a lot to do and he even drove much of it by himself. I discussed with him the need to move as slow as he needs. His response was "I didn't lift anything." He is used to busting some butt to get those work orders done within a short period. When he was up to par, this was not a problem. Of course now, he jumped right back in not thinking about it and it caught up with him. As a result, there was a bit of leakage/blood on his shirt today from the incision area. I don't see where it came from, but none the less nerve racking.

Tonight he missed Garett's Blue and Gold because he just couldn't wear pants on that incision any longer. (We need to get him pants that fit better. He said the pants today were too big and he had to pull his belt too tight which is why the blood happened.) I am glad he finally agreed to leave. He came for dinner, but left before the awards. Garett didn't earn much so it wasn't a big deal.

The hardest thing for Sean is how much running we do daily after work. He went from seeing us often to hardly ever. He says he doesn't like it much. Some of it is the mid-week grocery trips, car repair trips and others are carting kids to and from their events. Add to that my working at WW and tutoring and we are going, going. So I guess when you go from nothing to this.....it's 0 to 60!

The doctors seem to think things look good with his kidney. It's kind of weird to see the labs weekly having the numbers change. You're up, you're down...it's good, it's bad. His kidney function was at 55 and is now at 45. The doctors don't seem concerned about it, but to us having focused much of our life on this little number for so long, it seems like a big deal to have it go down! We are trying to take one visit at a time and roll with it if they don't worry, we try not to.

They are looking into Sean's headaches. He thinks its a stress sort of headache because of the location. He gave Sean some muscle relaxers to help it work itself out. If they continue, he might have a medication change as Prograf can cause headaches.

The good news this week is that the potassium is finally in a better range. Sean has been watching the foods he eats which I'm sure helped.

Back to Work

Well all,
I've heard that I scared some people with the post about Sean's levels. For that I'm sorry. I didn't post while I was stressed-I waited until we got the new numbers. It was very scary and we know that we need to watch the potassium intake. This is still happening now, but not as high as before. The surgeon said that Prograf is known to have something to do with it, so it might not be "all" about what Sean eats. We plan to ask the kidney doctor about this on Thurs.

Sean is going to try and go back to work on Monday. I think he needs to do this, but figure he'll be tired at the end of the day more so than he is used to. The upside I hope will be a better sleep. Since he is going back to work, he need some new clothes. He went from a XXL or XXXL to a L or XL. He is struggling to get his head around this. He keeps leaning toward the bigger clothes. I've had to remind him that he is not that big anymore!

I am getting caught up-sort of.....I have been weeks ahead all year and now, I'm barely done with next weeks lessons. (I usually have it all set out and that hasn't happened.) I hate that part of this! I want to be weeks ahead in my plans again. You'd think with time off, I could have done that, but I was wiped!

With the transplant done, I will begin to pursue other endeavors in my career. I got my Master in Leadership, so I may as well begin to consider opportunities that present themself. I was hesitant to do this knowing that transplant was looming over us. Now I feel like its time.

Now that he's well (and back to work), I guess I need to see if people are still interested in the blog. Drop a line with your thoughts to let me know.
Thanks for following us on this journey!
Mary

PS. My baby girl turned 16 today!

Better Now

I was trying to wait until we got the latest lab results prior to posting something. Tuesday we had the first appointment since release. It was a bit crazy. Apparently it is called "clinic" so that implies a huge wait time. It was nuts!!! They wouldn't do the labs prior to our appointment which proved to be a screw up.

Tues. night Sean got a call about his potassium levels being dangerously high. He was required to drink some prescription medicine (which is nearly impossible to find in Clarkville) to help eliminate potassium. Then off to a local doctor for blood work to check to see if it's back to normal. During the call the doctor kept asking if Sean's heart was well and did he feel okay. It is difficult to go from you are near deadly numbers to complacency as we spent the last two days tracking down results.

