Channy's Liver

Multiple Living Organ Donation - Kidney Anniversary

2011-11-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hello blog! Nice to see you again!

Today marks the one year anniversary of my kidney donation. Even though it does feel like a year has passed, I don't really feel all that different on the inside and am happy to report my remaining kidney is doing the job of two, pumpin' out the pee!

For me, this day is just another day...business as usual. I hope whoever has my kidney is doing wonderful! I never heard anything about my recipient following my discharge from Toronto general, so I don't know if my kidney is still working, or if it was rejected. Maybe it's better I don't know. If it is still working, my only other hope is that at some point today, my recipient runs a finger along the crimson scar marking his or her belly, and gives a silent thank-you. Actually, I like to believe he or she does that every day.

In other news, I'm still trying to migrate all my notes and pictures from the donation process from my old shitty PC, to my sleek, reliable new iMac and apple products! Once this is done, the plan is to do massive update on this page. That's the plan anyway. That's it for now though, remember to sign a donor card!! Links to do so are on the right.

Multiple Living Organ Donation - Kidney 7 Months

2011-07-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

Yipes! Once again, this update is long overdue! May 19th marked my 6 month anniversary for donating my kidney at Toronto General. I feel great! My incision has healed up very nicely, I have no pain or discomfort at all, and I have no adverse effects or feelings since the ordeal began! In fact....I feel great!

Shortly after I was discharged, the hospital sent me an aftercare package that outlined when I needed to have follow-up testing done. This package included forms and requisition papers for a six month follow-up. The tests to be done? A 24 hour urine collection followed by a blood test. The instructions were pretty simple.

1) Obtain a clean plastic jug from your Coordinator or local lab.

2)At the start of the test day, void (pass your urine) and discard it.Write down the exact date and time of that first void. This is the start of the test even though you have discarded the urine.

3) For the next 24 hours, each time you void, put the urine in the jug. Save all your urine for the next 24 hours.

4)The following morning at the same time as your first void, empty your bladder and save that urine in the jug as well. This is the end of the test. Write down the exact time and date of your last void.

5) While collecting the urine, keep the jug away from any source of heat.

6) Return the jug to the lab once your 24 hours is complete. At that time, they will take a blood sample.

Now, I'm no stranger to the 24 hour urine collection procedure, it's just hard to be discrete. I mean, the container they give you for the actual collection isn't exactly a fashion accessory. In fact....it looks like a gas can!

Behold...the 24 hour urine collection vessel!

Of course, that wouldn't even be an issue if I had started the collection say...on a Sunday morning, in the comfort and privacy of my own home like any normal, sane person would have done! But no...I decided to do it midweek.....while at work.

Now, even that wouldn't be so bad if I worked in an office, or in a place where I could just leave the container and fill it when I needed to pee, but the fact is I'm on the road all day...in and out of places every few minutes...surrounded by people, but that's what I did. Any time I had to pee, I grabbed my bright, neon-orange piss jug, tucked it into a plastic Wegman's grocery bag, and ventured through the particular store I was in to the bathroom where I would collect my precious urine! Ummm...don't think for a minute that this didn't raise a few eyebrows...although I did tell a co-worker it was my kool-aid jug! This went on all day till the following day when I dropped off the jug and did my blood test.

The purpose of this test is to see how well my remaining kidney filters waste products. The amount of waste product, (creatinine) in the urine is compared to the amount in the blood. The lab will test my pee and my blood and send the results off to Toronto General. If there was a problem, or any unusual readings, they'll get in touch with me.

The entire process is fairly harmless, but as a public service I offer this advise....be careful with the piss jug. Even though it does have a lid on it, it doesn't 'seal' very well...no matter how tight you think the lid is on it. While in transit, place the jug on a level, secure surface, not on the front seat of your new Toyota Matrix. Lastly, and I can't stress this enough, do not at any time shake the piss jug for any reason! Just trust me on that.

Behold....my 24 hour pee jug, with 'void'!

Canadian National Blood Donor Week

2011-06-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Canadian Blood Services celebrates National Blood Donor Week June 13 – 19, 2011. National Blood Donor Week provides an opportunity to celebrate and thank the generous donors from coast to coast who support the blood system in Canada and help ensure the health of their fellow citizens. The week also builds awareness of the importance of blood, plasma, platelet and stem cell donations, and encourages more Canadians to give blood—especially during the challenging summer months.

This year’s theme for National Blood Donor Week is “Rally Together to Save Lives”. Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. That’s why Canadian Blood Services is rallying communities across the country to come together and show that collectively, blood donations can make a positive impact on someone’s life. To meet Canada’s future blood needs, we need to inspire more Canadians to join the movement.

We need communities to rally together because it takes many units of blood to save a patient. One blood donation equals one unit of blood. For instance, it can take:

50 units of blood to help someone in a car accident
2 units to help someone who needs brain surgery
5 units to help someone in cancer treatment
8 units a week to help someone with leukemia
5 units to save someone who needs cardiovascular surgery
2 to 8 units to help someone with internal bleeding
2 units a day to help someone undergoing a bone marrow transplant
4 units a month to help someone with Aplastic Anemia
2 units for a hip replacement

Other compelling numbers include...

43% of first time donors go with someone else to donate
Approximately 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to give blood. Last year 1 in 60 actually did.
52 per cent of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment. (Ipsos-Reid)
Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood
A healthy person can donate blood every 56 days
Canadian Blood Services is in your community – there are over 20 000 clinics nationwide
The donation process takes 1 hour – actual collection only takes approx 10-15 minutes

To book an appointment to give blood, call 1-888-2-donate (1-888-236-6283)

Visit online at www.blood.ca or visit www.bloodsignal.ca

If giving blood isn't your thing...why not sign up to be a organ donor! Or do both!!

Bree - The Sweetest Soul

2011-05-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

The world is losing one of it's sweetest souls, Brianne (Bree) Cordick. Although I never met, or talked to her, I followed her journey through her blog "The Blog Blog." Bree received a lung transplant in August 2009 after suffering from a condition called Bronchiectasis. The transplant worked and Bree continued to be the coolest, kick-ass chick I have never met! Sadly, her other condition, ADA SCID, continued to fight her. In late February, she was admitted to hospital for what she called a 'broken head.' Daily checks to her blog revealed no updates, but through other bloggers I learned her health was failing rapidly as her doctors fought this new mystery virus.

Bree's condition worsened daily until late last week, when she was taken off life support. The world is turning so much slower today. Rest easy Bree, you will be missed, and thank you for letting me know you.

Multiple Organ Donation - Kidney Donation Slide Show

2011-04-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Finally! I have uploaded all my kidney donation photos that I could find into a slide show on the blog. You'll find it just to the right. I hate to keep dangling the promise of updates to the blog, but there are more coming, including an epic post on the entire ordeal. When you ask? Soon! My apologies for the delays.

National Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness Week

2011-04-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

This coming week, April 17th to the 23rd, is "National Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness Week" in Ontario. As such, there are many events planned across the province. To find an event near you, click here.

The numbers are shocking - there are nearly 1,500 Ontarians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Every three days, one of those on the waiting list dies simply because there aren't enough registered organ and tissue donors.

But with your help, we can change this. During National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week in April, our goal is to register 1,500 Ontarians who wish to become organ and tissue donors - all the way from Timmins in the north to Windsor in the south.

With this year's event, Life for 1500, we want to connect with your community in a personal way, introducing transplant recipients in a more intimate setting, reminiscent of a family room with an array of family photos displayed.

Life for 1500 shows that those on the wait list are more than just numbers - they're also someones family member or friend.

For those of you in Ontario, the consent form can be downloaded here!

For other Canadian provinces, click here

In Great Britain, click here

In the United States, click here

To Remember Me - I Will Live Forever

by Robert Noel Test, American Poet (1926-1994)

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital; busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.

When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don’t call this my deathbed. Let it be called the bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the eyes of a woman.
Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.
Give my kidneys to the one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.
Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk. Explore every corner of my brain.
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.
Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudice against my fellow man.
Give my sins to the devil.
Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

(from www.organdonorawareness.org/)

Bloggers With CF

2011-04-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

I am a bad blogger, but a great procrastinator! Actually, I wanted to post this entry earlier in the week, but had a few uncontrollable setbacks. Mostly a fried modem and a dental appointment from hell. My apologies for the lack of updates here.

My introduction to CF came in the form of a fiery red head named Eva Markvoort. Actually, at the time I think she was brunette, but that could just be my color blindness. In any case, I stumbled across her blog in 2008, read & followed her entries, and from time to time, she would post videos. Never had I witnessed such courage, such finesse and such dignity in the face of something as ugly as CF. Reading about someones illness was bad enough, but the helplessness I felt one night that came from watching the videos was horrible. She posted a video of herself during a coughing fit. I wept, it was frightening to watch and has, to this day, stuck in my mind.

A few years ago, I caught a cold, or at least what I thought was a cold. The suffering lasted a few days but the symptoms weren't like any cold I had ever had in the past. In fact, it was just coughing fits! Major coughing fits! This went on for about a week before I decided to seek medical help. Well....my cold turned out to be post nasal drip. If you've ever experienced it, it's brutal! I would have these violent coughing fits that would leave me gasping for air. During the night, I'd cough so much, and so heavy I would almost gag and throw up...desperate for air. I don't pretend to think that my bout with the post nasal drip is anything even remotely close to what someone with CF goes through, but I understand the fear of not being able to breath, and the pain caused by the retching.

Needless to say, many of the blogs I follow and read are of people with CF. Some have had lung transplants, while others are on the waiting list....some are managing OK, while others are struggling. What amazes me most is the very tight-knit community CF'ers have formed across the globe. These are regular people full of hopes and dreams that for the most part, blend in with the rest of us and try to lead as normal a life as they can. The funny thing is, I find those living with CF have a much deeper appreciation for each day they are given....regardless of how shitty they're feeling that day. I've listed a few links to some of the CF blogs I follow to the right of the page. I urge you to visit these blogs, read their hopes, dreams and struggles and maybe leave a comment or two, or an email cheering them on! Oh...and one final request, sign your donor card please!!

CF - A message From Eva

2011-03-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

Updates on my kidney donation are coming...I promise. Just need to organize thoughts and events before I do. In the meantime, watch the following. When you're done, sign your donor card!

February 11/2011, was a special day. 1200 people gathered to listen to some great music, to view some beautiful films and to honour Eva. The 65redroses benefit concert for CF, was a great legacy project. It brought out the best in so many people. $37 000 was raised for CF research! Eva's friends, under the direction of Stuart Gillies, produced a beautiful short film 'A Wish Where the Wind Once Blew' that honoured all those who have died from CF. Eva's boyfriend Justin also edited a short video with a message of CF, that brought home the reason why we were all there. Here is his video.

A Message from Eva from Justin Cousineau on Vimeo.

Multiple Living Organ Donation - Kidneys In 3-D!!

2010-12-01T03:04:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the year, I was able to have all my ultrasounds, MRI's and x-ray imaging scans put onto a DVD by the folks at Toronto General Hospital. (By folks, I mean 'Alba' from the imaging department!) The DVD isn't really playable, it's a data DVD, which contains a 'viewing' program on the DVD that allows the images and scans to be viewed. I'll be posting some of the scans and images over the next few days. Thank you science!!

The following video shows my kidneys in 3-D!!

Multiple Living Organ Donation - 1 Week Post Surgery

2010-11-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, November 27 th, marked the one week anniversary of my kidney donation. Once I got up this morning, I decided not take any pain medication right away. First off, I felt I didn't need any, secondly, I decided I should venture out to have the staples removed. Now, the discharge nurse at Toronto General told me they could come out in 7 to 10 days and that this could be done at my doctors office, a walk in clinic or I could do it myself. They even gave me a little tool to do the job. Now, I would have taken them out myself, but I couldn't reach or see the staples so good on my own. Needless to say, I opted for the hospital here in town to take them out. Since I was medication free, I drove the 3 blocks to the emergency department and had the nurse take them out for me!! Not that bad a procedure really, but there was some pinching, some tugging and a general feeling of 'Holy shit!!~ That hurt!' 13 staples, took less than 20 minutes from registering at the front desk, to a quick once over by the doctor on call to the actual removal of the staples. As I write this, the surgery site is itchy...very itchy!

So, eight days post donation, my incision looks good! It's clean, no real redness or swelling and now that the staples are gone, that pulling sensation is gone. How do I feel?? My pain level is maybe a 5, my stomach is still numb, I still have bruising around my left wrist where the IV was and there is bruising above and below my scar. Yup, it hurts! Not so much that I'm prevented from doing anything, but it does hurt! Getting up from a reclined or sitting position is hard, it's hard to get into, and out of bed. ~sigh~ Every day is a little better. One thing for sure, it's good to be home!!!

( Got an email from Sherry, Administrative Assistant at the Living Donor Kidney Program, yesterday as well. It tells of a package being sent to me with all my post operative appointment requisitions. Vague? Yaa, I know)

You did what????

2010-11-24T18:04:00.000-08:00

On Friday, November 19th 2010 at around 6:00am, I checked into Toronto General Hospital to donate a kidney, my left to be exact! Over the next few days, I'll be collecting my thoughts and organizing my memories and experiences so I may share them with all who visit these pages.

Obviously, I survived the procedure. My recipient, whom I don't know, nor have I ever met, is also doing fine. It's been a wild journey, lots of ups, lots of downs. As a multiple living organ donor, the medical tests I've endured have been many. Do I have regrets? Nope. I set out to donate a kidney and part of my liver...and I have! How am I doing right now? I'm sore....very sore, and I'm tired. Keep checking back as updates will be frequent.

Also, I have enabled the ''comments'' option. (comments will be moderated) Feel free to leave a comment if you like, or you may email me via the link on my 'About Me' page. I have many changes planned for this blog so check back for updates.

Channy

Channy F.A.Q & Various Comments

2010-10-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of transferring all my data from the PC, to my iMac. Pictures, songs, videos and all my documents. Anyway, whilst doing this, I came across a bunch of emails and comments written to me during my whole liver donor process. Sooo, I thought I would share them here! These are in no random order, mostly cut and pasted from emails.

Q - Hey Channy! I know you signed your donor card so why donate at all? Especially for someone you never met?
A - Why? Because I can and someone needs it now! Besides, the liver will regenerate itself. A few months of inconvenience for me has made a monumental change in someone Elses life.

Q - Why did you keep everything a secret till the last minute?
A - I only told a few choice people to begin with. I really didn't want to be the focus of conversations nor did I want to be the center of attention at gatherings. I knew some people would get it, others wouldn't. Those who I felt needed to know...knew!

Q - What was in it for you? How much do they pay for a good liver?
A - No pay, as a matter of fact, it's a huge financial hit! That said, I was lucky to have some benefits at work that paid me while I was off, not full salary mind you, but enough to keep me going. What I got out of it was knowing I helped someone in need! Other than that, I know I'm obscenely healthy and have a gazillion test results to prove it!

Q - Would you do it again? Any regrets??
A - Hmmm, if you would have asked me that the first week after the surgery, I might be a little hesitant...but yes I would! This whole journey has introduced me to some fantastic people, made me more aware of the plight of those waiting for for a donor and has taught me some valuable lessons in compassion and goodwill! Regrets?? Ya, apparently they don't give sponge baths anymore!!

Q - Wow...just wondering what your family thought of all this.
A - My family was very supportive of my decision. Mom was a little worried, as Moms usually are, but supportive! I'm lucky actually because my uncle is a liver recipient so he met up with my Mom and brother at the hospital on the day of the surgery...that helped a lot.

Q - Liver? You can't live without that! C'mon Chanman, how can you donate part of your liver? Don't you need that to survive? Best wishes to you buddy!
A - You're right, you can't live without your liver. In my case, they only took 65% of the liver, the remaining liver still functions and regenerates itself back to almost normal size after about 8 weeks. The section they transplant will also regenerate and grow inside the recipient.

