A Kidney For Matt

Success! The surgery was a total success, the new kidney is working great and I'm recovering well. Hopefully heading home sometime this week. Thank for all the support from everyone!

Just two days to go! I’m nervous and excited about it. Nervous about the actual surgery but excited to feel normal again. Although, I’m not sure what normal is even anymore. My wife has a hotel room close by the hospital for the five days I’m expected to be there. It will be great to have her close by. Thank you to everyone that has supported me and our family over the journey of the past two years. Next update will be with a new kidney!

Today was the day we had been waiting for. I have a donor! He is one of my best friends that I’ve known for over 20 years. The surgery date has been set for October 20th. I’m grateful to my donor, I can never repay him for this gift. This will be life saving for me and my family. Now the job is to stay healthy until the surgery date. Thank you buddy.

Time for an update: The dialysis has been going well and I’m feeling so much better. It’s actually amazing the improvement. The dialysis has taken off 35lbs of excess fluid that my kidneys couldn’t get out of my body. I could feel the weight but had no idea there was so much – I thought I was just getting a bit tubby. Blood pressure is improving and my energy is better. I’ve been getting outside with the family a bit now so the summer is going by quickly. It feels great to be doing some normal activities. I’m on an evening schedule three times a week, which has been hard for my wife. She has to be managing the two kiddies bed times after long days at work – she is a trooper. The news on the donor front is that I am approved for surgery and two donors are getting close to completing the work up. The final tissue matching stage will determine if either can go ahead. Fingers crossed there is another update soon.