once again....

Ok, so we are rescheduled for this thursday.  I don't think I'll really believe it until I wake up with a scar, but I am hopeful!

As much of a roller coaster as this has been for me I know it's nothing compared to what Melissa, Mike, Haley and the rest of their family are going through. 

Even though Noah is too young to really understand there are still little things that show the toll this takes on him.  As Tina and I were waiting in my little room last week we heard them checking him out.  They put him on the scale and as soon as they were done he turned to the nurse and asked, "pressure?"

How many 3-year-olds even know what blood pressure is, never mind the fact that after you get your weight checked blood pressure follows? 

Stuff like that reminds me of why I'm doing this and why I can be patient.

And as I've told Melissa, if the Army taught me anything it was how to hurry up and wait.  When we left for Iraq it took us an extra month to actually leave.  Really, I should have expected this.

-Amy

The third time, apparently not always the charm...

Well, once again we are on hold.  We got to the hospital at 5:30 am.  Tina and I headed up to the pre-op room.  They got me situated and started the IV.  Noah and company arrived.  We were ready to roll.  The nurse anesthatist was seconds away from knocking me out when we got word to stop. 

Noah had a slight fever last night.  Even though he was feeling fine this morning the doctor wasn't comfortable with moving ahead.  Because the fever could have been caused by an infection it wasn't safe to put him on imuno-suppressants and perform major surgery.

Of course, we all understand we need to do what's best for noah there was dissapointment all around.  Needless to say my brother and Jen were surprised to see me walk back into the waiting room.

So, we are on hold again.  There's a chance we might reschedule for next week.  I will continue to update.

Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers, we'll get there.  I know we will.

Amy

Here we go!

Well, it's about that time.  Getting ready to head to C-ville.  I have to be at UVA at 5:30 am and I think we all know how much of a morning person I am so we'll be spending the night.  Tina and Jen are taking my and my brother is meeting us there.  I will get one of them to post updates on my progress tomorrow.

I'm still not really nervous.  After two days of a liquid diet I'm actually pretty ready for them to put me to sleep so I can eat when I get up :)

Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes! 

See you on the other side.

Amy

The big question

So one week from today is the big day. As we get closer and I talk to more people a lot have asked why I am doing this. The simple answer is that there is a small child that needs help and I am in a position to give it to him. But of course the simple answer is never the complete answer. A lot of things have brought me to this point. There are a few big ones.

First of all I have had a lucky life. I was raised in a loving middle class family. There was never a question as to whether or not I would go to college only a question of where. I've always had my health, not everyone does. I spent an entire year in Iraq and came home without a scratch. So many others didn't. That's a lot to be thankful for. All of these things have always led me to know that I should give something back.

So, why this specific something?

A little more than three years ago I got a call from my dad telling me that my brother had appendicitis. A bit of a bummer especially considering my sister-in-law was 8 months pregnant. But, what's an appendectomy?
A couple of days later I got a call from my mom. When she said Chris needed a liver transplant my brain had a hard time understanding the words. As far as we knew he was a healthy guy. Liver cancer, a transplant? Incomprehensible.

Over the next few months we welcomed Lauren into the world and waited. More than once he got a call and headed to the hospital only to be told that it wasn't a go.

Then, in September, the real call came. An 18-year-old boy had died and, at what had to be the worst moment of their lives, his parents made the choice to save others.

Out of their family's tragedy came our family's salvation. A son, a brother, a husband and a father got a second chance at life all because strangers made a courageous and selfless decision.

Shortly after all of this I started working at the Kidney Foundation. As I met others waiting for organ donations I discovered just how lucky my brother, and our family, had been. I met people who have waited year after year for a call that still hasn't come. I learned of the draining and painful process that is dialysis.

Then I met Noah. Just a few months younger than my own niece, his whole life had been spent in and out of hospitals, and back and forth to the doctor. I looked at Lauren and could only think that every child should be as lucky.

I may never know who it was that saved my brother's life. And even if I do, no amount of thank yous could ever be enough. I have my brother. My parents have their son. Courtney has a husband and Lauren a father. And on top of all that, our entire family has Emily, whose birth wouldn't have been possible without the donor and his family.

This is my way to pay it forward. It is them that I honor next Thursday.

And, I feel incredibly lucky to know that by my small sacrifice, Noah may be able to have a childhood less encumbered by medical problems. That he will be free to swim, learn to ride a bike and go to school. That he could have all the chances that my own nieces have.

So, yeah... that's why.

The results are in

Well, it looks like we are finally a go.  I got a call late this afternoon from Melissa(Noah's mom) letting me know that the test came back as we had hoped.  So barring any really odd circumstances is it looks like the 26th is the day.  I'm both excited and a little nervous.  Time to get all my ducks in a row before next week.

For those of you who want to know more about Noah check out his blog at
 http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noahsvoice.webs.com%2F&h=058df

Monday I head back to UVA for my final bloodwork.  Noah also has dialysis that day so I'm going to sopt by to visit and get some pictures as we don't have  any of the two of us together.

let the countdown begin.  8 days and a wake up!

Blood Test Tomorrow

So, due to the fact that many i know are not on facebook I decided to start a blog to update everyone on transplant news. 

Tomorrow is a huge day.  We draw my blood once again to test with Noah's to make sure that he hasn't developed any antibodies to my blood.  By Wedesday we should know if we are good to go.

Then next  monday i make another trip to UVA to get my pre-op bloodwork done.  As long as that all looks good then we should be all systems go for transplant Thursday. 

At this point, after two delays it seems a bit unreal that we could be this close.  Here's hoping the third time is the charm!