Q - Are you out of your freakin' mind!? This is a major surgery! Weren't you afraid something bad might happen to you?
A - The odds of something bad happening to a donor are 100 times less than something bad happening to someone waiting for an organ. The staff at TGH are the best in the world! The human body is a fascinating world within itself. No wife, children or girlfriend to consider. That made the decision mine and mine alone. There are times I still can't believe this happened!

Q - Hey man, do you know who got it? (liver) Are ya gonna meet the guy?
A - I donated anonymously, so I have no idea who got it other than it was a male. At first they told me I might be donating to a younger adult female, but I'm guessing someone was a better match, in greater need or was sicker and he got the liver. It's based on a MELD score. (MELD = Model For End Stage Liver Disease. It's based on a mathematical equation to calculate a patients likelihood of dying within 3 months from their liver disease. Under MELD, the sickest patient gets the transplant. Scores range from 6-40 I think, The higher the score, the sicker the patient) I'm not sure I'd want to meet or know my recipient....I'd like to know that he is, and continues to do well, I did get a Thank-you card from him & that was enough. I know it went to someone who really needed it. Maybe someday I will meet him.

Q - I hear you're off for a few months, don't go stir crazy on me dude! What's daily life like without liver? Keeping busy? Need any books or movies?
A - I still have liver...just a little less is all. Well, the first few weeks at home I had to follow a grueling exercise regime. This included a vigorous sit, followed by a brisk nap! Actually, the most exercise I did was walking. Other than that I watched horrible TV shows like Jon & Kate and all their kids, Dog the Bounty Hunter and his family of mullet wearing bondsmen and a bunch of other shows on A&E. Daytime television sucks!

Q - Way to go Channy, I commend you on what you have done. Just don't become one of those preachy organ donor guys ok?
A - Preachy organ donor guys? Never was! That being said, I do advocate signing your donor card. Besides, once you're gone you don't really need your organs anymore....so sign it!

Q - You are a hero, I could never even think of doing something like this.
A - I'm no hero, a 'hero' rescues people from burning buildings or fixes people when they are hurt and dying. I just did an exciting thing is all. The doctors, surgeons and nurses are the real heroes here. As I've said in the past, I merely supplied a needed part.

Q - You wore stockings and liked them? what are ya, a homo? You donated anonimously yet you have a blog full of pictures? Your blog sucks!
A - The stockings ARE cool! With the proper skirt and shoes I look hot! I'll send you pictures if you like. Sorry the blog isn't to your liking.
**(And from the same guy came this comment)**
Q - Q-Your donor pin isn't so special, they can be bout at the hospital for like $3.00...loser.
A - They CAN be bought for $3.00, but mine was free!! Your spelling sucks!

Q - Just wondering, did they let you use a computer or an ipod while in hospital and just what is on your ipod.
A - I did have my laptop with me, but for the most part was in no shape to use it. The ipod was loaded with Sting, some Cybermonkey, old 80's stuff, some classic rock, Keb Mo and of course..Nash The Slash. I also discovered Pomplamoose whilst recovering.

Q - How ya doing Channy?
A - Doing great! Thanks for asking!

Q - Did the anesthetic make ya sick? How was the actual surgery?
A - I was lucky, I didn't get sick at all, although Im sure I was close more than a couple of times. The surgery went ok, minimal bleeding and no complications.

Shameless Plug Made Up Question
Q - Read any good books lately Channy?
A - Funny you should ask! There is a rather fine book published that is quite a nice read! The title is "Beside The Quiet Voices", by soon-to-be-famous author Christine Robinson. The book can be ordered here. As a matter of fact, you should order several copies to give as gifts for your friends!

Chris & Chris & The Queen Sized Bed

2010-10-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Since starting this blog, I've been fortunate to meet a lot of interesting and wonderful people. Doctors, nurses, well-wishers and fellow donors alike! I've exchanged emails with people from all over the world asking for information, exchanging stories regarding experiences and just plain supplying support and a kind word or two to someone who is having a bad day or tough time with illness. Illness, so many people waiting for organs, but continuing on with everyday life making the best of each day. Everyone has a story, everyone has demons in the closet, everyone has hope. I guess that's why I'm so passionate about getting people to register for organ donation after death. I try not be preachy about it, but too many cool and interesting people are waiting for that 'second chance' for a better life.

Anyway, it's funny how small this world of ours really is....and the internet makes it even smaller. Information is transfered instantly, we can exchange ideas or collaborate on projects thousands of miles away from one another, we can find like-minded people with a click of a button and rediscover old friends with the same click.

One of the best things I got out of my organ donation came quite by accident. One night, while researching organ donation, I was directed to a website that had me riveted to the computer for hours. A woman, a writer, a survivor, an organ donor and the mother of two boys, one of them a kidney recipient. As I read through her blog, I found we had a lot in common, apart from the fact we were both organ donors. I emailed her, she emailed me back....a friendship grew. She called me, I called her and a date followed in May, we were to go to a concert that weekend, John Grant, her favorite singer. Afterwards, we spent the majority of the weekend talking on a queen sized bed.....and the friendship grew even more. We've had many 'moments' together since that long weekend in May, she makes me smile, makes me laugh and makes me think. I love this woman!

1 Year MRI & Blood Tests

2010-10-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

As usual, the frequent updates I promised to post haven't been so frequent! In all honesty, I'm just not good at talking about myself nor do I have any real earth-shattering donor related news to share. That said, I do have events in the works that I will post here as details become more concrete.

My one year anniversary has come and gone and I am doing great! I went for some blood tests at my local Life-Lab, and had the MRI on September 19th at Toronto General. The MRI was scheduled for Sunday at 4:00 pm. Ok, so I couldn't eat anything or drink anything 5 hours before the MRI, needless to say I was thirsty as all hell and hungry by the time I got there. The worst was driving into the afternoon sun to get to TGH. All these things combined, festered a migraine...which I had no medicine for. More on that later though.

The odd thing about my MRI appointment is that the imaging department at TGH is closed on Sundays, so I had to proceed to a waiting room down the hall and sign a sheet there. It wasn't busy, there were only 3 people waiting in the room and only 1 of them had the 'I'm getting an MRI gown' on. When the tech came to fetch this person, she handed me some gowns and told me to go change. Now, if you've read any of my other posts, you know I'm a huge fan of the gowns. Best thing ever? There was one gown, and some wicked cool draw-string pants! I didn't even know they had matching pants to the gowns! Needless to say, I was in heaven! I may, or may not have stolen those pants by the way...I just wore them.

When the tech came for me, I put all my other clothes in a locker and headed for the scan. It was a two part scan, the first series of scans they would do would require me to hold my breath and not move while the machine took the pictures. The second part of the scan was a normal scan.. Once I was all strapped into the machine and the headphone were on me is when my migraine started throbbing. I was trapped though..I couldn't move and there was no way I was going to bail on the test now! Grin and bear it I thought...the test took forever and that sound shook me to the core. When the test was over, I changed back into street clothes and may have forgotten to leave the hospital pants there and headed home...my saving grace was I did have one Relpax in the car, but by the time I took it, I was already doomed. I actually ended up taking the Monday off work because of the migraine.

The sole purpose of the MRI was to obtain a baseline for the 1 year mark. The blood tests were pretty much the same ones I've had at every testing interval post surgery. Here's the breakdown!

CBC - The complete blood count test determines general health status and screens for, and monitors, a variety of disorders like anemia.

Glucose - Measures glucose in the blood to determine healthy ranges.

Creatine - This test measures kidney function so they look for abnormal creatine levels.

Sodium & Potassium - Blood sodium/potassium testing is used to detect electrolyte imbalances and in my case, to check for any disease or condition involving the liver or kidneys that may be caused by deficiency or excess of potassium/sodium.

Chloride - Never ordered by itself, this test is part of the above potassium/sodium test.

AST & ALT- Is a simple blood test to determine the presence of certain enzymes in the blood. If the liver is damaged or injured for any reason, AST and/or ALT enzymes will spill into the blood stream. AST is short for 'aspartate aminotransferase' and ALT is short for 'alainine aminotransferase'...both are enzymes within the liver.

ALP & Bilirubin - These are liver function tests that show how well a persons liver is working. These tests will detect high levels or low levels of liver enzymes that could prove the presence of disease.

Urea - Measures the amount of urea nitrogen, a waste product of protein metabolism, in the blood. Once again, for the detection of liver failure.

PT, PTT & INR - These are a group of tests to measure how quickly your blood clots. PT measures the ability to clot, PTT determins if there is a blood clotting disorder and INR is a kind of comparison test to make sure results from one lab is the same as another.

So there you have it! All these tests have come back with excellent results, I'm healed up and doing fantastic! Long term effects so far? I have the scar and some numbness around the scar but as far as function goes...I'm doing awesome! From here on in I only have to have tests done once a year. This isn't the end of my journey though...just the end of THIS journey. Check back as the second part of my journey continues.

Reasons To Donate

2010-09-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

I had originally planned to post some more updates on me and explain some of the blood tests I've had done over the past few months. But instead, I'm posting this video. I follow quite a few 'health related' blogs. Victoria is one such blogger who has CF. Today she posted this video and it made me weep, so I'm sharing it here on my blog. Sign your donor card!

Meet Victoria

Update Time

2010-09-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well hello there and welcome back! Yes, it certainly has been a while hasn't it!? Nope, I haven't forgotten about this blog and the promises of 'frequent updates' I made months ago....actually, I have no excuses. I have lots to update about so sit back, grab a coffee, or any other refreshing beverage, and enjoy! I also promise consistent updates on this blog from this day forward. You'll actually want to follow along as there are interesting events in the works that you, the viewing public, will want to read about! Yup, every day this week there will be an update! No...really!!

So today marks the one year anniversary of my donation. Today, I feel good! My scar has healed up nicely, I'm back to doing everything I did before the operation and both my 6 and 9 month clinic visits and blood work results were perfect! I know! I'm the picture of health! To be honest, I still have numbness around the incision site and some tingling sensations that drive me nuts, but other than that, all is good!

A few weeks ago, I received a letter from Bryan Whitehead (Administrative Assistant for the living Donor liver program & all around nice fella!) with my next appointment schedule! The letter reads as follows...

Dear Awesome Chanman,
(OK, I made that up, he doesn't call me Chanman)

As part of your post surgical follow-up, we have scheduled appointments for you as you recover from your operation. As discussed in your pre-operative teaching, our program will review your status at the following time intervals: 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year and then annually for a 10 year period.

Yearly Post Follow Up Blood Work and Medical Imaging

You are due for your annual blood work in September. It is requested that you take this requisition to your local lab and have the results faxed directly to us at 416-340-3097.

An MRI will be scheduled for you to obtain a baseline at your one year mark. The MRI department will contact you directly with an appointment date and time.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or concerns. Oh, and thanks for being so awesome!
(OK, I made that last line up too)

With kind regards,
Bryan Whitehead
Administrative Assistant
Living Donor Liver Program
416-340-4800 Ext 6581

Like I said earlier, the MRI is already booked. I just have to remember not to eat or drink anything 4 hours prior to the exam and I can't wear any perfume...not a problem. That said, I may have trouble NOT eating as I have become a fat fucker the past few months. (proof of this will be posted later)

My blood tests consist of CBC, Glucose, Creatine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, AST, ALT, ALP, Bilirubin, Urea, PT, PTT, INR. What are all these tests and what do they stand for? Well friends, you'll just have to come back tomorrow 'cause that's part of the next update!

Eva

2010-03-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday March 27th, 2010 at around 9:30 in the morning, Eva Markvoort of http://65redroses.livejournal.com/ passed away.

Please, please sign your organ donor card.

The documentary ""65_RedRoses"" can be seen April 2nd on CBC The Passionate Eye at 7:00 am and at 8:00 pm ET.

You can also watch the documentary here as well.

Article

2010-02-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

Liver recipient competes in Vancouver Olympics

By Allan Dowd (Reuters)

American snowboarder Chris Klug is more than just happy to be in the Olympics, he is happy to be healthy and alive and is using the Vancouver Games to get out the message on organ donors and recipients.

The 37-year-old Aspen, Colorado resident, who was suffering a rare degenerative condition, received a liver transplant in 2000 and now hopes that adding to his Olympic medal collection will prove a point.

"It is important that other people going through the process that I did almost 10 years ago see what is possible after a transplant," Klug told reporters on Tuesday as he waits to compete in the men's parallel giant slalom on Feb. 27.

"I'm healthier and stronger than I was before my transplant, and people ought to know that."

Klug, who won bronze in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and became the first athlete to win an Olympic medal after having a major organ transplant, is working with health officials in Vancouver to publicize the need for organ donors.

He competed in the 1998 Nagano Games, when snowboarding made its Olympic debut, and acknowledges Vancouver will probably be his last Olympics.

Klug's previous Olympic experiences, both good and bad, have taught him some valuable lessons for how to enjoy his time in Vancouver. He looked relaxed as he chatted to reporters.

"One of my mantras and goals this time is just enjoy the ride. Take it all in."

via

5 Month Update

2010-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Am I the worst blogger ever? Well yes, I think I just might be! My updates have become few and far between. Normally, I would blame this on the fact that nothing exciting has happened to warrant an update..but this time I can blame it on plain ol' laziness!

So everything seems to be progressing as well as it can be. My sleep pattern has returned to normal, my stomach isn't as growl-y as it was and my scar is fading to a lighter shade of pink and it doesn't look so angry! All that being said, I still have a constant 'stitch' in my side that feels not unlike a runners cramp. Some mornings I have tightness around the incision site near the lower ribs and the core strength still isn't what it used to be, but I've been told all these minor symptoms will go away in due time...as will the numbness that still plagues me. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all here, just stating what is going on is all. What I can complain about however is this stupid cold I picked up last week. Bleh!

Now, I have no idea how my recipient is doing although at my last clinic, they said he was doing very well, so I can only hope he continues to do well. I'll be sure to ask about him the next time I'm at Toronto General.

That's about all I can report about for now. I hate to sound like a broken record here but if you haven't yet done so, sign your donor card and tell your family and friends of your decision to do so.

Resolutions

2010-01-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

Hey...still looking for a fail-proof New Years resolution? Why not make this the year you sign up to be an organ donor! It's actually one of the simplest, easiest things you can do and it doesn't cost ya a cent!

I know it sounds morbid, but your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants! One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves.

I don't expect anyone to become a living organ donor, but I beg you to register your consent to donate after death. There are way too many cool & interesting people dying waiting for organs.

Ontario residents can register here!

They have a FAQ page here!

For other Provinces, click here!

((Remember, once you have made the decision to donate, be sure to inform your family and friends of your decision to donate.))

Thank You!!

2010 - Year of The Spam

2010-01-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

So.... we're almost 10 days into the new year and I'm finally posting a new years message. Sheesh! Happy New Year!

Actually, the real reason for this post is explain something. You may have noticed that the 'comments' feature of this blog have been disabled. Why you ask? One word...spam! Yup, I think every blogger experiences it at some point, rude or stupid comments and re-directs left by an idiot. In any case, readers of this blog can no longer post comments, sorry! See, my blogs are rife with enough crude language as it is!! What you can do though, is send me emails, you'll find that address on my profile page.

My Lame Christmas Update

2009-12-25T04:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!

My apologies again for the lack of new content here, there just isn't any exciting stuff to post about ya know. I'm back at work trying to go at it full bore but still find my core strength is limited. I feel great otherwise! I still have some minor complaints, but nothing that really affects my daily routine. That being said, I tried to lift some skids at work the other day and damn near pissed my pants in the process! Even now I have this weird sensation in my gut...nothing bad, just a sensation...it goes from being tight to this strange, sporadic 'fluttery' feeling. Once it settles down, it feels like I've been punched in the stomach and I have to pee. It's worse in the mornings and after I get up from sitting for a while. I guess like everything else, it'll just take time before I'm back to the old me again.