So with no one calling us back today, we went to our local doctor that drew the blood and told them we needed the lab results. With those in hand, we know that they are better, but still no input on if he's to maintain a low potassium diet or resume a regular diet. So he called his aunt to get some advise. He will stear clear of beans and potatoes, but will have tomato on sandwhiches. Then on Tues. we will clarify what kind of diet if any he must maintain.

Out of this, we have insisted that labs be done prior to the appointment so we can discuss the results as part of the visit. Otherwise it seems too very stupid to go all the way there. The point is to be relaxed after a visit not relaxed then all in an uproar. When they call at night and you are shocked and think of questions later. The downside if there is one (of drawing labs prior to doctor visit), is that Sean might have to be stuck a second time IF the doctor wants additional labs drawn.

This whole thing is getting confusing. We used to have a doctor and then a coordinator. Now we have so many doctors and one main number to use. I am not quite sure if we are to contact each doctor depending on the issue or this main number. Whatever the procedure, it was not working today. We called all numbers, emailed and got no response until we kept calling. I don't want to be "that" patient, but like I said, near "deadly" (the word they used) is a bit scarey and requires some contact. So you know I'll be asking who gets called and for what so this doesn't happen again. I'd also like to know the time frame for a call back.

Tuesday (12th) they are supposed to remove staples and dialysis port. It's time for the port. It started getting a little red/irritated yesterday and today. The following week on the 21st, Sean will see the kidney doctor, have a bone scan, have a stint removed and see a urologist. That will be a busy day! After that, if things look well, I think he'll go to his appointments without me. I might go to some a little later. Lab work from Vandi goes onto the website so we have access to it almost immediately.

The boys are going home!!!

Whoo-hoo 2010 is looking great!!!! The boys are both being released as I sit and type. Paperwork is under way. Both boys are dressed and ready. Sean is going home with most everything out-he still has the dialysis port in and won't get it out until he sees the surgeon in a few weeks. Sadly they could have taken it out today which upsets him because he wants that out now!!! We just asked the wrong doctor.

Jeremy's paperwork is done and he will see the doors long before us-and he's gone! The nurse said she has to round with meds for all THEN she will release him. We even had the same nurse. We hope that it is soon, but are happy it's today.

News Article

Well the local newspaper interviewed us on Christmas Eve and it ran today. We love getting the word out about organ donation. I figure if people talk, then they might consider it. I just don't think people are aware of what is involved. All is covered by the recipients insurance except lost wages. Anyway here is the link to the article if you are interested.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310317/Kidney-offers-new-beginning-for-Clarksville-man


We wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year!

Update on the boys:
Sean is doing well. He looks great but guess I am partial! He's moving around and due out tomorrow if all goes well. He will go home with his dialysis port and drainage bag in place, but both "should" come out on his next appointment.

Jeremy is struggling a bit. He is moving and has been walking a little. He is trying to deal with the pain. His color is back and he looks much better today than yesterday, so I am hopeful that he gets to "feeling better" soon. It is difficult to see our ANGEL in hurting!

Whooooooo-Hooooo

Holy cow-it's really happened! Transplant day!

Lots and lots of waiting.....we had to be there with the donor at 5:30 am. Jeremy's surgery began at 7:30 am and Sean's at 9:30 am. They took Jeremy back around 6 to prep. They didn't take Sean until 8 am.

The update board said Jeremy's procedure began at 8:14 am. Sean's message said they started at 10:04 am. Jeremy's parents got a doctor visit around 12:30pm. During that time they told them that the kidney was in Sean and plumping up! That seemed to be good news. I finally heard from our doctor at 1:00 pm. He said that surgery went well, Sean did well and it looks good. They will watch him for about two hours before sending him to his floor.

We haven't seen him yet, but hope to in an hour or so. I am curious to see if the kidney is working. I want to see Jeremy too. What an angel!! I will update this one later tonight after I see them both.

Keep praying-our donor is such a special person! His family is wonderfully supportive.

Happy New Year!!!

