How to become a donor 101

Many people have asked what it takes to become a donor.  So I thought I would do a little post to get you started if you are interested! 

Organ donation is a huge gift to give someone.  Many people don't know that there are many organs that can be donated by a living donor...such as a Kidney! 

donatelifeohio.org is a great website on organ donation.  It gives a lot of information about how to register as a donor and ways you can volunteer and spread awareness of organ donation.  I am sure you have all seen the green chair commercials.  I proudly wear a green chair pin on my coat in order to spread awareness of organ donation. 

Well back to information on kidney donation......
In order to donate to (let's say to David) you would first need to be the same blood type.  For him that is O.  You would need to contact OSU comprehensive transplant clinic. (I can provide you with the number if this is something you would really consider).  It would start with a basic blood test to make sure you are blood type O.  The next step would be physical testing to ensure you are healthy enough to donate.  Basically you have to be in tip top shape!  More detailed blood work would be done then.  Not only do you need to have matching blood types, but your antibodies that are build up in your blood have to match or be very similar to the person you are donating to. 

Living organ donation is a very selfless act.  It is a big decision that should not be taken lightly.  However, the gift you can give to someone who is in need is priceless.  It is an amazing gift that can never be repaid. 

If you do want more information please feel free to contact me!  I am also looking into what fundraising can be done toward dialysis and organ donation.  There is a  walk sponsored by the National Kidney foundation in October that I will be participating in (not sure if I will create our own team or walk with our Dialysis unit) but I will update closer to time! 

Thanks for all the support you all continue to show us! 
David and Alice

Keep on going...

Things have been going well.  We are getting used to the schedule of dialysis.  Alice is figuring out how to cook on dialysis nights (well she still has some adjusting to do but she is working on figuring it all out). 

The worst part at this point is David gets severe leg cramps during dialysis usually toward the last 1/2 hour but they can be VERY painful and take a lot of energy out of him.  This is something we just have to deal with.  It depends on how much fluid they take off of him and lately in order to get all of the fluid off of him, they have to aggressively pull off fluid. 

They have also moved David up to the largest needle size.  (largest round, the length is the same for all of them).  This means that he will get the best cleaning because more blood can go through the needle so more blood can be cleaned.  And let me tell you...it's a huge needle!  

David went to dialysis by himself for the first time last Friday, because Alice got to babysit for friends.  I think it was harder on Alice to not be with him than him (David was fine by himself).  We don't plan on many treatments without Alice going! 

Life has been pretty good.  We have been trying to do a lot on the weekends since the week is pretty much consumed with Dialysis.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

I will update more later!!!
~Alice and David

Still going strong!

Well David has been on Dialysis for a full week and a day at the dialysis center and things are going well.  He is feeling better now that the fluid is starting to come off.  They think they have almost pulled all of the original fluid off and now it will be mostly upkeep of keeping the fluid off.  It is a constant cycle.  Everyone at the center is wonderful.  We are both starting to build relationships with many of the nurses and techs.  Of course all the ladies love David...he is a very good patient! 

We are slowly adjusting to the schedule of dialysis.  David went back to work today so this week will be a good test of how he will be feeling working and doing dialysis.  I (Alice) am optimistic that things will continue to go well. 

David's fistula seems to be holding up well.  They are going to try some new things with his fistula to try to get good access each hook up but they will have to explain it better to me once they make a decision because I don't get it...hee hee!

Alice is doing well.  I am still working out as much as I can.  I am getting up early before work to go workout and that seems to give me more energy during the day and it is the only time I can with our new schedule! 

So there isn't really any new updates besides we are doing much better than we were 2 weeks ago!!  I pray things stay calm and continue to go well! 

I will keep you updated!!
~Alice