It's funny just how much we take advantage of our 'healthy' bodies. When everything feels fine, we are invincible!! Get a cold or some other malady, and we become helpless creatures, dependent on medications and miracle cures, pull or strain a muscle and our entire body feels the effect. Of course, it always happens at the worst time possible too. "Ahh man! I can't get a cold today, I have stuff to do!" I'm the absolute worst offender too. If I get hurt, I baby myself for way too long. I really need to change this behaviour, I'm not as invincible as I once was, I need to slow down and do what I can & not what I think I can. I hope some of this makes sense.

So, this particular blog of mine will change direction and focus in the coming weeks. I'll still post updates on me and my experiences, but I'll also be posting more transplantation news and individual transplant stories. I've also got a new quest on the horizon that I'll be posting about....exciting stuff too.

At some point today, give a silent thanks to the many nurses and doctors that will be staffing our hospitals while we enjoy the holidays. The last thing is this, sign your donor card, it's free, it's fast and you could save a life....and it's the best Christmas gift you will ever give!

3 Month Follow-Up

2009-12-05T03:58:00.000-08:00

Yikes!! I'm sorry once again for the lack of updates!! There just hasn't really been anything exciting or worth updating on....till now!

On Thursday December 3rd, I had my last scheduled follow-up appointment at Toronto General Hospital. Nothing exciting, just another blood test and a check-up with Dr. Adcock. (For the 6 month and the 9 month follow-up, the hospital will mail me requisition forms for blood work which can be taken to a lab of my choosing.) Once I hit the 1 year mark, I think it's a blood test and a follow-up at Toronto General Hospital. I'm not a 100% sure of that, so don't quote me on that. From then on, it's a blood test once a year, for the next ten years. I will say one thing for sure, I'm gonna miss parading around that hospital. There are some good people there.

As always, my day started out at the blood lab, I registered at about 10:45 and was called in right away. They took 3 vials of blood...very uneventful. I didn't recognize any of the lab techs either. Actually, the whole lab was like a ghost town! Even the waiting room was void of people, kind of un-nerving walking into a major hospital and seeing only 2 people waiting for blood tests! I'm not complaining, I'm just saying is all.

Needless to say, I had a few hours to kill before my 1:00 pm appointment with Dr. Adcock, so I wandered the block surrounding the hospital a few times. Sometimes it's kind of cool to sit and watch people come and go, especially around the hospitals because you know every single person that walks in or out those doors has a story to tell.

When it got close to 1:00, I headed up to the 12th floor for my clinic appointment. I even brought a list of concerns and questions to ask so I wouldn't forget anything! It wasn't long of a wait before Dr. Adcock, (Lesley) called me in. She led me down the corridor right to the scales!! Now, I used to be a fairly thin fit guy...but now I'm a doughy fat pork-ball! Even the good doctor commented on my new found 'girth'. She told me get on the scale, but not before I emptied my pockets of all keys, chap-stick, wallet, loose change AND I took off my shoes! Didn't help much though as I had gained almost 15 lbs!! I can't blame it on fluid retention either, it's all that inactivity and the constant snacking!

After the weigh in, we made our way to the examination room. We chatted a bit about the weather, how Christmas was coming and all that small talk. Once settled in the room, she asked me how things were going and before I could answer, she said..
"You know, your recipient is doing soooo good. You really did a wonderful thing". Now I know they aren't gonna say "wow, your recipient is doing really shitty, we should have checked your crappy liver more carefully", but knowing he is doing well sure makes all the pain and sleepless nights easier to take.

Lesley checked the computer to see if the results from the blood tests were back yet, she was rhyming off numbers and letters left and right and I had no idea what she was talking about. End result? All my levels are right where they should be, most are what they were before the surgery which is good to know. The incision itself is healing really good. I told her about the seepage I had, but after inspecting where it was, she had no concerns. She pressed around my belly saying the ridge of my liver was where it was supposed to be at this stage so all is really good! My list of questions and concerns was actually fairly minor...but they still needed addressing.

So, my belly is still numb, sometimes it's itchy as hell and most times it feels really hot. Sometimes it feels really tight when I first get up or after I am bent down and I find I have no core strength at all. Apparently, this is all normal. The numbness will go away in time, the itchiness and tingly sensation are the nerves reconnecting. All those stomach muscles were sliced across so they could get to the liver. The core strength and feeling will come back. My other concern was the constant growling and 'squishy' sounds my belly makes. Seriously, if I am in the living room, you can hear it in the kitchen! It's even worse during the night and it actually wakes me up. As an added bonus, I still have the heartburn! I have medication for the stomach and have been on it for years now, so I'm no stranger to heartburn. The growly squishy noises is something I'll have to keep an eye on.

The other good thing Leslie told me was that I'm pretty much out of the danger zone. Things might be uncomfortable for me to do, but doing them won't harm my surgery site or my liver. I just need to remember to take things slower than usual and not to over-do it.

When I left, I gave Lesley some hugs and headed to Cailins office just down the hall. As luck would have it, she was just inside the door talking with a would-be-donor...once she was done, she waved me down to her office. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed a little tense in the transplant office, so I didn't want to stay long. Cailin gave me a bunch of paperwork which I'll post about at a later date and we chatted for a bit about holiday plans and general pleasantries. The one thing I really wanted before I left was a picture of me, Calin and Bryan....which I got!!

Cailin is such a sweetheart, and Bryan is really neat. I haven't had much time with Bryan, but he's a really cool guy and one of those people who just seems very fun, yet sincere. Besides, how many transplant workers would agree to this?

This last photo shows what I have become..
''Flubbery, rubbery blubbery outta shape dude
Look at me, I'm a pear!''

Did You Know....

2009-12-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

The University Health Networks 'Multi-Organ Transplant Program' performs approximately 400 transplants annually, provides follow-up care to almost 5000 transplant recipients, and serves as a model for many other transplant centres around the world.

As the first and largest transplant program in Canada, the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at UHN provides a broad spectrum of services currently encompassing heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and small bowel transplantation. Our Living Liver and Kidney Donor Programs are very successful in providing organs for patients and the living liver program has become the largest program in North America.

Currently, UHN has two living donor programs: Kidney and Liver. Living kidney donation started in the 1960s. Living liver donation started in the 1990s but was initially restricted to adults donating to a sick child. In 2000 our philosophy changed and living liver donation was offered to adults. UHN has now performed over 300 living liver donation surgeries making the program the largest in North America.

Hmmmmm....

2009-11-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T03:14:00.000-08:00

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

by John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw the sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

65_RedRoses

2009-11-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not quite sure what I want to write here, and even more unsure how to phrase it without sounding cheesy. So please bear with me.

The Internet can be a fantastic place. It allows us to visit far away places, introduces us to people from all walks of life and in all kinds of situations. It also opens our eyes to the plights and the triumphs of others. Over the years I've discovered a great number of people with fantastic life stories to tell. Stories of conquests, coping and just stories of, and about, really neat people! Granted, most of these stories I've discovered revolve around people who, by no fault of their own, are in need of an organ transplant. I'll probably never meet any of these people or will I ever know them, but I'm so very grateful for knowing of them through the Internet.

One such person is Eva Markvoort. She's a 26 year old dynamo with CF...and what a spirited person she is. Her story is also the focus of a documentary airing in November on CBC's 'The Passionate Eye'. I urge you to tune and watch it. Also, Visit her blog at http://65redroses.livejournal.com/ and get to know her yourself!

Oh...and please sign up to be an organ donor!

Flu Shots

2009-11-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well, yet another week slips by and I am going stir crazy sitting in this house! Don't get me wrong, I'm very appreciative of the rest...but good grief! I have a list of stuff I would love to tackle but am limited to what I can do due to the 'no heavy lifting' clause. I did do some cleaning and organising in my garage and the leaves have all been raked up and out to the curb, but I want to do some other chores and I can't! The other thing that saddens me is I've become fat. Yes, I have this dual ring of blubber that surrounds my midriff section and it is in fact fatty, blubbery, flabby tissue. The first ring is my fat belly, the newest ring is, shamefully, my gunt. My pants don't fit me anymore and I can no longer wrap a towel around my waist and have it stay there on its own just by tucking the ends over and inside. Know why? Cause I'm fat! Fat caused by inactivity! I'm hideous...look away.

So yesterday I decided to get my seasonal flu shot. Yaaa, I figured it had been way to long since I had any needles jammed into me and I missed the smell of alcohol swabs! Sooooo, I shuffled off to the walk-in flu clinic down the road....actually I drove cause I'm fat and lazy. Anyways, I try to get the flu shot every year, and even though I did the liver donation this year, I still needed a flu shot. Now, to be honest, I had no problem with them giving me the flu shot, it was the H1N1 shot that spooked me! After all, it's teeming with mercury and bleach! How would my system handle that? My body is so busy rebuilding liver cells would either shot make me sick? What if I had a reaction? What if I got the flu from the shot itself!? Bleeh!! Actually, a quick email the day before to Cailin at TGH set me straight! I would have no problem with either shot. So no worries!

The wait time at the clinic wasn't so bad, maybe 15 minutes for registering, 30 minute wait for the shots and then the 15 minute 'calm-down' period. The worst thing was they gave me one shot in each arm. The shots didn't hurt going in, but a couple of hours later my arms felt like dead weight and man were they sore! Not only that, I feel all flu-ish. Not good for fat little guys like me. Needless to say, I'm a bit sore still.

We got snow today too! No big accumulations mind you, but it snowed! Not a big of fan of the snow and cold. Winter sucks!

Oh yaa, I was going to post the video of my last blood thinner shot on here but guess what? The camera I used to record that very piece of visual history didn't save the clip! Or it did and I can't find it. In any case, if the clip should be found, I'll post it.

Random Thoughts Part III

2009-10-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

Holy Jeeze!! The past few days have been ''weird''. I woke up this morning feeling fine, then about an hour later I felt really light-headed, nauseous and dizzy! Still feel a bit dizzy now, especially if I tilt my head or bend down. I hate that feeling and have no idea why I have it!!

I really can't, or shouldn't complain though, life is good! That being said, this blog is my outlet to vent and share every experience of my organ donation with those who drop by! Not that my dizziness is from the surgery, I'm just complaining about being dizzy! The other odd thing that's been driving me insane lately is my belly feels really hot, like sunburn hot! The whole area just under my belly button..it isn't red though, it just feels very hot. I asked the surgeon about this during my one month follow up visit and he said it was the nerves and muscle tissue reconnecting. The one good thing is my incision is no longer weeping...it's really red and angry looking, but not weeping!

It's been six weeks since the surgery and I'm going stir-crazy sitting inside. My discharge instructions state "Walking is the only exercise recommended in the first six weeks. After six weeks gradually resume normal physical activities." Soooo, the other day I tried to rake some leaves! It felt really good to actually do something constructive and I made sure not to push myself to hard. That being said, I did realize that my I was using my back muscles more than my stomach muscles. Thinking about it now, I kind of wish the hospital had some kind of exercise program for donors to follow...to help or quicken the healing process. Besides, I caught a 'mirrored' glimpse of my naked body coming out of the shower the other day and from the side I looked like a Dr. Seuss character! Granted, I was never really super toned or buff to begin with, but this was just gross! I need to get me & the belly back in shape! So much to do...yikes!

Ramblings

2009-10-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

First of all, my apologies for not posting earlier. I just didn't have any real exciting stuff to ramble on about!

Today however, is a banner day! Celebrate and rejoice my friends, for today marks the last of my self administered blood thinner injections! Yaaaaa!!! As a matter of fact, I have recorded the process for prosperity and will post this video here on these very pages so everyone may share in the festivities! There may even be cake!

Before I continue, I must first introduce more Toronto General Hospital Staff and acknowledge a few people.

Dr. Mark Cattral - Surgeon:

This was my surgeon. Not to gloat or anything, but this guy is like one of, if not THE best surgeon in his field! Dr. Cattral is also a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, he's the director of the Pancreas Transplantation Program, and he holds the CIHR/Astellas Chair in Transplantation Research. Apart from having the most velvety soft hands of anyone I have ever met, he is a multi organ transplant surgeon with expertise in live-donor liver transplantation and pancreas transplantation. I'm also not ashamed to say Dr. Cattral is freakishly handsome.

Julia Cervenko - TGH Pharmacist:

I only met Julia once, and that was the Friday before I was discharged. It wasn't a long meeting, maybe half an hour or so but I was so impressed! She went over all my medications and how to use them. Never have I spent so much time talking with a woman about pooh, the importance of pooh and the mechanics of discharging said pooh! She even made me a cool instruction-chart to follow with all my new and existing medications on it! She was even ready to show me how to do the injections but didn't have to as the sweet Cailin Macleod already did. Once all was said and done, she made sure all the medications I would need would be ready for pick up at the hospital pharmacy....and it was!

Terri - Nurse:

OMFG! I wish I knew Terri's last name..but I don't. Take no offence, but I can only describe Terri as "The Coolest Chick I Have Ever Met"! I would have stayed in the hospital for another week if I knew Terri would be my nurse. Such a little thing, but just cool as hell...like a buddy. Hard to explain really, easy to talk to, helpful, gentle, cute....love her laugh too. Hey, I'm not the only one, several people on the floor loved Terri!! On the day I went home, Terri dropped by to punish me with the dreaded ''cotton swab'' test! Yes, the same test Olive made me do during my pre-admin tests! Terri wasn't as cavalier as Olive though and I had to do my own swabbing. Truth be known, it was probably better this way....I will say no more.

David Conroy - Liver Donor:

David donated part of his liver to his uncle back in December of 2008. Earlier in my quest, I was trying to connect with other donors to get a feeling of what I was getting myself into. Cailin gave me a few names and I tried contacting them, but none ever got back to me...except for David. He and I met at the Starbucks inside Toronto General one day while I was getting tested. Our chat only lasted about an hour but I learned a ton from him. Nice to hear what to expect from someone who's been through it! Thanks David, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to spend it with me!

Bryan Whitehead - Administrative Assistant:

Bryan's a good boy! A little intense at times but what a hoot he is! As the administrative assistant for the living donor liver program, he is Cailins right-hand man. He scheduled most of my appointments and kept in contact with me through the entire testing process. Got a question? He had an answer! I watched him lovingly carry a coffee from the corridors of the 10th floor down to the blood lab one day and his hand didn't move the entire time. There's a picture of him below.....snappy dresser AND surgeon-ly soft hands!

As I've said before, the great staff at Toronto General are the best-est! If I never run into any of these people again, I hope they all realize what a profound impact they've had on me and my families lives. I will see them again though...they are family!

More to come!

One Month Follow-Up

2009-10-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, my 1 month follow-up appointment was uneventful. So uneventful I wasn't even able to drop by the Lindt Chocolate factory for any treats 'cause I was running kind of late! My first stop was for blood tests. Once I registered at the lab, I only had a short wait until they called me in. The tech that did greeted me was one I had never seen before. Actually, I didn't recognize any of the techs in the whole department this day! Still, the lady was nice enough and she only took 3 vials..in & out in less than 10 minutes!

With blood work finished, I had about 2 hours to kill before my surgical consult so I headed to the Transplant Office to visit with Cailin. Turns out, she wasn't in the office so I watched 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' on my I-touch thingy in the waiting room till she came back. Now, as much as I enjoy just visiting with the sweet angel Cailin, I also needed her to fill out a package of forms for my work benefits. Once she came back to the office, I gave her the forms and we had a great little visit. One thing to note here is the Transplant Office isn't some dark and dingy place filled with emotionless robotic workers...it's a friendly place! Not only that, but they work miracles here.