I went to see him this evening when he got settled into his room. He looks great-his color is good. His pain is being managed with oral meds which is different from the last time. They used staples again instead of glue. Be got the "binder" with all the transplant information. I read through it tonight and have a few questions for the doctors already.

Three Days and Counting....

We had a great Christmas. On Christmas eve, a newspaper reporter came and spent some time with us interviewing Jeremy and Sean about their friendship and the transplant. She is a fabulous lady and it was good to put a face with a name after all these years! Can't wait to see the piece.

At the last minute-like 10:00 pm we decided to go to midnight mass because the Christmas day mass wasn't working with our traditional schedule. Sean and the kids went to rest for an hour before we had to leave for church. It was a good mass and it left Christmas wide open for family time which is just what we like.


We had our breakfast, opened presents and just hung out for most of the day. We visited a friend and a couple friends came here to visit us. Sean cooked dinner-yummy! Of course he overdid it a bit and didn't sleep well. But all had a great time eating too much and visiting. Our donor left for his hotel in Nashville for some much deserved peace and quiet. Two days with us and I'm sure he was ready for quiet!


Today I went to work and got set up for my sub. It was so peaceful and it is all done (or at least I hope it is). Sean went to dialysis. The kids are playing their new game. Now...when to take down the tree......


Dialysis went well except the people there are complacent at best on some days. Today they are overcrowded due to the holiday and so much goes by the waste side. Sean has a disc thing that we drive all the way to Nashville because it is so important. Well today he told the nurse or tech that it fell off and she said she'd look at it. After 3.5 hours no one had come to look at it, so he asked someone else. They said Vandi is the only place that does it and it isn't that big of a deal. To top it off, they don't have any because they are changing out their stock. (They also didn't have something else he needed today too.) What kind of dialysis center runs out of essential supplies? Needless to say, he is quite upset. We are THREE days from transplant-now is not the time to get an infection!


So needless to say, he will ask the doctor on Monday about this very important piece that requires a drive to Nashville three times a week. I didn't think this little thing was it, but the nurse or tech said it was, so.....it's worth a mention to the doctor. I thought the all important part was what they packed the tube with as he leaves, but who knows?...I still think it's terribly irresponsible to run out of supplies to keep these things covered.


Jeremy is in Nashville and we've gotten to spend much time with him. His family will arrive tomorrow. I look forward to meeting his parents. I've heard of cases where a potential donor's family talks them out of it. So I am forever thankful that our donor's family is supportive of his choice to donate. Jeremy was a little shocked to hear his kidney may only last for 20 years. He was thinking it would last Sean's lifetime. Sean does intend to take care of himself and that precious kidney to help it last longer than 20 years!

I will post as soon as I can after transplant to let everyone know how it is going. I never did find wireless internet in the hospital, so it'll be late when I do. I'll have to wait until I get to the hotel to post.

Have a great rest of the holiday season!

Whirlwind

Well that word seems to sum up the last couple of days. We've been in Nashville for days......Sean did dialysis on Monday and when getting ready to get off the machine at the standard prescribed three hours, the doctor decided he should have been getting four all along. So....why not start now. After that, we tried to kill some time before our donor's flight arrived. That would have been easier IF Sean felt better. That extra hour did him in and his back was sore too, bummer!

Got the donor and got him settled-sort of-at the hotel. We felt bad that we left him high and dry for dinner, but pointed out some close places to eat dinner. We headed home after a long day, ready for bed.

Today we went to Nashville for pre-op testing. It was an all day thing and am tired! We did eat at the Pancake Pantry which was awesome and I am still full like six hours later. The doctor said that the donor is such a close match that he can't believe that he isn't family! I guess your prayers are working so thank you!!!

