A way to keep updated...

As many have heard last Monday David had to start dialysis.  I am creating this blog to keep friends and family updated! 

Background story....David lost his first kidney when he was 3 years old.  It never developed larger than a man's thumb nail, and then it got severely infected and they had to remove it.  When he was 12 he had to have his second kidney removed because he developed reflux in it.  His dad donated one of his kidney to David a month before he turned 13.  In between having his kidney removed and the transplant David was on dialysis for only a month.

Almost 19 years later....(and after meeting Alice, falling in love with each other and getting married :) )
A week ago David was very swollen (not uncommon, but it typically went away).  He was not sleeping well and we decided to call the doctor and see what he wanted David to do.  The doctor decided it was time for dialysis.  (There were many other factors that went into this decision but the basis was it was time). 
David spent 3 nights in the hospital after having some complications with his fistula (the artery they created in David's arm to allow access for dialysis he had put in about a year ago), they finally got it working and David was able to receive dialysis at the hospital 3 times at the hospital. 

On Friday David had his first dialysis treatment at the Dialysis Center that he will go to 3 days a week.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings.  Each treatment will be about 3.5 hours long.  I (Alice) is able to stay with him during his treatments but he is able to drive himself if need be. 

They dialysis center is wonderful.  All of the staff is very helpful and nice.  The doctor rounds there every week.  for as lousy as dialysis is, we feel very comfortable at the center and it is a great place.

David will be on dialysis until he gets another transplant.  He is on the transplant waiting list but that will be at least 4ish years.  A living donor would be a more ideal situation, but at this time we have not had a match.

We are doing pretty well for the circumstances we are facing.  David has his good days and bad days.  We are adjusting to the diet restrictions, adjusting to the schedule, and to the new events in our lives.  We have been blessed with support of friends and family. 

I will continue to update on health and life through this blog. 

~David and Alice