Before I left, I tried to get a picture of Cailin for the blog. This is the best I could get though. Cailin is a pro at avoiding the camera!

Bryan on the other hand, is not camera shy.

My meeting with the surgeon was at 2:00 pm, so a quick dash to the 10th floor where I was ushered into an examination room. My surgeon was Dr. Cattral and to be honest, today was the first day I actually met him! I think I might have seen him in the recovery room on floor 7, but at that time I was in a drug induced haze and remember very little. In any case, he greeted me and asked me some questions about how I felt, how I was healing and how I thought everything went. He gave my incision the once over and told me everything was progressing really good. I didn't really have any questions for him apart from some general 'back-to-my-old-self' queries. All in all, this meeting lasted less than 20 minutes and I was on my way home again. My next round of follow-ups will be my 3 month check-up and that isn't until December 3rd.

Once I got home, I felt something wet against my shirt. Once I checked it out, I noticed my incision was leaking a little at the very bottom. Nothing too serious I hope...just need to keep an eye on it. When I got up Friday morning, my shirt was sticking to the incision site at the bottom and it hurt! I cleaned it up and bathed it in Ozonol and went about my day. Friday night I woke up around midnight because my shirt felt wet in one spot and again, the incision is weeping near the bottom. Looking at it today however, it isn't so bad. Maybe I slept on it funny. In any case, I'll keep an eye on it.

Slide Show!

2009-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

So I was fooling around with the blog tonight and added a slide show thingy. Look to the right of the screen and it's there somewhere. All those photos were taken by my brother the day of my transplant surgery. I hope to add more photos in the near future, but for now..this is what you get! I find it strange that when I look at these pictures, I can smell hospital! Weird huh? In fact, the shirt and track pants I wore home after the surgery still smell like hospital. Bleeh!

Tomorrow I head back to the big city for my 1 month follow-up. Blood tests and a meeting with the surgeon. It's gonna be fun fun FUN!

Quick Update

2009-10-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick update...and it's all about MEEEE!! My surgery was four weeks ago yesterday! I've been home a little over 3 weeks and things are going very well! As of today, I only have 12 more of the shots to give myself, (Tinzaparin, to prevent blood clots) the use of pain killers is minimal and I'm still smoke-free!! My incision is looking really good and it isn't really that painful anymore. Sleep is still sporadic and uncomfortable, I still walk a little hunched when I first get up from a sitting position, reaching and bending is tough and my belly growls all the time. Actually, I have good days and bad days, but all my complaints are minor. That being said, I headed to a friends house on Saturday for a birthday celebration. The drive to his place usually takes me between 45 minutes to an hour. On this day it took forever! The roads were all torn up for re-paving and every bump and ridge I hit on the road was magnified 10 times! I actually had to stop in three towns just to relax!

On Thursday October 15th, I have my 1 month follow-up at Toronto General. Just another round of blood tests and an in-clinic meeting with my surgeon. I think everything should be ok.

My brother and his wife took a bunch of photos the day of the transplant, I will try to post them later along with some new links.

Commercial: In Our Lifetime

2009-10-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation is one of the world's top five cancer research hospitals. This commercial features actual doctors, patients, nurses, and volunteers telling their own stories and the hospital's in their movement to conquer cancer in our lifetime.

Probably one of, if not THE most moving commercials I have ever seen....and it's here in Canada!! Kind of makes you proud doesn't it?

My Donor Pin

2009-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

On my desk, I have this little canister full of little trinkets that I've collected over the years. In it you'll find some old bottle caps, a few nifty looking rocks, a bunch of little toys and some pins that I was given for whatever reason....every time I find a new little treasure, I put it in this canister with all my other treasures.

I'm not sure of the time line, but I think the day after I donated my liver, my transplant coordinator Cailin, dropped by my room for a visit. After the visit, she handed me an envelope which contained a schedule of follow-up appointments for after care. Fastened to the corner of that envelope was this pin below. It's my donor pin, and probably my most cherished treasure ever.

2 Week Follow-up

2009-10-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Yikes!! I'm getting lazy at updating this blog again.

Today marks the second week since I've been home...yaaaahhhh!!! I continue to mend and my progress improves daily!! Well...to a point. My scar is healing really good! It's wierd, the scar itself is numb to the touch, but it gets super itchy and painful! Another good thing I can report is pretty much all of the food going in my system, has no trouble coming out! No more stool softeners or laxatives for this guy!! I never thought I would get so excited to pinch off a solid turd! The only pain medication I'm taking now is the occasional Tylenol..and that's just to take the edge off and as of today, I only have 20 more of the blood thinner shots to give myself. I guess the only real complaint I would have is I'm still having trouble sleeping and finding a comfortable spot to sleep in. The really strange thing is just how incredibly fast I tire! Seriously!! I eat some toast and eggs and I'm winded, I need a nap. I make a smoothie and drink half of it, I need a nap. Climb the stairs to the bathroom and my hearts a beatin'!! I don't even have the energy to stand when I pee!! Sitting isn't too bad, but I do get fidgety after a while. But all in all, things are progressing quite smoothly!

So I had my first follow-up appointment on Wednesday. I was to have some blood drawn at the hospital lab and then visit with Dr. Lesley Adcock in the transplant clinic. When I got to the blood lab, it was packed! I registered at the desk and went to find a seat in the waiting room. I didn't have to wait long before they called my name and the coolest thing was both myself and the blood tech recognized one another the moment our eyes met! We chatted for a bit and she drew three vials of blood. I asked if that was normal because usually, they take more. She said 3 vials was all they needed and if something bad shows up from those three vials, they would take more. When I got up to leave, I got a hug from the tech and headed up for my visit with Dr. Adcock.

The transplant clinic is on the 12th floor. I'd been there for meetings in the past and the place was fairly void of people. This day however, it was pretty active! I took a seat and started reading a magazine when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I looked around and there was my sweet angel Cailin. She sat with me for a while and we chatted for a bit. I promised I would drop by her office on my way out.

Dr. Adcock, (Lesley) called me in shortly after and lead me to an examination room. Now, Toronto General is a teaching hospital, so from time to time students will sit in with Dr's during an examination....this examination included a student! The exam itself was pretty straight forward, lots of poking and pressing around my incision site and some standard blood pressure and temperature checks. The funny thing about the exam was every question Lesley asked me, was a question I had for her. For example, before I could ask her when to expect my appetite to return, she would ask me how my appetite was doing! This went on for every question! End results? My incision is healing well, the itchy feeling will be there for quite some time but it looks good. My blood work came back fine, blood pressure was normal and my chest sounds clear.

Her final question to me was totally unexpected and it caught me off guard. She asked me if there was anything she, or any other transplant team member could have said or done to better prepare me for the donor experience. Of course there was absolutely nothing anyone could have said or done to better prepare me or anyone for this experience. I was warned at every meeting about pain levels and how uncomfortable I would be. I knew the healing process would be long and I knew I wouldn't be 'RiverDancing' to the washroom anytime soon. Every individual experience would be uniquely different, yet I was so amazed and impressed they would even ask that question! All I could think was just how amazing this hospital is! Every staff member has been courteous and friendly, and I've been treated with dignity and respect every step of the way. The miracles they perform here save lives and they want to know if they could have done anything more to better prepare me?? Sheesh!!

Just before I left, I dropped by Cailins office for a chat. I also talked for a bit with Bryan Whitehead, an administrative assistant with the transplant office. I need to explain something here. While I was healing, I never took the compression stockings off. Sure they were tight, but man were they warm! The best part of them was if they got too warm, you could slip your foot out of them and cool down! My outfit of choice was the stockings, Curious George boxers and an open front robe. I wore this in my room, I wore this when I walked the halls and I even wore this once to get coffee at the Tim Hortons on the ground floor! I also told Cailin & Bryan I would wear this outfit at home. Needless to say, I got a fair bit of ribbing for this! A hug from Cailin topped my day and I headed for the exit. As I made my way to the elevators I realized just how much I miss this place! Not the hospital, but the staff. I go back in two weeks for more follow-up appointments but I will post more pictures and stuff before then.

''As is my custom, I decided to drop into the Lindt Chocolate Outlet store on Kennedy Road before my appointments. Now, I'm no stranger to the Lindt building, but I have had to stay away from the place in recent months because of my testing. (Yes, I gave up chocolate for the transplant) In any case, most of the staff there know me by name and I get a lot of hugs when I visit there. One of the women, Rose-Marie, is a true sweetheart. She greets everyone in the store with a smile and is always friendly. Very easy to chat with and always genuine. I had told her in a recent visit of my organ donor transplant plan and she's been supportive of me from the get-go. So I gather up a whack of chocolatey treats (for the hospital staff) and am waiting in line to pay for them. I figured Rose-Marie was on break, I asked the girl at the register if she was around. I was then informed that Rose-Marie had lost her husband suddenly the week before. Not the kind of news I wanted to hear, my thoughts are with Rose-Marie today.''

How Am I? Great! Still Gonna Whine Though!

2009-09-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've now been home a week now and I think my progress is good! How am I doing? I'm doing fine...thanks for asking!!

I have some home care nurses that visit me at the house. They dropped by three times this last week to make sure I was doing ok, I think they'll come twice this coming week. They check my incision, make sure I do the injections properly (I have to give myself daily injections of a blood thinner for 35 days) and just generally make sure I am alright. They really stress the importance of the 'pooh' medicine too....I mean they're almost fanatical about it!! Needless to say, I take the stool softeners and the laxatives daily. Toilet still looks like a mess of Slim Jim's when I'm done...but I'm pooh in'!! Nice ladies actually!

As far as resting goes, I still have yet to find a spot I can sleep in without getting all crampy or sore, but I do find that I'm sleeping for longer periods of time. I have a gazillion pillows that I have formed into a trench along both sides of my bed...I sleep in this 'trench' and this prevents me from being too active while I sleep. In the morning, my belly feels and looks very bloated. Once I get out of bed and am sitting upright, I have to wait for the gas to pass before I can stand. Waiting for the passing of the gas is an event, and a skill I am proud of! I still have some trouble walking upright as well, but that will get better.

Also...I'm lovin' my shower!! When I was in the hospital, I didn't feel safe taking showers. Not that I would fall or anything, I was just afraid of the ''germ'' factor. In any case, when I got home that first night, we put a fold able step in the shower so I could sit and shower instead of standing. Let me tell you something...it's the only way to go! When I get really old, I'm getting those rails put in the bathroom and a tilting seat for the toilet and a craft-matic adjustable bed! And to think I used to laugh at those commercials! Seriously though, the chair in the shower has been really great.

My incision is itchy...really itchy. I try to wear really baggy shirts so the material doesn't rub...but it rubs and makes it itchy-er! The steri-strip are falling off and I think I only have like 5 left on. It's healing really good though. I have bruises all over my arms and legs from IVs and injections, but they don't really hurt.

My taste buds are all screwed up still but the appetite is coming back! I only lost about 8 lbs during this whole ordeal so I can't wait to start eating all the foods I had to stop eating before the testing!! I have my first follow-up appointment on the 30th next week so hopefully everything will be progressing nicely. One thing is for sure...I'm bored! ~sigh~

Wednesday September 16, Confusion Abounds - Part II

2009-09-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

So here's me and my transplant coordinator Cailin going out for a little walk. Out of everyone I have encountered along this journey at Toronto General, I am still the most amazed by this woman. In any case, it was important to do these little 'laps' down and around the cooridors of the floor. The more you walk, the better it is for your breathing and cirrculation. The walks aren't long, but they feel long and they drain you! All the compression fittings come off before the walks though, all other lines stay in and travel with you! I'd do many more of these little walks over the next few days, but not till the lines were all out.

This is Dr. Lesley Adcock visiting with me. She's my aftercare doctor and a sweet angel. I'm pretty sure she's questioning me about the comfort of my sassy new stockings. (The chicks really dig them!)

As I said earlier, I don't remember very much of this day...it was all confusing and I finally realized I had to just go with the flow. I eventually did make it to the 7th floor where I would stay until discharged. I know I woke up in a room on the 7th floor, and since I was free of all my lines and IV's, I decided to walk the halls.

As I understand it, it is on this floor where all transplant patients recover. Heart, lung, kidney, even liver. It's hard not to want to know the stories behind every door on this floor....and yet all I am allowed to do is walk past door after door. Faces in beds peer out at me, just about everyone of them smile, some are blank. None are empty. The entire floor is alive with visitors and nurses alike. I crawl back into my bed and fall asleep. This place works miracles!

On Friday Morning, I was visited by the pharmacist Julia. She went over a bunch of my medicines and made me a chart on how and when to use them. She then gave me a paper to take to the pharmacy on the main floor so I could get all my medications. Once she left, Cailin came in to give me a course on how to inject myself with the needles. As we sat and chatted, another nurse dropped by for some vitals. I'm not sure exactly what she did, but she left and came back with another nurse, soon Cailin left and the nurse took some of my blood. Both nurses started questioning me about my breathing and what my pain number was....then they took off. Next thing I know, a team of Doctors and nurses are in my room checking out my charts. One guy from the surgical team asked if I really thought I was ready to go home on Saturday. Of course I said yes and they all left my room to chat in the hallway. A nurse stuck her head back in the door and said they would be back, but I fell asleep before they did and was awaken by a food tray being placed beside me.

**EDIT: I'm just reminded that my mom called me that Friday to make sure everything was clear for me to come home the following day. As we were talking on the phone, I had a little coughing fit which may have started a bleed at my insicion site. Not a really bad messy bleed, but a squirty one. The nurses were called and new steri-strips applied.

Saturdays breakfast! More juices, some huigh fibre cereal, a piece of banana bread and a slice of cheese. (Bear in mind that since Sunday night, September 13th, I have not had a pooh yet.) Shortly after, Dr. Adcock came by and asked if I wanted to go home. I said yes as this was the plan from Friday. She said she would check everything to make sure I could leave and she would be back. While I waited, I ate the cereal and soon after, my mom and my sister in law came to pick me up. Most of my stuff was ready to go and then Dr. Adcock dropped the bomb. No leaving for me this day. They wanted to take some x-ray and check out my cough some more. Denied!! I was promised I could go home Sunday though. Dr. Adcock felt bad but they wanted to make sure I was safe and would have no problems. Needless to say, Saturday was the longest frickin' day of my life!! They took the x-ray and found a small problem in my right lung. Nothing big, but a concern nonethelesss. I also couldn't sleep, play music or do anything!! When my mom left, she took half my stuff with her...mostly medications and clothes.

On Sunday, my brother and his wife came to get me and this time they let me go home! It didn't take long for the nurses to get all my discharge papers in order and I was skipping my ass out thye door!! Before I left, I gave hugs to my nurses and some of the floor staff. We made our way down to the parking garage and we were off!!

There's no way I could have done any of this without the support and encouragement of my family. My brother Ken and his wife Val are still dealing with the after effects of the tornando that whipped through thier front yard a few weeks back and yet they were always at the ready to bring my mom down to Toronto for a visit and sit with me. My other brother Rick was in the states for some computer training the same week I was having surgery..but the support was there also. Thanks everyone.

Ok, I need a nap, I'll post later tonight or Sunday!

Wednesday September 16, Confusion Abounds - Part I

2009-09-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

<--My Room.

So I wake up Wednesday morning and it's still dark out. My head is still pretty fuzzy and I have the most wicked heart-burn I have ever felt! Not only that, but the inside of my mouth feels like someone let me chew razor blades, then jammed my cheeks full of cashmere! Bleeh! So. as I'm pulling huge gobs of torn skin out of my mouth, I realize two things.....first, I'm still in my old room, (not on the 7th floor as previously thought) and second, Marc is fussing with the connections on my compression stockings. I knew it took me a few seconds to get my bearings right, so I'm wondering to myself if I dreamt about the room change or what! This is where I thought I have to start making notes because I can't remember a frickin thing when I'm fully awake let alone gooned out on pain medicine! I tried recording notes on the voice recorder, but as I listen to them now, I can't comprehend anything I am saying! My saving grace?? My sister in law took pictures when she and my mom visited!

