Donating a kidney to my brother - Kidney Disorders Message Board

pjpeters · 09-03-2004, 06:13 PM

I guess I'm just looking for your stories & support. My brother just turned 34. He has had diabetes since the age of 21/2. He has had a stroke, heart attacks,kidney failure,5 bypass open heart surgery,...& the list just goes on & on. He's been on dialisis for about a year now. My family means everything in the world to me & my heart breaks seeing how much he's been hurting for such a very long time now. I went to the University of Minnesota & had all of my testing done so that I could donate a kidney & possibly give him even just a little bit of his life back. Two days ago I was told he was cleared to have the transplant!! The surgery will be Oct.19! We just have to pray he stays well enough until then. The longest he's stayed out of the hospital is about three weeks. He always ends up back in because his stomach is paralized from the diabetes so it's very hard for him to digest anything that he eats. They have talked about a procedure where a stimulator is put into the stomach to help digest his food, but the doctor that will be doing the transplant says to wait until after the surgery because because things may start working on their own once he receives the new kidney. I would love to here some of your encouraging stories to help get us through this! It would mean the world to me!!

ainfante · 09-04-2004, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjpeters

I guess I'm just looking for your stories & support. My brother just turned 34. He has had diabetes since the age of 21/2. He has had a stroke, heart attacks,kidney failure,5 bypass open heart surgery,...& the list just goes on & on. He's been on dialisis for about a year now. My family means everything in the world to me & my heart breaks seeing how much he's been hurting for such a very long time now. I went to the University of Minnesota & had all of my testing done so that I could donate a kidney & possibly give him even just a little bit of his life back. Two days ago I was told he was cleared to have the transplant!! The surgery will be Oct.19! We just have to pray he stays well enough until then. The longest he's stayed out of the hospital is about three weeks. He always ends up back in because his stomach is paralized from the diabetes so it's very hard for him to digest anything that he eats. They have talked about a procedure where a stimulator is put into the stomach to help digest his food, but the doctor that will be doing the transplant says to wait until after the surgery because because things may start working on their own once he receives the new kidney. I would love to here some of your encouraging stories to help get us through this! It would mean the world to me!!

All I can say here, is God Bless You! I am crying inside right now, you are a beautiful person. I wish I had had that opportunity for my brother. My brother also had diabetes but from AGent Orange in Viet Nam. He died in February of this year from Chronic Renal Failure. If I'd known earlier to deal with those screwed up doctors at the VA Hospital in Danville, Illinois, I would have set it all up and donated one of my kidneys also to my brother. But at age 52, he was called elsewhere and my heart broke. Not a word from the doctors until it was too late and they just threw him into an ambulance, not equipped to take care of his illness to die. He died 20 mintues outside of the VA Hospital on his way to Chicago. They had 9 days to transport him and let him lie there like a bunch of idiot doctors until it was too late.
God Bless YOu again for doing this for your brother and I will pray that your brother, God willing, stays alive for your kidney.

Andrea

pjpeters · 09-05-2004, 08:14 PM

Andrea,
I am so very sorry that you lost your brother. Your letter touched my heart. I'm sure you would have been there in a heartbeat had you been given the same chance that I am. We too have come very close to losing my brother John. You very much know what my family has been going through. I just want to say that I'm sure even now your brother knows how very much you loved him. Your in my prayers.
Patty

ainfante · 09-06-2004, 09:55 AM

Patty, thanks for this, how beautiful, you brought tears to my eyes, really you did. My prayers are with you and you are a great sister.

God Bless you,

Andrea

pjpeters · 09-06-2004, 05:17 PM

Shekhar Gemini,
I appreciate your letter, but in all honesty I am somewhat of a skeptic. Thanks anyway.