Worse Than An IA

Hope all is well, Weby. Kids are so scary!

Oh how scary Weby!  I hope she's feeling better now!

Thanks for the well wishes. She puked her way through this past weekend and has been OK today (so far) and has even started to eat a little. We took her to the GP today and they're convinced that the vomiting is not related to her bump on the head.

DH has always declared he wouldn't want any family member to be a living kidney donor -- but seems to be changing his tune. I understand it would mean he could probably completely avoid dialysis but it makes me feel faint just thinking about it. I can't even bring myself to read the information. His consultant is going to send me the questionnaires.
Not so worried about losing a kidney as having to face several days in hospital, probably in pain. I'm a wimp.    And who's going to take care of both of us while we recuperate?

BostonDiner, I just spent the past ten minutes scouring Google and the BBC News site to no avail. Last year I watched a video diary on there from a woman who donated her kidney to her husband (his 3rd or 4th kidney). It was totally and utterly amazing and I had tears in my eyes at the end for everything this couple went through together (and I can count on one hand the number of films I've ever cried in). I really hope someone else is able to find the link, because it was such an honest and heartfelt --

No! It was on the Guardian's site! I've found it now! Please, please watch this together.

Thanks, Squirrely. Getting us both on same side of the pond to watch it may take some doing though!
I just printed out masses of pages from National Kidney Foundation on living donors, so if I can get through that without having a meltdown ... See, it says I could be out of the hospital in 2-5 days but he'd been in for weeks. I doubt if either of us could carry shopping and stuff right away -- so I worry about that kind of stuff.

I just printed out masses of pages from National Kidney Foundation on living donors, so if I can get through that without having a meltdown ... See, it says I could be out of the hospital in 2-5 days but he'd been in for weeks. I doubt if either of us could carry shopping and stuff right away -- so I worry about that kind of stuff.

BD, I wonder if there are some kidney charities that may be able to offer assistance with that kind of thing?

(((hugs))) not an easy thing

Thanks, Squirrely. Getting us both on same side of the pond to watch it may take some doing though!
I just printed out masses of pages from National Kidney Foundation on living donors, so if I can get through that without having a meltdown ... See, it says I could be out of the hospital in 2-5 days but he'd been in for weeks. I doubt if either of us could carry shopping and stuff right away -- so I worry about that kind of stuff.

Could your son take some time to come help?  Also, I'd wonder if the NHS would cover the care for you, since you're not yet a legal resident of the UK. I mean, it would make sense that they would, since you're donating a kidney to a legal resident but then again, the NHS doesn't cover prenatal care/delivery when the mother is a visitor but the baby will be a UK citizen.

Thanks for suggestions. DH thinks he is blood type O and I know I am A, so doesn't sound like we'd be compatible. Of course, NHS may want us to do a "pair" swap with someone else. And there is some way of altering the recipient's blood so it won't fight with the transplant -- but I don't know what's involved with that.
I've also read that if they do a less-than-perfect transplant (as from a spouse rather than blood relative) and that kidney is rejected the recipient will have a harder time finding a match after that.

A friend of mine from Trinidad, whom I did some of my masters degree classes with and whom I used to work with was found dead today. Details are sketchy.  I am gutted. Such a tragedy, such a smart man, such a handsome, funny man. 

So sorry, PB.

Glad your daughter is okay Weby.

Good luck with figuring out what to do BD!  It sounds really complicated and like a tough situation to be in.

Oh PB, I'm sorry to hear that.

A friend of mine from Trinidad, whom I did some of my masters degree classes with and whom I used to work with was found dead today. Details are sketchy.  I am gutted. Such a tragedy, such a smart man, such a handsome, funny man. 

So sorry pb. 

Thanks all.  Its very sad 

oh PB  my condolences.