The liquid diet! As you can see, it consists of 2 containers of acidic apple juice, 1 serving of acidic cranberry juice, some hot water for tea, some soup broth, a portion of rice pudding and a can of fizzy ginger ale! Lots of water and ice chips too. Now, since my catheter is out, they have to keep track of what I drink as apposed to what I 'expel'. The liquid diet was Monday to Thursday afternoon, I think they gave me a tuna-fish sandwich Thursday night though. Friday was Raisin Bran for breakfast, liquids for lunch and supper Friday night was a hot slice of turkey meat with way too many vegetables. Saturdays menu wasn't too different. The blue hose thing on the right of the table is my spirometer. It's a tool one uses to practice breathing exercises.

This is Marc, a very unassuming fella, with a heart of gold and a genuine care for his patients. Always there, always helpful and a huge part of my recovery. When I did actually get moved to the 7th floor before they discharged me, I never got to say thanks to Marc for all his help. So with that being said, I have a few follow-up appointments at Toronto General so you can bet I'll look for him....if for no other reason to say thanks.

This is by far one of my most favorite photos. Not only does it showcase my bloody, steri-strip covered scar, but it also shows the assortment of IV lines that are sewn into my neck and back of my hand! Yes, it even shows me decked out in the sexy white compression stockings and some fine looking open robes! The compression stockings are these really tight, open at the bottom stockings that one would wear to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs while laying down for extended periods of time. Once you have them on, they slip these 'air-cuffs' around your legs which are then hooked up to air lines. Air is then forced into the 'air-cuffs' where the cuff compresses to squeeze the blood from ones legs. Whew! These cuffs are loud, they compress all the time so sleeping is kind of difficult and they are warm as all shit! To be honest, at first I wasn't a big fan of the white compression stockings. Not a comfortable piece of clothing for a guy to wear...unless that guy is appearing in a 'Free-Credit-Report.com' commercial. Needless to say, I did become use to them and I ended up wearing them the entire time in the hospital. Nurses laughed at me, children pointed and heckled me, but damn them all!! I love them and wear them proudly to this day. As a matter of fact, there will be more photos of my beloved stockings to come. They really are warm too!

Tuesday September 15, ICU Recovery

2009-09-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Before I went into the hospital, I made sure I had some notebooks and my voice recorder with me so I could make note of what was going on at any given time. I knew the day of my surgery would be a write-off, but the rest of my time in the hospital I could document. Yah right!! More on this later.

I remember very little about Tuesday. The most prevalent memory is the pain! Now I did have the analgesic PCA pump at my side ready to deliver that shot of pain medication at the press of a button.....but I guess 'my' system didn't like it. Needless to say, my pain pump was set to flow rather than to inject.

""Patient controlled analgesia, (PCA) is a method of pain control that gives the patient the power to control their pain. In PCA, a computerized pump called the patient controlled analgesia pump -- that contains a syringe of pain medication as prescribed by a doctor is connected directly to a patients intravenous (IV) line.
In some cases, the pump is set to deliver a small, constant flow of pain medication. Additional doses of medication can be self-administered as needed by the having the patient press a button. Other times, a patient can control when he or she receives pain medication and does not receive a constant flow.""

Another thing I remember, was a constant stream of ice chips being fed to me. I couldn't drink or eat anything, but I remember them giving me ice chips...so refreshingly cool! I'm also reminded of the 'Lip Balm' incident. Apparently I was so out of it that while trying to apply lip balm to my cracked and sore lips, I put on quite a show to every ones amusement....it may even have been taped!

I like to think I was very aware of what was going on around me, I just didn't have the faculties to respond or make note of them. I know I kept looking down at my chest because it felt like it was on frickin' fire! I kept looking at my watch for the time, but of course it wasn't on my wrist. I was also introduced to a nurse named Marc who was pretty cool. He seemed to be there every time I woke up and was helping me to do things I tried to do, before I even started doing them! I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's the only way I can describe him. This was a guy who either knew his job that well, or my mind was just that hammered.

At one point, I was sat up so they could do an x-ray. As I was being shifted to what I thought was another bed, I got my first glimpse of the thin orange hose snaking it's way from my wiener! Gaaaa!!! Not cool, not cool at all! My catheter!! As I studied it, I noticed it was attached to a transparent hose that was taped to my thigh. The very instant I saw it, I was very aware of it. I wanted to touch it, but was afraid to for fear it would hurt...so I just starred at it, marveling at how it got there, why it got there, how much do you pay a guy to put it there? I poked at it, I made my wiener move just to see if the cathter would move....and it did! I pointed at it and showed it to Marc. I was fascinated! Marc's reply? 'Good for you" I looked at Marc and said 'Guess what, I'm peeing'. He gave me a look like I was new, shifted his gaze to the urine bag attached at the base of the bed and said, 'No your not, it just feels like you are.'The one thing I feared the very most, and it turned out to be the coolest part of my day!! After the x-ray was taken, I was reclined again and dozed off.

Shortly after, one of my buddies from work dropped by. I greeted him, but let him know I wouldn't be too chatty. He didn't stay long but I appreciated the visit as I listened to him talk of his vacation plans. It was very strange because as I was watching him, sound started to echo in my head and it appeared foggy. Next thing I knew he was gone. In talking to him later, he told me he knew I was gooned-out, so he wasn't offended. I never showed him the catheter though. LOL!

At some point, it felt as if I was on the move. I could feel my bed moving, but had no idea who was pushing it, or where I was going. Doors opened and I was wheeled through a waiting room.....wait a second, I know this place. I was in the medical imaging unit of the hospital. That however, is all I remember! The next thing I knew I was back in my old room and Marc was fussing with one of the monitors I was hooked up to. He got it working OK and I remember being wheeled out again.

Every time they would wheel me somewhere, it would make me feel nauseated. Not sure why, but it would. This time they put me on an elevator which only made it worse. Turns out I was wheeled to another room on the seventh floor. This would be my last room change, and what a room it was! Very spacious and it had a huge bathroom!! They positioned my bed, set up all my monitors and someone gave me my glasses!! This place was very quiet and I fell asleep fast....then the music started.

Stupid monitors, when they malfunction, they make this noise....like a 3 or 4 note tune that drives you crazy!!! It never just happens once either, one will start a tune and then two more start, then one from a room down the hall starts and it goes on and on!! I know one of mine was making such a racket I finally turned it off. A nurse checking my vitals later that night just about shit her pants when she noticed my monitor was turned off. She really laid into me for it too! Sheesh!! I guess they had to restart a whole new line and everything because I turned it off. It was also at this point, I noticed my catheter...was gone!!! I checked the sheets to make sure it didn't fall out, but yup. It was gone. As this new team of angry nurses worked around me, I realized I wouldn't see Marc anymore. I'm so tired all I can think is how am I gonna get to sleep.

""Come sweet slumber enshroud me in thy purple cloak""
~Max Headroom~

Special Report

2009-09-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

Turns out my Mom kept a journal of her own the night before, and the day of my surgery.

September 13,09 7:00pm

It is the evening before Chris becomes a living donor of his liver. Valery (sister-in-law) is driving us to Toronto and we will be staying in a hotel so it will be easier for us to get to Toronto General by 6:00 am. Valery managed to get us there safely through detours, single lanes and very fast traffic.
After Valery dropped us off, Chris was able to get us a room at 'Day's Inn' @ Carlton. We had a nice room on the 18th floor, Chris tried to watch some T.V. for a bit then set his watch alarm...then lights off. I think I was up seven times for a pee that night! The watch alarm went off at 4:00 am and Chris fell back to sleep. I waited for the next alarm --- thought an hour may have passed, but it turned out it was 5:30 am!! Chris said ''that can't be right.'' It was and we hurried to dress, went down to check out and did a quick walk to the hospital. We went to the second floor admin where we waited about 1/2 hour. Then, we went into a very large room lined with many hospital beds and Chris was instructed to remove his street clothes and put on the 'double robes'....he was then escorted to one of the beds and things got a little crazy.

Questions were being asked by several people at once, rubber bands were being tied to Chris's upper arm, needles were being inserted in order to freeze his wrists (yes, both wrists) for intravenous lines. Two gentlemen appeared and introduced themselves as the team that would be putting him to sleep and monitoring all concerns after Chris would be put out. Blood pressure was taken, blood samples were drawn, the IV lines were in both wrists...at one point, there were seven people at his bedside.

At this point, Cailin Macleod, the transplant coordinator, showed up and said she was very upset. Apparently it was discussed that only ONE wrist would have a line in it. She was ""cross her arms"" angry!!

Cailin said for me to expect lines to record blood pressure, heart monitors and body temperatures. She also said once Chris was asleep, another line would be placed into his neck and sewn into place. She also said there might be tubes placed down his throat if he had been throwing up and that he would also have several lines giving him fluids and medicines hanging from his bed. She told me "don't be overwhelmed Elaine because all of it is normal. She then asked us why Chris wasn't wearing the compression stockings. One of the nurses said they weren't ordered. This didn't please Cailin too much either and at this point, Cailin started to put the stockings on Chris herself. Believe me, it was an art form the way she managed to get them up over his knees without a struggle or a wrinkle!. Then they started to move your bed out. Someone said give mom a kiss, and Chris said no kisses and away he went. He really had a shocked look on his face, I think he was as overwhelmed as I was with everything.

Cailin then took me to the third floor waiting room, it was now about 7:30 am and the room itself was quite dark. She said I should go to the far side of the room because it wouldn't get as noisy there. She took Chris's glasses and said was she sure he would do well. She also said a nurse would come tell me when all the tests were complete and that Chris was asleep. She gave me a hug, then left.

Now, there must have been 40 to 50 upholstered chairs in this room, but no sofas. There were only nine other people here besides myself...there are two walls with large windows and I am watching the comings and goings in the lobby below. I am so pissed off right now because I left my papers in the waiting room upstairs. Cailin told me I should stay in the 'West Wing' of the hospital, she said to go to the "L" floor from the elevator, then up the stairs to find the Tim Hortons, so at 8:30 am, I went to get a coffee, muffin and took my own medications.

A gentleman just came to me, asked me my name and then looked at his clipboard. He said I see his surgeon is Dr. Cattral..he is the best of the best! He also said a nurse would be coming to tell me that surgery has started and that in 4 to 5 hours later, the doctor would come to speak to me. He also asked if Chris was giving to a family member and I told him it was an anonymous donation. Hearing this he had that look about him that we have seen a 100 times since this journey started. I can't stop crying just now, and I think it's because I haven't heard anything yet...I'm working on it, it's hard though. Everything has to work out, it just has to!

It's now 9:10 am and the pre-op nurse came to tell me Chris is asleep. She stood at attention to show me how he was positioned. She said all tubes are in place including the central lines sewn into the neck, all monitors are connected and that Dr. Cattral will now be making the first incision. They will check all the bile ducts and if everything checks out ok, then the surgery continues. This is all just so overwhelming!

10:45 am and it seems as though I've been here for 8 hours. According to the transplant schedule, it's close to the time the recipient is to go into the OR. I hope all is going well. One of the transplant coordinator people just went outside with a coffee and a smoke. Seeing him out there now I want a smoke too!! Also, there is a very large blue bus coming and going. It is the shuttle bus for Toronto General, Toronto Western, and Princess Margaret Hospitals.

Ok, it's noon and I will be watching for Bob Cheeseman. This room has really filled with people and I have no chairs around me because other people have moved them away. Hopefully, some of these people will leave so Bob, myself and Ken (brother) will be able to sit together.

Bob showed up at about 12:30 and we went down to get coffees. When we got back, Ken was there and I was so very glad to see him! Bob kept us entertained with the story of his transplant.

At 3:05 pm, Dr. Cattral came in said everything went very well. there absolutely were no issues and there was minimal bleeding. He said Chris would be in the recovery unit for the next three hours and that someone would let us know when we could see him. All of this is good news, and yet I cry again. Soon after, Ken went to pick an item he should have picked up over a year ago in Toronto. While he was gone, Bob continued with his story. It is remarkable that he is here to share his story with anyone!

Cailin, the transplant coordinator, came back at 5:00 pm. She said Chris did very well and that he was feeling a lot of pain. She also said the recipients family was in the waiting room on the 10th floor, very near Chris's room, and that we must now wait until 5:30 or 6:00 pm before we go up. Also, on our way there, we must not talk about transplants or livers just in case the recipients family would be near! She also said for the next few days, Chris's pain would be almost unbearable! At 5:30 pm, Ken called up to the 10th floor to ask if we would be able to visit and they responded not until 9:00 pm.

It was about 6:00 pm when we decided we were going up, all they could do was kick us out! It wasn't hard to find Chris, but it was hard to watch what he was going through. He kept saying 'pain' in a very weak voice. It seemed to me he was feeling for the pain relief pump button but it wasn't there! I finally went to the nurse stationed just outside his room and asked the nurse if Chris should have the pain pump button. She said they had to take it away because his stats were going crazy!! His heart beat was way too high and I said mine would be too if I was in so much pain!! She calmly stated that Chris would have the pump back by midnight or 2:00 am!! When I went back into the room, I tried to explain to Chris why he couldn't have the pain pump and all he said was ''it hurts''.

Ken was taking a lot of pictures and at one point asked Chris for a thumbs up. Remarkably, he quickly gave it for him. Chris also asked if Bob Cheeseman had made it there, he said 'I'm glad' when we said yes. Bob actually decided to stay behind when we came to see Chris so we could have the privacy. He did however come in about 1/2 hour after us and Chris told him thanks for sitting with mom. In the hour we were there, Chris probably mentioned the word pain 15 times!! He couldn't sleep and the nurse said his pain pump was set at .01. Just then the big guy came in! The doctor with a huge head of hair! He laid his four fingers over the top of Chris's hand and silently looked at all the monitors, the pumps, (there were 3 of them) then bent a bit to look at the bag for urine...which at this time had only teaspoons full in it. He then asked if we knew why he didn't have the pain management button. We told him they took it because of the stats. He looked at all machinery again and said Christopher needs this pain pump. He went to the nurse outside of the room and both he and the nurse returned together, reset some buttons on the machinery, placed the pain pump button into Chris's hand and watched as Chris's fingers walked their way to the top and pressed the pain release button. I cried. A short while later, he was trying to open his eyes, he turned his head towards the doctor and said 'recipient', the doctor looked at me at I told him Chris wanted to know about the recipient. He took Chris's hand, looked him in the eye and said it was remarkable how very quickly his (the recipients) color improved. as he talked, Chris's chin began to quiver and tears rolled down his face. He did what he had set out to do.

Monday September 14th, OR Prep

2009-09-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ok then...time to pick up where I left off.

Last Sunday, (September 13/09) the plan was for my brother and his wife to take me into Toronto and drop me off at a hotel. This way I could get a good nights sleep and not worry about traffic issues in the morning. The plans changed as fast as I was making them and as it turned out, my Mom decided to go with me on the overnight-er so she could be there first thing in the morning and throughout the day for the entire surgery. This was also beneficial for if there were any problems or questions while I was under anesthesia, someone could be my voice.

**WARNING: RANT AHEAD**

Now, I've had many excursions to Toronto over the past few months...had several stay-overs because of tests being done so I've learned a few things along the way! Toronto General Hospital has partnered with just about every hotel in the downtown core to offer a 'Hospital Rate' or a discount of some sort if you have paper work from the hospital stating you're having a procedure done. I have taken advantage of this 'discount' several times over the past little while with no problems ever...until Sunday. Well, I phoned ahead to make sure the hotel would in fact have a room that I could reserve, they did. All my information is already in the system there due to my past dealings with said hotel. Seems the Toronto Film Festival is in town and even though hotels have empty rooms...there are no discounts or special rates because some greedy, suit-wearing 'hand-job' needs to make a profit. No big deal really, it's the principle of the whole thing and I blame Oprah!! Turns out Oprah was spotted orbiting down Young Street, hotel rooms jump $50.00 a night. Bleeeh!

