Still waiting

 Hello from Durham.  We are still here.

For the past 5 weeks, the doctors have been evaluating Laura's kidneys to ensure that they will make it through the surgery.  Given the number and amount of medications she is on and will be on directly after the surgery, they are concerned that she will need a kidney transplant to manage her health long-term.

The question they are now trying to answer is about a need for a kidney and a lung transplant at the same time, or should they wait to see how the kidney performs after a transplant and then, if needed, do a living donor transplant. 

After the evaluation, they have determined that the living donor transplant is the best option.  This means that a donor must be screened and identified before her being listed for the lung transplant.  Ugh.  More time waiting.

They will begin flying people to Duke for onsite evaluations in the next few weeks.  Hopefully, that goes smoothly and quickly, and the process can move on.

Until then, Laura continues to do PT daily with the team.  The PT seems to be working as her lung function has remained in the 20s throughout the process.   She has had to increase her oxygen flow, but that is to be expected.

We appreciate all the notes, cards, and support. Hopefully, we will have more good news to share in July.

We hope you all enjoy the upcoming holiday. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Kevin and Laura