Reasons To Donate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.