OK, rant over! End result, me & me mom shared a large double room. I kind of slept ok, but Mom had a serious case of 'Jimmy Legs' and didn't sleep very well at all. At 5:40 am, we headed for the hospital to prep for what would be a very long day.

At the hospital, I was already checked in. So we were led through some doors to a waiting area. Here they gave me some empty bags for my clothes, I was also instructed about the pain pump I would be connected to and how it worked and then was told I should send anything I value home with my mom. (Not that Toronto General is rampant with thieves, it's just best not have valuables.) Now, all I really had was my old Casio watch, my Visa card, a Tim's Card preloaded with $40.00, my cell phone and my MP3 player. I wanted to bring my laptop, but figured I'd be way to out of it to use it anyways, so it was agreed before hand that my brother would drop it off for me later in the week.

Next I was shuffled into a change room where I was given the entire pain pump instructions, a blue hair net, set of blue bootie slippers and 2 of the crisp-est, brightest open front robes were handed to me...I was ordered to strip down and put on the robes. Like ya had to ask me twice!! I kicked off my clothes and slipped on the robes! Freedom and sway age! Giggidy! As I was stuffing my street clothes into the plastic bags, in walks this guy and announces:

He: Hey man, scootch up on that table, I gotta shave you.
Me: Sorry, say again?
He: Ya man, I gotta shave you...you gettin' surgery right?
Me: Ummm, No, I'm just here for the back acne trials.
He: What? Back Acne? (goes to door and grabs my chart)
Me: Sorry man, I'm just f**king with you, you aint really gonna shave me are ya?
He: Sorry man, just doin' my job. Believe me, it aint the favorite part of my day either.

Now, I'm a bald guy to begin with, and when I did have hair, it was blonde, thin and very sparse. Even my armpit hair is short! Other than that, I keep everything else 'tidy'. Honestly, I was scared to death! This guy didn't look gentle. So I sheepishly open my robes up .....

He: Oh man, you don't need shaving, your alright to go!
Me: Really? Nothing?
He: Yup, You gots a smooth belly. Take all your gear to the desk and wait for the nurse.

Whew!! Dignity for another day!

At the nurses desk, I met up with my mom, a nurse tied my clothes bags shut and stuck labels on them which I had to sign. We had a short conversation about valuables and were led down a long narrow room. Once again, I was instructed to push the button on my pain pump to get pain medicine. I think I heard this story at least 30 times this day.

Now, for pain management, they hook a central line into your neck. They actually sew it right to your neck! One of these lines is part of an analgesic pump that will deliver a shot of pain killers to your system once a button is pushed. This is your pain control system. You control it. You press the button, it delivers a measured amount of pain medicine. You can't overdose because the machine is set by limiters, but you do control it and this is pounded into you every second before the operation so that once you wake up, you'll know how to get pain relief.

The holding area was cold, it smelled funny and along each wall were gurneys, like 10 on each side!! I was led to one of the beds in space "H". A nurse helped me get into it and covered me with a really warm blanket. Literally, right out of this oven! Mom sat at the foot of this bed and we just started talking about what was going on when out of no where, techs were hoovering all over me. Charts, monitors, IV's, my poor mom looked horrified. After a few minutes, I spotted Cailin, my transplant coordinator. As soon as I saw her, I knew everything would be ok. She was talking to the nurse who led us in. Now, I'm not sure what Cailin said to the nurse, but everything got very orderly and very quiet the second she showed up!! She gave me a wink and a smile and soon I was being rolled off to the OR. Cailin noticed I was missing my compression stockings and told the crew to take me back so I could get fitted, the nurse muttered something about there being no request for compression stockings. So while Cailin actually fitted me for the stockings she schooled the nurse on operational protocol! Me and Cailin joked a little about my sexy new stockings and she walked with me as they rolled me into the OR.

I don't remember much after being wheeled in. I know some really big guy was laying out trays and trays of surgical instruments, the room itself was cold and I had to scootch onto this really thin table. Some guy put a mask on my face and told me to breathe deep. As I did, some other guy was putting IV lines into my hand. Next thing I knew, I was being told I had to press my pump to get pain relief.

Everything sounded so loud, my head was cloudy but I knew I was awake. As I tried to focus, I did recognize my surgeon near me, a lot of people in white coats wearing masks and I know I saw my brother Ken at the foot of my bed. Suddenly, it felt and sounded like someone stumbled over something...I looked to my left and saw my Mom...I think I said 'easy mommy' thinking she had stumbled over the chair, but she tells me later she didn't stumble. I looked down at my chest and saw the scar...trying to focus on the steri-strips that held the incision together and thought to myself...Holy shit! This really happened and everything went ok. I asked how my recipient was doing and was told he was doing great. They told me they noticed a remarkable difference in his health even before they started to close him up! I felt tears rolling down my face...this just happened, this was real and everything I was going through will actually help someone live a better life. I drifted back into my sleep.

At some point, I was again awake and noticed that my Uncle, Bob Cheeseman, was in front me. I know I shook his hand and he asked me how I was feeling and how I was doing. Seeing Bob in the room made me calm, he promised he would be there and he was. This is all I remember of this day.

Bob Cheeseman received a liver transplant in 2006 after his literally shattered. Very early in this year, I had heard through a family member that Bob might be having trouble with his new liver. After much self debate, I decided to call him and get the scoop on his condition...I was completely ready to offer him a section of my liver. Turns out he was having a bit of trouble with some medicines he was on, but wasn't back on the transplant list. Whew!! Bob didn't need a liver!! Turns out we wouldn't have been a blood match anyways, but it was this phone call that brought me to where I am today. So many people are waiting for organs, I may not have been a perfect match for Bob, but I know I match up with someone.

Home Again!! The Quick Update!

2009-09-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Holy Shit, what a week! Well, after a very successful transplant surgery, I'm home and recovering! I went under the knife Monday, September 14th and was discharged Sunday, September 20th. Some things I remember, some I don't. Yes, I'm sore, I can't stand or walk completely upright just yet and my appetite isn't anything what it used to be....but I am on the mend! It feels like I have creatures marching around my abdomen, my stomach growls and gurgles constantly and I take a fist-full of medications every morning to prevent this and to heal that. I also have 35 pre-filled syringes to inject myself with to prevent blood clotting. Here's a picture of some of my stash!

I also have a huge scar across my abdomen and if you press or poke my belly....it feels like pressing a bag full of squishy wet sponges! I'm not very active, I tire easily yet sleep sporadically, this is mostly because I have yet to find a comfortable position to sleep in! When I do sleep, I have the strangest dreams ever!! Vivid strange dreams. Oh ya, I also have the smell of 'hospital' in my system that I can't seem to get rid of! All this aside, it's good to be home! I should start feeling better by week three, or so they say. For now...day by day is my motto!

My recipient? Well, the very first thing I asked when I woke up was, how was my recipient. My surgeon patted my hand and said..''He's doing great Chris, we didn't even start closing him up and we were noticing a huge improvement in him". I know I sobbed at this news, everything turned out perfect, it was all worth it...It wasn't till later in the week I thought to myself 'wait a second, my recipient was supposed to be a young female adult!' What happened??!! I'll explain it all later, for now everything is great.

Actually, there is so much to write about I hardly know where to begin!! I would like to say thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes and letters of support and encouragement, they really helped. (When I checked my email Monday night, I had 53 new emails!!) I also need to say thanks and give praise to the many doctors, surgeons, techs and nurses at Toronto General Hospital. We all bitch and complain about our health care system, but when all is said and done we have one the best health care systems in the entire free frickin world!! No questions asked! Anyways, I need to nap but will post more tonight.

2009-09-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here it is the night before the transplant. In about 30 minutes from now, my brother & his wife will drive me to Toronto where I'll get a hotel room for the night. This way I won't have to worry about traffic issues in the morning!

I doubt I will post anything for at least the next 3 days, maybe even 4. Be sure to check back though. I am off!!

Nurses / Doctors / Staff

2009-09-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

I can't let this go. When I first started this blog, I tried to keep the doctors and nurses I encountered nameless....kind of a privacy thing. Now, I need to introduce them as they have become such a huge part of life and will continue to be forever.

Cailin Macleod - Transplant Coordinator:

I can't say enough great things about this incredible woman. Cailin is a tireless worker and always looking out for her patients. She's always available for questions and really knows her stuff...she won't tell you what you want to hear, she tells it like it is. Such a sweet angel too. As an aside, Cailin loves chocolate and eats her steaks rare!! I had a dream Cailin was feeding me those wee little pickled corn on the cob things while we sat on a gurney out in a field....very weird...I would and must marry this woman.

Blood Work Department:

The women here need to be praised. Throughout this entire process, I have had tons of blood drawn for various reasons at many offices, labs and hospitals throughout the GTA and the women at Toronto General are the best! No pain, no bruising, they smile, make you smile, they're gentle, and really know how to put you at ease. Thank you ladies for being so fantastic!

Dr. Paul D. Grieg - Director/Surgeon:

Dr. Grieg conducted my first surgical consultation, he mentioned there could be pain involved with this type of surgery....then explained there would be pain involved. A wonderful, straight forward - to the point surgeon. I watched him order coffee once at The Second Cup...it was mesmerizing! It should also be noted that Dr. Grieg has freakishly soft hands.

Dr. Lesley Adcock - Medical Director - Living Donor Liver Transplant Program

When I first met Dr. Adcock, I was kind of taken aback as she looks way to young to be a doctor...and yet, she is my aftercare Doctor! I called her on the age thing too...she claims she's old enough. Dr Adcock doesn't sugar coat anything, she takes no shit and doesn't give any either. Oh ya, she also helped me through a wicked bout of sinus infections. Very smart and very kind. Dr. Adcock also assisted Dr. Levy with my liver biopsy.

Dr. E. Elliot - Psychologist

Thinking of volunteering to undergo an eight hour operation in which your gallbladder and a huge section of your liver will be removed? You are? Great! You won't get paid for it, as a matter of fact, it's a huge financial hit, there's also pain involved and no medical benefit to you at all! Still sound good? Did I mention the catheter? How about the fact you'll have to give yourself needles for the next 5 weeks as well, you'll walk funny for about a month and did I mention the pain?? Still in?? If so, they send you talk to Dr. Elliot to make sure you're not odd. No tests, just talking.

Dr. Gary Levy - Director Multi-Organ Transplant Program

Dr. Levy is just as I imagined him to be. Soft spoken, huge hairy head full of knowledge, and very to the point. He performed the liver biopsy on me way back when. A very classy gentleman as he apologized in advance for any pain or discomfort I might feel. Came across as very genuine...hellish soft hands too. Must be a surgeon thing.

Dr. Anand Ghanekar - Transplant Surgeon

Very suave looking dude! I would never have guessed this guy was a surgeon, lawyer maybe, but not a surgeon. Dr. Ghanekar conducted my second surgical consult. After meeting with him, I would trust this guy with my life in the surgery room. He knew things about me medically I didn't even know!! He also mentioned something about pain...and yes, soft hands.

Olive - Nurse

Olive will always have a special place in my heart...we were close, maybe too close. You know, she rammed an 8 inch Q-tip up my anus...she also swabbed my genitals in the slickest swooping action I have ever felt! Good times. In all honesty, I needed the awkward smiles and laughs we shared this day. There was a lot happening and it really took the edge off. So thanks Olive for being such a sweetheart!

Dr. Kathleen Bedrosian - Family Doctor

Dr. Bedrosian is my family doctor. I need to mention her because she supported me throughout this entire process in a number of ways....I won't say she gave me preferential treatment over other patients, but she did go out of her way to accomodate me when needed. She's the best-est!!

All kidding aside, I have no bad stories from my experience at Toronto General Hospital. The staff truly are fantastic!

Organ Donor

2009-09-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pre-Admin - Name Dropping et al

2009-09-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a week this has been! I'm not even sure where to start!

Well, September the 8th was my last round of appointments before the surgery, so I had my mom tag along with me so she could get a feel for the hospital, meet some of the doctors and just maybe get a little more familiar with the whole transplant process.

The drive to the hospital was horrible! We left in good time, but it was foggy out and just about every road we took had some sort of construction on it. Once we got on the QEW, the traffic just stopped. Of course I started freaking because I didn't want to be late for any of the appointments. ~sigh~ Out came the cell phone so I could call the transplant office to let them know I would be late. No worries they tell me, just follow the schedule when I do get to the hospital. Turns out we were only 5 minutes late, so we headed up to the Surgical Consult appointment where we find the transplant coordinators assistant, 'Bryan', waiting. (Turns out, they had already changed my original schedule days ago and never let me know!) It's all good though, Bryan lead us down to 'Pre-Admission' and that's where my day began....sort of.

Because of the screw-ups with the appointment times, I was sent in for blood work first..I think another 18 vials worth! I signed some consent forms then was led to a consult room. I should also note that apart from regular OHIP coverage, I have some coverage from my workplace that upgrades me to a semi-private room. No real big deal to me if I have to share a room. A few minutes later, this wonderful woman named 'Olive' walked in pushing a cart-load of nurse/patient supplies. She tells me she will take my blood pressure, temperature, height and weight then some swabs. Swabs? What kind of swabs?
She pointed to a poster on the wall.
(click on the picture to enlarge)

Gadzooks!! A swab of my anus?? The conversation went as follows...

Me: A swab of my anus, really.
Olive: Really! (she spreads out several packages of 8" long Q-tip looking swabs)
Me: A swab of my anus, really huh? (as she swabs under my arms)
Olive: Oh c'mon now Mr. Chandler, It isn't really that bad.
Me: You wanna do this now huh?
Olive: Whenever you're ready, yes.
Me: They aren't paying you enough Olive.
Olive: I've been saying that for years now.
Me: I love you Olive, be gentle. (pants go down, I assume the position)
Me: Is that your knuckle I feel Olive?
Me: Sooo, ummm...you have plans for lunch Olive?

Olive was a real sweetheart and a great sport to put up with me, every time we saw her throughout the morning, she smiled at us.

The next visit was from a pharmacist, she went over the medications I was already taking and explained which meds I would be given before the surgery and during recovery....too many to list here though. She had me sign some papers and she left. Next up was another medical nurse to explain recovery procedures and to check my paper work. She also gave me a little map of where the check in for the surgery is. From here I had to go back up to the 10th floor for the second surgical consult. This surgeon, Dr. Ghanaker, was a very down to earth guy. He explained more of the surgical procedure and gave us a timeline of events. This surgeon won't be operating on me though, I guess they have a rotation and team up surgeons to certain patients. It was with this surgeon where I had to sign a bunch of consent forms. The really great thing was having my mom with me. Even though the doctors and nurses kept repeating the same information over and over to us, it was nice to have mom hear the same stuff from different people....kind of reassuring words. Know what I mean?

From here, we went back to pre-admin to meet with the anesthesiologist. He pretty much explained the procedures of his job and what to expect. Very technical stuff, kind of hard to understand but grateful he explained as much as he did. He also looked over my medication list and reviewed the results of my 'Pulminary' tests from a few weeks back. The only real problem I might have stems from this stupid sinus infection I keep getting. Other than that, I should be good to go.

My last appointment for this day was with 'Cailin Macleod', the transplant coordinator herself. She went over more procedures and gave me a bunch of paper work outlining the events of the days following surgery. She also told me what to bring and what not to bring. The information came at us fast and from so many different people, it was hard to absorb it all...I'm sure I forgot a third of what was said this day.

