I am Home!!!

I have been home for 1 full day now and I am loving it.  Got to have lunch with Rumi and now I am getting settled into my new house :)

Still trying to take it easy and relax but it is so nice to see everyone again.  School is almost out and my girls are going to WI for a week- I wish I could travel this summer but it looks like I need to stay in Vegas for awhile to make sure things are OK.  What am I gonna do without kids for a week??  Should be too much FUN!!!

Here is Rumi and I :)

I am ready!!!

I am so ready to get out of Tucson I just want to be home!!  Hopefully tomorrow at clinic they will release me, as I have been asking since Thursday to be released back to Vegas.  I feel really good just still a little sore and everyday my energy is coming back.

I just have to wait a few weeks to drive- I think I am going to wait until the staples come out at least.

Besides the press conference we have just been shopping, relaxing, watching movies and eating out.  The one thing I have realized being away is that I really do love my life and have so much fun everyday.  To be away from all of that just makes me sad so I can't wait to get back.

Here are a few photo of the press conference:

Waiting for the conference

Talking with PR and Transplant Coordinator

Chief of Surgery and My Surgeon :) 

My Doctors

First Drink...well fake drink :)

Finally got cleaned up and went for a drink by the pool.  Well that is if you count a virgin pina colada :)
But it still felt nice.  Each day I feel better and better and can't wait for the day I feel like I am healed.
My neck is all bruised from the catheter and it still hurts but I hope this will heal over time.  It was nice to hang out with the girls and Dad before Sara and Collette leave tomorrow.

Here are a few photo's of our outing.  Early day tomorrow- doctors at 7:30AM then the press conference at 11:00AM.

At the Hotel

Well I am finally at the hotel relaxing and showered.  What a relief to get out all the IV's and catheters.  I am bruised and have holes all over my body from all the shots they gave me each day for the blood clots but I know I will heal.  I am still very tired when I walk but know I will build up my energy.  I am going to start working today and right now I am by the pool eating lunch :)

Thanks so much for all the thoughts and prayers and text's and phone calls.  Sorry if I can't respond but it is very tiring to do almost anything right now!!

The only thing different I have noticed is I feel that I look different- my face and body is so foreign to me it is weird.  Maybe this is just in my head but I feel I am completely changed.  Here are a few photo's of recovery and the awful catheter that was in my vein in my neck and leaving the hospital and me at the pool today.  I would usually never ever ever let a photo of me without my makeup and hair done be posted online but I figured what the hell- this is what I look like after 4 days of not showering :)

Yes that was inside my neck!!!



Working by the pool



Going home

Hurray!  Sara gets to leave today and I get to leave on Monday.  Right now we are going to the hotel to rest and not sure when we will be cleared to travel.  But it will be so much better to get out of the hospital!!  Plus I can nap by the pool now instead of the hospital bed.

Here are a few photos of sara's visit to see me and her kidney!!

Visiting hours

Here is my aunt linda and me in the hotel suite



Sara came down in herwheelchair to visit me and her kidney.  It was good to see both of us up and healing on day 2. Hopefully sara gets to go to the hotel by sat. Or sun. And i get to go by mon. Or tue.

The cheif of surgery invited us to a party this week for some banquet for patients.  That should be fun.

If we both keep on this track we wil be back to vegas in just a week or two!!

Ok going to watch a movie!!

12:40 PST Update

The surgeons are finishing connecting Molly's new kidney.  It will be another hour or so before she is ready to go to the recovery room.

Sara was just moved into recovery.  She is in severe pain and looks like she went through major surgery or something.  It is a very difficult thing to see her suffer.  Did I mention the doctor said a little pain?  They are working on her "minor" pain issues.  She should be moved to her room in an hour. Don't think she will be out dancing tomorrow night. 

Blood Vessels Being Attached & Sara's Surgeon Update

The surgeons are attaching Molly's blood vessels to her new kidney.  They said it was good to take the left kidney out of Sara because her heart is so big it could use more room (which explains how she could do such a selfless act).

Sara's surgeon just talked to Jane and me.  He said everything went very well.  Her kidney looked great.  She will have a little pain (doctor talk for excruciating pain) tonight and she should be able to get up and walk around tomorrow.  Looks like Sara will be 100% in a short period of time and down the line back scoring goals on the hockey rink (just no enforcer duties).  Sara's surgeon (Dr. G) is really cool and he used to do kidney transplants at the University of Minnesota.  His last comment was, "she should be fine.  I just hope she doesn't fall asleep at work." He then walked away laughing.  Everybody is a comedian.

10:55 PST

Operating room just called.  Sara's kidney was just taken out of her body and is now being placed in Molly.  Sara should be in recovery within 45 minutes.  Molly reboots her system in about 2 hours and will rediscover her former energy very soon.  

Hang on world:  Here comes Molly with Sara's supercharged kidney!

Day Of Surgery

6:30 AM  Both girls are being prepared at this time for surgery.  Sara's will be four hours, Molly's will be six hours.  They plan on starting Sara's at 7:30 AM.  They are in a great mood and still cracking jokes.  Please continue your prayers all day for the girls.  Will update as we go along!

Leaving...

Getting on the plane to Tucson!!!!   Here is the crew....

Tucson and Back Again

I really don't feel like blogging the next week.  I am overwhelmed with emotion and afraid if I blog it might be really raw- even more then I would like.

Please read Sara's blog for updates and what we did in Tucson.
Sarajaynegeorge.blogspot.com

Just to recap- we are ready to go next week.  They said I had to stay down there until June 4th but now they are thinking I might be able to go home 2 weeks after and just do my post op in Vegas.  My sister is a perfect cross match- less then 25% of people get this and it usually happens in twins.

I feel so blessed that she is giving me a perfect kidney- they said this kidney could last my entire life without having to have a second transplant- which would have happened if it was not a perfect crossmatch.

My girlfriend who is a teacher text me a photo of Jordan on her field trip today- I wanted to cry.  I was only gone for 2 days and already missing so much- how I am going to do this 2-3 weeks.   I do like my adult time but away from my kids for weeks- it just makes me sad!!

Amazing...

For those that have not read my sisters blog it is worth checking out.  She is such an amazing person!!!  The link is at the top of my blog...sarajayne...

Leaving tomorrow at 6am..still havent even packed.  I should be doing a million things tonight but might just go to rounders instead.  Nothing like escaping my duties and just having fun :)

Still havent slept this week but i figure i will make up for that after surgery.   Wish us luck for our testing tomorrow!!!

Can't sleep....

Sitting here every night for hours and hours in bed just thinking about the surgery and how bad I hate my cath cause it still hurts.  I think i sleep about 2 hours a night right now.

So....dialysis....well....it was awful!!!  They took too many fluids which made me very sick.  My bones hurt so bad I was shaking.  This started about 20 minutes in and I lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes.  It was some of the worse pain ever..made my catheter pain feel like a paper cut and giving birth was a joy compared to this pain.

So now I sit awake wondering do I try it again tomorrow? Or just skip it and see what the surgeons say on Wed when we are in Tucson for our pre testing.  Such a struggle..not sure what the outcome will be...depends how strong I really am to go again and risk the pain.

I am so upset with myself for opting for dialysis in the first place and not sticking it out the 2 weeks.

Cant wait to be on the plane on wed....got my new bikinis to lay by the pool...in the 95 degree weather :) 

Side note...once again on cell blogging so ignore typing and errors!!