The following is an excerpt from the email I sent to my team at AnMed just under a week ago. It was my attempt to summarize what is apparently a big deal or something. A funny note after the excerpt…read on.
I thought I would give you all an update on what is going on with me with regards to my health. I usually just update Larry and let him share it when needed, although, I don’t have any objections to anyone knowing if they want to.
Last week [2 weeks ago now] was spent undergoing a barrage of tests to determine my current health and to help determine whether having a liver transplant would be of benefit to me. Wednesday the transplant board at MUSC met and discussed my case with a host of staff including surgeons, specialists, etc. Today [this was written on Nov 21, 2008] I spoke with the transplant coordinator at MUSC and she confirmed what we expected and hoped for; that a transplant will be of benefit to me. In short, this means that I can be ‘listed’.
In about 2 weeks I will almost certainly be officially placed on the liver transplant list for MUSC. After being listed the call could come at anytime. In fact, the call may even come multiple times. I’ve learned that while waiting I may be called only to make the trip to Charleston, be prepped, and then be told to return home because some piece of the puzzle is missing. I have also learned and am thankful that MUSC has one of the shortest average wait times in the country at around 3 months. My wait time will likely be much shorter than that as more transplants are performed during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season than other times during the year. My blood type will also put me towards the top of my category.
Once transplanted, I will be in the hospital for a time to begin recovery. The first day or so will be in ICU and then the remaining days will be on a transplant recovery unit. Once released from the hospital I will be required to stay in Charleston for a minimum time of 2 weeks. These times of course depend on how well things go, complications, etc.
I just wanted to make sure everyone on our team knew what was going on. I also wanted to express my thanks to everyone. You have all made the past months easier whether it was simply being patient as I deal with good days and bad days or if you covered for me while out or took call when I was unable to. Thank you all. I’ll keep you updated.
I suppose that letter could apply to all of my family, friends…whoever. Even unicorns because I like them. Jill and I are thankful in advance for whatever help God sends our way in your form. Myself, I am thankful for whatever help you can give to Jill through this. She will need it more than I will. After all, she will have to deal with me and believe me I know how to whine and invoke emotions of sympathy and desires to gift gifts to keep me happy.
And, this post wouldn’t be appropriate without special thanks to my Liver Campaign Finance Manager, the one and only, Brad Cheshire.
Ok, and now the funny note I mentioned. As project manager of the Intranet at AnMed Health (also known as the Employee Portal) I have many conversations with people from other departments as we Work together making the Intranet useful for them. Needless to say, this requires lots of meetings, training sessions, demonstrations, etc. Over the last month as I have become confident of the upcoming time away from Work, I have had to communicate this to other users…more of a warning that we can go ahead and plan for this, schedule that meeting, set that deadline, etc. Well, sometimes I catch myself just sort of casually mentioning that I might be out to have a liver transplant…with the same tone and concern that I might have if I were to be out for a teeth cleaning. You can imagine the surprise from the other person…and then the surprise I feel when I realize that to them it’s not their life. It consumes me everyday so I have become very ‘used to it’. Anyway…that’s what’s happening.
alt=”This is of us and Newt. I had the Nikon on a tripod and was trying out my new remote shutter.” />
alt=”OK, this is obviously of something bad. Really bad. In fact, it’s the only picture that really represents the title Test Week in Charleston. A needle was in each point at some time earlier that day. ABG, Labs, Dobutamine Stress, and a missed stick were among the culprits.” />
alt=”This was also a view from our hotel room balcony the first night. It’s of the bridge near our temporary residence.” />