We left the hospital around 4:00 pm and went for some food. I figured if we ate first, rush-hour traffic could pass us by! With full bellies we headed home, stopping in Orangeville first to get some groceries. As we're pulling into the parking lot, I notice we had limited braking power! Yikes! A quick investigation revealed the main brake line rusted through causing brake fluid to leak everywhere! Sheesh!! We did make it home eventually, I parked the Ranger thinking I will fix the brakes after the surgery as I have my second car, the Golf, as my spare! Uh huh...coming home from work on Thursday night, the idler arm for the drive belt siezed up shredding the belts and screwing up the timing. When it rains it pours! Lucky for me, my brother came by on Friday to fix my brake problem. Surgery is 2 days away!

**EDIT** I posted this Friday, September 11/09. Why it says Thursday is beyond me!

Last Appointments...

2009-08-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

My apologies in advance, but this will be a very short update. I have a ton of stuff to do. ~sigh~

Well, even though my liver biopsy was 11 days ago, the center of my chest still gets really itchy and I can feel a ridge there. Hard to explain, but it just feels weird! The good thing is the bruising is gone and the area itself doesn't hurt anymore!

Yesterday, I went to my family doctor for my second 'Twin-Rex' shot...only one more of those to get and that won't be 'till January 2010!

Ok, so on August 27/09, I received what should be my final schedule for my last round of appointments at Toronto General. I would have posted this sooner, but the last few days have been pretty hectic and all. No really, they have been hectic!

Tuesday September 8/09
9:00 AM 2nd Surgical Consultation
10:00 AM Blood Work
10:15 AM Pre-Admission
1:30 PM Meeting Transplant Coordinator

I'll post another update later this week, I have soooo much to do! Yikes!

Clean Bill of Health!

2009-08-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

Late afternoon Friday, (August 21/09) I got a call from the transplant office. The results of my biopsy came back clear and everything is a go!! Whew! All that worrying for nothing! I was also given a new surgery date 2 days earlier than originally posted. T-Day is now September 14th, 2009. I still have some minor appointments at the hospital, ( ECG, surgical consults & pre-admin stuff) which could be scheduled this coming week. The testing may be done, but this journey is far from over.

The Biopsy.

2009-08-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

On Monday August 17th, I received my schedule for the biopsy along with this email..

"We sent a requisition for you to do some labs required for your biopsy…….sent to ""Life Labs"", there are many scattered about Ontario but if you have a lab that is easier for you we can re-send in the morning. You'll need to go anytime tomorrow or Wednesday morning to have the results for Thursday."

Luckily for me, Life Labs has a location a few blocks from my work and I was able to go in Tuesday for the blood work! The biopsy itself was scheduled for 9:00am on the 20th of August, but they ask that you arrive an hour early.

The biopsy procedure took place in the Medical Day Unit on the 7th floor of Toronto General. After registering at the reception desk, they led to me a room with 2 beds in it, kind of like a regular hospital room, but much more 'clinical' looking. At the foot of each bed, on a table, was this cloth bundle of 'tools' for the procedure. After 5 or so minutes, my transplant coordinator and doctor walked in and we chatted for a bit about the test and just made general small talk. The doctor started prepping the items needed for the biopsy and explained that the surgeon was running late with meetings, but was in fact, on his way to the room. She also explained that this surgeon was the best one to be doing this procedure, after all, he is the director of the Liver Transplant Unit. To my surprise, she also told me they would freeze the area before they took the sample! Score!! It was also explained to me that I may have some shoulder pain and that pain medication would be available to me if needed. Also, I would have to stay in this bed for at least 4 hours to make sure there was no bleeding.

As I was waiting for the surgeon, another young fella scheduled for the same procedure came into the room. Turns out this guy, Richard was his name, is donating a piece of his liver to his dad...and if his biopsy results were good, his surgery could happen as soon as next week! Pretty cool! We chatted back and forth until the surgeon arrived.

The surgeon was pretty cool, he explained the procedure to both of us as he prepped more instruments of 'mass biops-ity', then the drapes were pulled around my bed and I was instructed to put on...wait for it.....
a robe!!

Yes, the open front robe! For a brief minute I was in robe heaven! Sadly, there was only one robe to be put on as an exchange for my shirt. Guess they don't want to get 'biopsy goo' on your shirt. The surgeon talked more about the procedure stating that even he had undergone the procedure so he could experience what it was like! Nothing he said could never have prepared me for what was about to happen.

It all started with me raising my right arm above my head as I was laying down, some sterile sheets were draped across my chest and he swabbed my rib cage with stinky sterile goo. He tapped his fingers around my chest explaining he was locating my liver, once he found the spot he would take the sample from, he pressed a quarter into my skin making an indentation. More stinky goo was swabbed on and he explained he was going to start freezing the area. The first couple of needles didn't really hurt, it just felt like pressure. As he went deeper though, I could feel it....as he was jabbing around, he was talking the entire time. He then said he was ready to take the sample, he picked something up off the table and I felt even more pressure on my side. In a split second, it felt like something tore through the middle of my chest straight up! It startled me so much I looked down at my chest expecting a frickin' alien to shoot out! Holio Christ it hurt! Then it was over...and immediately, a really dull pain shot through my shoulder. The surgeon taped a huge pad of gauze to the biopsy site and then showed me the needle he used to get the sample. Now there was no way that needle made it in to the middle of my chest, but that's how it felt. It was the weirdest sensation I have ever experienced!! Both the surgeon and the doctor explained that to get the sample from the liver, they had to go through some pretty sensitive nerves and tissue. As soon as I caught my breath, I yelled over to Richard that he was in for a treat! Nurses then came in to monitor my temperature and blood pressure. They offered me pain medication but by this time, there really was no pain, just some discomfort in my shoulder. My whole chest was frozen!

After Richard had his biopsy done, we chatted about the weirdness of it all and I tried to get some sleep. When I was allowed to leave the hospital, I shook Richards hand and wished both he and his dad all the best. By the time I got home, my side was sore, red and tender. It almost looks like dye! Needless to say, I slept on the couch Thursday night.

Biopsy ahead!

2009-08-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, I came home to both an email & a phone message from my transplant coordinator. She had the radiologist review my scans, turns out my anatomy cleared and I'm cleared to go onward!! She also booked another appointment for me on August 20/09....the dreaded liver biopsy! ~shudder~ This, I believe, will be my biggest hurdle to date.

The biopsy is needed to rule out any fatty infiltration in my liver. During my initial testing, one of the tests, the abdominal ultrasound, showed signs of fatty deposits. Even though none of my other tests confirmed this, the discrepancy must be addressed and a biopsy will provide the definitive result. ( pretty technical sounding huh? ) Other than the catheter, this is the one procedure I am dreading most....I've had a biopsy before, and it hurt.

Years ago, I found this painful lump under my nipple. I actually dismissed it as a skin irritation until it got to be quite big and painful. Clothes hurt it, laying down made it hurt, if anything hit me there it hurt. When it got puffy, it really started affecting my daily routine. My doctor ordered blood tests, ultrasounds and even a mammogram (now, as a guy, I have no breast mass, but they were able to stuff what little of me I had into that machine, ladies, I share your pain) but no cause or definite diagnosis was given. In the end, I underwent a biopsy. The doctor that performed the procedure told me they can't numb me up or freeze the area because they wanted a 'clean' sample. I was strapped to a bed, told to take deep breathes and then they shoved this thick, long needle through my areola and into the mass, plunging around for what seemed like minutes for a sample..not once, but three times! It hurt. It actually hurt so much my penis inverted itself, shrivelled up back into my stomach and stayed there for a week! Ok, it didn't really do that but it did hurt and I'm not ashamed to admit I had tears in my eyes when it was finally over. In the end, my painful lump turned out to be nothing more than a benign mass. Day surgery took care of it and I've been fine ever since!

With this memory fresh in my mind, I've been assured if the same procedure was performed today, it wouldn't be as bad and the whole thing is quite simple. Uh-huh. The parting line on the email from the transplant coordinator states, "They typically require people to have someone drive them home afterwards, please let me know if this is a problem and I will speak with the doctor".

Can't wait!

More Confusion...

2009-08-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

Just checked my email and as promised, there was an email from my transplant coordinator. She writes....

""I am surrounded by confusion.........sorry about the mess-up in the lab. They still didn't draw everything!

Review today looked okay to proceed, there is some confusion regarding right vs left lobe d/t the new findings on the CT cholangiogram. The surgeons reviewed for about 20minutes and waffled back and forth about cancelling all together or going forward so I am having one of our radiologists review everything for a final opinion.

I promise to let you know ASAP and then we will book outstanding assessments - I am presuming a positive outcome.""

~sigh~

BLOW, BLOW, BLOW!!!

2009-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! Monday's appointments turned out to be a hectic day of confusion! It was the hottest, muggiest day of the year in Toronto too! Bleh!

My first scheduled meeting of the day was with my transplant coordinator. She explained to me what tests I was having this day and we had a general chat of future events and appointments outstanding. She also told me they have a recipient in mind for me, a 'small female adult'. (That's all I know, and that's all I will probably ever know as I'm doing this anonymously.) We also discussed a tentative surgery date. September 16th! As she reviewed my chart, she added a blood test for me to get before I left for home. Our parting conversation was that she would be in touch with the results of the CT cholangiogram as soon as she gets them.

The CT cholangiogram was an ordeal! As I was registering at the reception, one nurse remarked that the department was way behind in appointments. I was a little spooked because I didn't want to be late for the next appointment at 3:15. I only had to wait about 15 minutes before I was called in though and was led down the familiar hallway to the change rooms....then I was handed the gowns! I don't know what it is about the gowns, but I really do like them! One goes on in front, like how a surgeon would wear one, the other goes on like a robe, true comfort! Truth be known...I go commando underneath! The boys are free, cool breeze and sway-age! Nobody knows, and I like the freedom! Anyways, the tech guy leads me into this little room where he starts getting all this stuff ready. Needles, IV tower with bag of solution/contrast and a little vial of something. As he's prepping we're making small talk, then he says I can't drive for 5 hours after this scan......huh?? That wasn't in the plan! 'Sorry fella' I tell him, 'but I'm driving'! He leaves to consult with the head guy and they both come back to talk to me. Turns out, the little vial has Benedryl (or something like it) in it. They add it to the contrast medium so the patient doesn't have an allergic reaction to it....but the Benedryl makes you drowsy. So, at this point, my option is take the test with the Benedryl, or the test gets cancelled. Now, since I wasn't ready to take the gowns off, we compromised! They only put 1/3 of the Benedryl stuff in with the medium. They hooked the IV up, let it empty into my arm, which took about 15 minutes, then they gave me the scan. This scan was to further highlight my biliary anatomy so the surgeons could assess them more closely. Modern medicine is fascinating isn't it? When it was finished, I didn't feel drowsy or tired at all. As I went to change back into my street clothes, I was sooooo tempted to steal the gowns, but I figured I'd get caught and it would be embarrassing explaining my hospital gown fetish to the cops. ~sigh~ I leave the department gown less.

The Pulmonary Function tests were strange! I was lead into the 'testing' area, it's a huge room partitioned off into cubicles made of curtains, and every where I look, there are people sitting in chairs with their mouths wrapped around this white tube hooked to a machine and technicians are screaming at them....BLOW BLOW BLOW!!!! MORE! HARDER! BLOW! Of course in my immature mind I'm thinking...'what the hell kind of porno set have I entered??' This, however, is the test! They pinch your nose shut with a clip, and they get you to breathe into this white tube-y thing....no robes though. You do regular breathing, panting, fast exhales, fast inhale....it all measures lung capacity and it's all hooked up to a machine and computer. I was expecting something totally different, but it was actually pretty neat. As your doing the test, the technicians are literally screaming at you to blow, blow BLOW! KEEP GOING!!! The test took maybe 20 minutes, no dizziness or lightheaded-ness and still no drowsy effects from the Benedryl! At the end of the test, I was told this was more for the anesthesiologist....makes sense to me!

My last stop was the at the blood lab. I gave the receptionist my cards and the test number, but they were confused. They called me in and drew blood, 8 vials, but they were still confused. They asked me who ordered the tests and when I told them, the names didn't match and the tests didn't match. As they were finishing up, they promised me they would take care of things and I was on my way. At least I have a surgery date scheduled! Things are looking good thus far!

More Tests!

2009-08-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it was me, my computer, or the interwebs in general, but I have had a hell of a time logging into this site to do an update!! Sheeesh! If this continues, I may move to World Press!

During the weekend,last weekend to be exact, I decided to email the hospital to see if there was any news, on Tuesday they replied with three new appointments.

Monday August 10/09
1:00 PM General Meeting
2:00 PM CT Cholangiogram
3:15 PM Pulmonary Function Tests

Not a big fan of the CT scans. It's not a painful process but they pump this dye into you and it just makes you feel weird! Anyways, this test involves a different 'contrast medium' that will highlight the biliary anatomy for the surgeons to assess more closely. Apparently these tests are hard to schedule...hence the delay in my appointment schedule. Truth be known, I kind of like the airy gowns they give ya to wear while in the machine itself! Very comfortable and breezy. Ummm, perhaps I've said too much.

I'm thinking the pulmonary function tests is to gauge lung capacity and how well said lungs move oxygen. A google search revealed "forced breathing and rapid breathing may produce light-headedness during and after the test". Nice!

That's the update for now, I'll post more Monday night or Tuesday.

Random Thoughts

2009-07-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm not very good at blogging. Any tree-dwelling chimp can post pictures, videos and songs to a web page and call it a blog, (see my other blog for evidence of that!) so I really envy those people who create organized, well written blogs with structure! My written thoughts are sporadic, lack substance and are not very well organized.

In any case, there are 2 reasons for this blogs existence. My original purpose for this blog was to keep track of the entire donation process, a place where I could document, (in as much detail as possible,) all the procedures, appointments and interviews I encounter during this journey. That way, when all is said and done, my experience might help some other potential donor navigate the donation process with a different perspective on what's involved.

The second reason is so that family and friends can follow my progress at their leisure. That being said, it should be noted that apart from my immediate family, only a very few of my friends know of my intentions as I don't want to be the center of attention in social gatherings. This may change once I get closer to a surgery date, but for now, this is how I am handling it.

Donating an organ is major surgery and I'm not walking into this blind. When I first started this process, I researched everything I could about living donation, from donor requirements to the hospitals that perform the operations. (I choose Toronto General Hospital because I believe they are the best in this country.)
During the testing, the most common statement I've heard from every doctor so far is related to pain...expect pain. Does this scare me? Not really, but I do have some concerns and fears.

The operation itself doesn't spook me, the transplant team is looking out for me, if they find a problem that makes me ineligible to donate, or if the risks to my health are too great, the testing stops. Besides, if something really bad happened to me on the operating table, it could shut down transplant program, and no one wants that. So I have complete faith in the TGH staff! As far as pain management goes, they have that covered with medications. I fully expect there will be discomfort as well, but that too will pass. The only real fear I have is the catheter! I just can't get past the idea of anyone jamming a plastic tube up my cock to handle my peeing function! Ahhh, the indignities of being a patient. Thankfully, they do it while you're out! Mind you, when they pull it out, you're awake! My only saving grace is I'm hung like a deer tick, so they don't have far to go...but still, ouch!

My only real concern involves possible future events based solely on a dream. My brother Rick and his wife Lisa have three boys. Ben, age 6, Josh, age 3 and Kevin, age 3 months. I love these kids and it would kill me if one of them ever needed a liver transplant and I was unable to donate due to the fact I already donated. I had a dream me and Rick were frantically searching through boxes looking for my liver because one of his boys needed it before he could go down a slide. Very weird dream.

So, why am I doing this? It seems we all take certain things in our life for granted. I for one go to bed at night knowing that when the sun rises, so will I. The vast majority of us go about our daily lives knowing we have a place to call home, we have people in our lives that love and care for us, and that bad things don't happen to us...bad things happen to other people.