Our donor got a bit of attention while sitting in the waiting room today. One lady kept saying "In twelve years coming here, I don't think we've ever met a donor!" She was so taken with him. Her husband got a cadaver kidney twelve years ago. They knew nothing but the guy's first name and that he died in a motorcycle accident. We learned that the donor's family has a say in the amount of contact/information given with the organ. This particular family only knew a name and that he was into cars and bikes. I've know others that have contact with the family who was blessed to get an organ. So this lady told him he is an angel and kept on gushing over him and rightly so. He is our angel-there is not doubt!

Seven days left to the big day. Keep praying for us and the donor's family. Some wonderful school here sent him a card to thank him which I thought was a profound idea. I've said it before and will again....I am amazed, blessed and humbled by the thoughtfulness and kindness of people that we know and many that we don't. Our world moves so fast and so do we with phones attached to our heads and computers on our laps, that it is a blessing to see people's hearts!

Love to all and we wish you all a happy holiday season. I did try to do cards, but most are still sitting on my counter. Please know that if yours didn't come, that is where it is. I might get them out in the new year-lol. Have a blessed and safe holiday season!!

Medicare

Sean spent many hours trying to get this done since no one has bothered to help with this on the hospital/dialysis end. It sounds like he may not qualify which doesn't make sense. We were told by the hospital social worker in the transplant dept. that in end stage renal failure, they qualify. Well today he was told that it doesn't matter that he has no kidneys and that he likely won't qualify until he has the transplant. It seems odd, but you can only do what you can. They can't finish processing it b/c the dialysis center has NOT gotten the doctors signature on it since we completed it early this month! So it leaves us with maybe maybe not. The problem is if someone messes this up and he needs to qualify now to get benefits post transplant, it'll mess us up. We only have 12 days until transplant. Time is important. We'll keep trucking away at it.

I got this email today and thought I'd post. Everyone has been so supportive of us and would love to help someone else. Prayer is powerful and free. Happy Holidays all!

Prayer request for Gary and Cindy Hogman by way of Faith PresbyterianChurch, Memphis , Tennessee .Gary is serving in Iraq while his young wife is fighting cancer here. See his Request below.From: Bobby S. Briggs, MSgt, USAF823 ESFS/SFOCFlight SergeantBAGHDAD AB, IRAQMy name is Gary Hogman. Some of you receiving this know me, some do not. Mywife, Cindy, is 32 years old and has just been diagnosed with stage 4cervical cancer.Her chances for survival are very slim. She was pregnant with our secondchild and had miscarried recently at 3 Months; and now we know why. This isa request for you to forward this e-mail to everyone you know asking forprayer. The more people that pray for her to be healed, the better. Pray andforward. It only takes a second to hit 'forward.' Please do it and don't delete this. Your prayer can, and perhaps will, saveher life. Please pray and ask everyone you know to pray for the HEALING ofCINDY HOGMAN And the removal of all cancer from her body, so she may enjoyall that life has to offer, and to continue to be the wonderful mother toour 5-year-old son Michael. The power of Prayer is unsurpassed. I want the whole world to have her intheir prayers the next few weeks. God will hear our cry. Please do not beoffended by my plea. This is only a request for your help. Thank you fromthe bottom of myheart for reading this and helping with our request for healing! No wordscan express the power we have when we each do a little to come together. Regards, Cindy's husband - GaryThank you, and please send it to the far reaches of our world!

Holiday Fun

Sean has been trying to get involved with the holidays. I've been trying to keep him away from people, but Garett had a sore throat on Sunday last week. At that point, I figured.....what the heck. So we went to a work party for a little bit last night and a neighborhood party tonight. Both were fun, but he was definately worse for the wear tonight. It is good that we live close so he could come back and rest.

The schedule is crazy this time of year. Dayle has exams, youth leader dinner, bowling party, a chorus program, driving class and lessons. Garett has a Boy Scout potluck and bowling party. That is for this week.

Sean wanted to go back to work b/c he is tired of these four walls. However, after last night and tonight, I don't see it happening. He can make it about an hour or so before he needs to sit down. Then he's tired. I hope he makes the best choice for him and his body.