Can we handle it?

More papers I mean. We received another packet of material to go over from the transplant team last week.

Some of the things that we learned:

• Lot is up to 65 more times likely to get skin cancer than the average person.
• The average kidney transplant patient takes 16! pills in the morning and 7 at night in addition to a few that only have to be taken once a week. These pills are to be taken at 8am and 8 pm. There is not much wiggle room in the time that these can be taken. Any skipped doses can result in an organ rejection.
• He will have to avoid at all costs anything with grapefruit juice in it.
• The medications that he will be on can raise his blood glucose level, so he needs to be monitored for that to keep diabetes at bay.
• We will have to be extra vigilant about keeping things clean and sanitized, including cooking food properly (not that we don't already do that).
• Avoid people that are sick.
• Wash hands often, before eating, taking medications, and after touching someone who is sick.
• Keep hands away from eyes and mouth.
• Don't share drinking glasses or other utensils.
• Avoid crowded places like malls and theaters, especially during the cold and flu season.
• Avoid gardening or working in soil for 6 months post transplant, after that, gloves are to be worn at all times.
• Flu like symptoms can actually be signs of organ rejection.

We were also given a list of people that have consented to be contacted if you have any questions about being a donor or a recipient.

Lot has a few more pounds to lose and a class to take on Tuesday and after that happens, he will be cleared for a transplant and placed on the cadaveric donor list in the off chance that a living donor is not found.

Things are tough, but somehow, we will make it through to the other side. It won't be unscathed, but hopefully we will come out better people are are somehow able to help others in the same circumstances as ours.