Oh sure, we all get shit on from time to time...jobs are lost, relations fail, colds and flu's set us back,...but for the most part, life is wonderful and worth living. Everyone should have that chance. At this point in my life, if I can help someone live a normal life, why shouldn't I?

This doesn't make me a hero, nor am I really saving a life here. Highly skilled doctors, surgeons and nurses however are. My role is merely providing the needed "part". So ends this edition of my random thoughts.

Consults x 3

2009-07-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of new posts here, I just didn't have any new news! On July 15th however, I headed off to Toronto General Hospital for my next three appointments.

9:30am This was my medical consultation with a doctor not affiliated with the transplant program. I was really expecting a gruelling head to toe physical , which was not the case! The doctor was great, he went over a bunch of my paper work and asked me lots of questions. He checked my blood pressure, asked about the medications I was on and just generally poked around. Turns out everything was good and he didn't see any problems. Now, I should mention there was a problem with my blood pressure reading, he checked it a few times but the reading was still off. I think there was a problem with the machine itself but I promised him I would get it checked. He wished me well and sent me on my way. Total time about an hour and a half.

12:00pm Up to the 8th floor for a psychiatric consult! Now, all along I really had no idea what to expect at this meeting, so to be honest, I was kind of nervous before I went in. Turns out this doctor quickly put me at ease and we had a great little chat! She asked lots of questions, mostly about my decision to donate. Everything she asked me had no right or wrong answers, it's kind of weird and hard to explain......I left her office feeling pretty good!

1:30pm My last appointment on this day was with one of the transplant doctors. To my surprise, she was waiting for me at the reception counter. Super nice doctor too! She went over my previous tests with me, checked out my abdomen and explained once again, in too much detail, what the procedure involved and what I could expect in the days leading up to, and after the donation. At one point in the meeting, this doctor was called away for a few minutes by my transplant coordinator to check on another patient, so she stayed with me and we chatted for a bit. I voiced my concern again about the 'fatty deposits' that turned up on my abdominal ultrasound. Surprisingly, she didn't seem all that concerned and convinced me not to worry. End result is they will do a liver biopsy to find out for sure. Also, they have added my MRI to be reviewed again on Tuesday to assess right vs left lobe donation. When the doctor came back in, she talked a bit about my medical history and noticed that I was never vaccinated for Hepatitis 'B'. Wow! She also gave me a prescription for something to help me with a sinus infection that I was having trouble with. She made some notes and I was assured more tests would be booked and that so far, everything is good and I'm still very much a candidate. As I left the office, I let out a huge sigh of relief, there is light at the end of this tunnel!

Processed Foods

2009-06-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

I had a really good talk with my transplant coordinator the other day. I voiced my concern about the results of my scans, mainly if I was still a candidate for living donor transplant. The news that I had some fatty deposits on my liver freaked me out! (Obviously I'm still a candidate for donation, if after this next round of appointments goes well, I'll probably be booked for a liver biopsy. This way, they can tell the extent of my fatty deposits. I'm told it needs to be less than 10%.) Turns out, the great majority of the population has fatty deposits on the liver. Now, I don't drink alcohol, I'm not over-weight and I'm hellishly active. So what's the deal?? The culprit most likely is....drum roll....

Processed foods!

Hmmmm...guilty as charged! I loves my white bread products! Hell I have white bread INSIDE my white bread sandwiches!! White rice is another yummy processed demon-food! I love sugar in my coffee and I've been known to nibble on a Lindt chocolate or two! Hard to imagine a life without processed food products...but I'm willing to give it a shot! I won't cut it out entirely, baby steps first!! This week, no white bread products and only 1/2 the sugar in my coffee. Apparently, the body can absorb these fatty deposits just by a change in diet. What I have I got to lose? Wish me luck!

New Schedule..

2009-06-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lull in postings, it's been a hectic couple of days! It appears all my fretting regarding the cancelled appointments was just that! Cancelled appointments! The transplant assessment office sent me a new schedule of appointments at Toronto General!

Wednesday July 15/09
9:30 AM Medical Consultation
12:00 PM Psychiatric Consultation
1:30 PM General Meeting

As I understand it, the Medical Consultation is a fairly extensive physical examination by a doctor not affiliated with the transplant program. This way, this doctor can give an unbiased opinion on my health and well being, kind of a second opinion. I was told this appointment could go a full 2 hours! Yipes!

The Psychiatric Consultation is a sit down meeting to make sure I'm mentally sound....I'm guessing they will ask questions about me, what my motives are, do I know the risks and so on. I'm sure there will be questions asked of me I have not given much thought on.

The General meeting might be with the transplant department people....but I'm not sure. I'm fairly sure the whole day, as with the others, will be an eye-opening experience.

Cancelled appointment

2009-06-16T15:40:00.001-07:00

I have a cell phone, it's very little and very quiet. When I'm at work, I turn on the vibrate feature and tuck it into my pocket....if the phone rings - it'll vibrate! Well, every time I get a call whilst said phone is on vibrate while in my pocket, it feels like bees attacking me and I freak out....every fickin' time!!

Anyways, I got a call from Toronto General Hospital at around 2:15pm today. The lady that called told me they overbooked appointments for Wednesday June 17th and that my appointment would be cancelled. ~sigh~ She said she would see what she could do to re-schedule them for me. More waiting...or are they trying to tell me something?? Hmmmm. Sorry, but right now, I am paranoid my quest has failed.

1st Surgical Consultaion....

2009-06-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

I had my first surgical consultation today and I came away with mixed feelings. When today's appointment was set up, I was under the impression that all my tests looked good and that this appointment was the next logical step for the surgical team to explain the risk, benefits and procedures of the surgery to me.

The meeting was scheduled for 11:00am, I arrived a little early but was led to an examination room to wait for the surgeon. This surgeon was quite nice, very to-the-point but very personable as well! Now, I wouldn't say he tried to talk me out of the surgery, but he certainly described the adventure I wanted to take in graphic detail leaving no stone unturned as far as what to expect during and after the procedure! He made drawings and talked at length about procedures, pain, recovery times, pain management, restrictions on activities, pain, medications I'd need to take after the surgery, follow-up appointments and other follow-up procedures. Remember in my last post where they told me I had some complex bile ducts on my right side? Well, this doctor mentioned that fact as well and suggested that because of the risks and possible complications to me and a possible adult recipient, he recommended that I donate my left lobe to a pediatrics patient. I agreed, I have no preference as to who gets my liver, I just want to help someone, the less complications the better.

He then had me lay on this examination table and pressed around my abdomen quite a bit remarking that after reviewing my test results, he didn't think I would have any troubles with this surgery.....then he dropped a bomb-shell. Apparently, both my MRI and the CT scan showed no signs of liver problems, BUT the ultrasound showed signs of a fatty liver!

Fatty liver?? At 6'3" and 205 lbs, huh??!! I'm a pretty fit guy, my job is very physical and I 'try' to eat properly. (weakness is Lindt chocolate!!) How did this happen? He even showed me the remarks written by the ultrasound guru! I froze...could this be the end of my journey?

- Note: Fatty liver deposits are not the result of eating fatty foods. There are literaly hundreds of reasons one could have a fatty liver...too many to list anyways.

Then came the second bomb-shell...."you also have polyps on your gall bladder". Gadzooks!! I'm falling apart here! I thought they said my tests looked great!!? The doctor, sensing my distress calmly stated "so we have a discrepancy here, two tests say no liver problems, one test says liver problems". Apparently, the ultrasound is a more detailed, sensitive scan, so it sees things the others don't. As far as the gall bladder goes, it poses no danger regardless if I donate or not, if I do donate, they remove it anyways. He went on to explain that more tests would be needed and that more than likely, along with an echocardiogram and a breathing/lung test, they would need to do a liver biopsy. ~sigh~ Needless to say, I left the hospital with a very heavy heart. I mean if I have any health problems, it's great that these tests will discover them! At the same time, what if I'm eliminated from the donation process??

I still have two tests on Wedneday June 17th, my appointment at 8:00am is a brutally rigorous three hour physical....after that I meet with the 'aftercare' doctor at 11:00am. I'll be sure to post all about it when I get home.

Here are the surgeons scribblings from today.

More Catch-up....

2009-06-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

One of the last things my transplant coordinator told me was that they would be in touch with me the following week....but they had to review the results of my tests first to see if I was indeed a candidate for donation. I was told that the entire transplant team will meet together with the results of my tests, if all my scans looked good and everything met certain criteria, I was good to go.

Needless to say, all I could think of on the way home was I wonder if I am as healthy as I think I am? This waiting made for a long, long weekend!

On Wednesday morning, the transplant office called me with good news...all the results of my tests came back positive and all the scans looked great! Wooo hooo!! The hair on my arms actually stood on end at this news!! I guess I am as healthy as I had hoped I was! The only concern he had, and it wasn't even a concern was that I had some complex bile ducts on my right side. This doesn't rule out an adult transplant but he did mention a pediatric transplant might be perfect.

((Now, one thing to note here is I signed up to be anonymous donor, this means my donated liver will go the person most in need of a transplant in my blood group.))

I was then told that the office would schedule more appointments for me and that they would be in touch. On June 9th, 2009 I received my next schedule. These are:

Monday June 15, 2009
11:00 AM 1st Surgical Consultation

Wednesday June 17, 2009
8:00 AM Medical Consultation
11:00 PM General Meeting

So we shall see what happens at these meetings!!

Let's Play Catch-Up...

2009-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry these entries are so long, I will try to keep them manageable.

In early March 2009, I contacted the 'Transplant Assessment Office' at Toronto General Hospital with a whole lot of questions and a request for information on living organ donation. The woman I spoke to was awesome! She not only answered all my questions, she seemed genuinely interested in me, and what my motives were. When all was said and done, she promised to email me a 'Living Donor Information package'.

On March 10, 2009, I received the 'Living Donor Information Package'!! This included a 14 page 'manual' and a 6 page 'living donor health history questionnaire'. There's a lot of information to read and digest in this and nothings been sugar-coated.

Jump ahead to April 27th, 2009, this was the day I faxed the completed health questionnaire from my workplace to the Donor Assessment Office along with a copy of my latest blood tests. Up until now, I never knew my blood type! I'm A+!! I called the office to make sure everything went through ok and they said it did.

On May 8,2009 I got a call from the Donor Transplant Assessment Office. This was to confirm they had scheduled a number of tests for my assessment as a potential donor. These tests were scheduled for May 28, 2009 at the hospital itself. By my request, that schedule was emailed to me. Since my testing was to begin at 9:00 in the morning, and because I live over two hours away from the hospital itself, I decided to spend the evening prior to the testing at a hotel a few blocks from Toronto General Hospital, that way I wouldn't get stuck in traffic and I could be well rested. The only setback I had was I forgot my running shoes at home and only had my work boots. Needless to say, I had to buy some runners the night before the testing. Also, I was instructed not to eat anything after midnight the night before testing straight through till after my ultrasound which was scheduled for 1:30pm. Also, no food again 4 hours prior to my MRI, which was scheduled for 9:30pm. Sheesh!!

Here now, is the schedule from May 28th (names withheld for privacy)

9:00am This was a general meeting with my transplant assessment coordinator on the 12th floor. She went over the schedule of tests, the procedures, organ donation in general and just talked to me about everything I could expect this day. She also informed me that they would contact me the following Tuesday with my results....those results being I am still a candidate, or I'm not a candidate. She then gave me a blue hospital Id card and sent me on my way. What a sweet angel she was!

10:00am I headed down to the ground floor for some blood work and an ECG. As luck would have it, I had to walk through a frickin' food court to get to the blood work place!! The smell of bacon was especially strong that day too!! I checked in at the desk almost 15 minutes early and was very surprised to wait less than 5 minutes until they called me in! The tech that took my blood was super! Very friendly, very talkative....just like a favorite Aunt! To be honest, the entire hospital staff was just wonderful, I can't praise them enough! Anyways, she harvested 15 vials of blood and coaxed a urine sample out of me. After that, she hooked me up for the ECG. I could have hugged her she was so nice. I then had to walk back through the food court....all I smell is coffee and muffins!!

11:00am Off to the medical imaging department for an abdominal CT scan! Once again, I checked in about 20 minutes early but only had to wait about 5 minutes to get called in!! The tech gave me a robe thingy to wear, only socks, underwear and shoes...no jewelry, he then directed me to a waiting room where another tech came and led me to the CT scan. This guy was great, he explained what was going to happen and helped me into the scanner. He then hooked an IV into my arm that was to pump dye through me and started the machine. I was actually pretty relaxed as I lay there, he spoke through a speaker system and told me when to, and not to, hold my breathe. Then my whole arm tingled as that dye shot into me. Very strange feeling. In any case, that test lasted more than 45 minutes!

12:30pm Back in line to register for the chest x-ray, got a strange look from the lady at the desk, but that might be because I still have the robe thingy on! Simple procedure, great tech as well. As I sat in the waiting room, I chatted with two other fellows. One guy was there for a follow up from a heart transplant, he was in his 60's, the other guy, maybe early 30's, had a heart defect that this hospital discovered and was having surgery later that week. Nice guys, and both remarked how wonderful the staff was. After my x-ray, I wished both guys all the best and went to change back into street clothes. The X-ray tech looked way to young to be an X-ray tech.

1:30pm Back in line yet again to register for the abdominal ultrasound. The lady at the desk didn't even ask for the ID card this time!! I did have to wait about 30 minutes though as I was really early. Good thing I brought my Nintendo! As I waited...all I could think of was attacking that food court once I was done!! When I was called in, I had to change into the backless hospital robe. Once again, the tech was great and she walked me through the procedure. An ultrasound is pretty basic, this one lasted a long time though as she mapped out all my veins and whatnot. When she finished, she advised me to head over to the MRI in case someone cancelled an appointment, I could get it! Good idea, even though I'm really hungry.

9:30pm So I go to register for the MRI and it's only 2:15pm. The lady at the desk tells me I can register, but I can't leave as I am registering early and on a standby list. I'm sooooo hungry! I ask her if I can eat and she tells me no because my system has to be empty for the scan. Grrrr!!! (I would not marry this woman) Long story short...there were no cancellations and I had to wait in that stupid room till 9:00pm before I got called in. Once I was called in, I suited up in the backless robes and was forced to drink this container of heavy, thick, white milky looking shit. It was horrible and my stomach cursed me for it. The MRI is a loud clunky machine. They outfitted me with headphones and strapped me to a table. They gave me directions through the headphones of when to breathe and when to hold....apparently, I fell asleep twice in the machine so I wasn't following instructions very well. I actually left the hospital at 11:20pm. My car was 4 blocks away and I needed coffee! I won't even talk about the food I ate on the way home...it's embarrassing. So ends the day of testing.

The Begining...

2009-06-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is going to be a lot harder than it seems! To be honest, I really didn't want to start my first blog, let alone a blog about this! That being said, it was suggested to me that I document about this journey. Now, If you visit my other blog, you'll notice I'm not very good at writing, so to those of you who visit this blog, please be patient with me and my obvious lack of literary skills.

So where do I begin? Well, as the name of the blog implies, I have chosen to become an living organ donor, a living liver donor to be exact. This blog is where I'll document every triumphant and boring detail of my journey! Now, even though there's a ton of information on the interwebs about organ donation, I thought I would share my story of the donor process from the very start of my testing, right through to the surgery itself to my eventual recovery.

My decision to become a living organ donor wasn't an easy one, nor was it made overnight. Some time ago I registered to donate my organs when I die, but I actually hope to live for a long time yet. Right now, there are too many people waiting for organs....sadly, a great majority of those people waiting, will die waiting. Besides, there are two members of my family living with donated organs....so I've seen first hand the positive effects of organ donation.

Lets get started!