Jeff Jarnagin’s Kidney Transplant
Donation protected
Hi! I’m Jeff. I’m going to try to tell you my story in a nutshell, however, I do lean more to the dramatic side, so forgive me if I go there.
For 30 years, I lived with kidney problems. In 2016 it all came to a head when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Testicular Cancer AND End Stage Renal Failure. Double bummer.
I began dialysis immediately, lost my right testicle, which was my favorite if we’re being honest, underwent 5 rounds of radiation and 40 rounds of chemo. I came out Cancer free, but was left bald, blistered and bewildered… am I? (Ha)
With my particular Cancer, the Transplant Committee decided that I would need to remain Cancer free for 5 years before I could be considered for a kidney transplant. That meant, 5 years of dialysis ahead of me.
Those 5 years flew by in retrospect. I did everything I was supposed to. I followed my renal diet. I haven’t had a baked potato in over 6 years. I went to all of my treatments, even when out of town. Other than the obvious, I had no other major health issues. My doctor said I was the perfect candidate for transplant.
You bet your booty, I had my application ready as soon as I hit the 5 year mark. My application was approved, then came all of the testing. Passed all of that, too! Finally, I was approved to go on the waiting list! PLUS, the 5 years I had to wait were taken into consideration, so, I went to the TOP of the list!
Here is where the rollercoaster really takes off. The next few months had some of the highest highs and lowest lows I’ve ever had, next to fighting Cancer.
A timeline is in order to help.
February 2022: I have 10 friends being tested to be a living donor. Only 1 makes it past the first round.
March 2022: That 1 friend makes it all the way to Baylor in Ft. Worth for final testing. She was denied. We were pretty devastated. We both just knew she was the one. I also received my first waiting list call. It came while I was at dialysis and my doctor happened to be close by. We decided to pass due to the deceased donor’s sketchy medical history.
April 2022: I got my second waiting list call. With my doctor’s advice, we passed again. He said a better kidney was out there for me. On the 20th, I got my third call. This time, I accepted it. I was told to leave immediately for Ft. Worth. 100 miles from home later, the call came to turn around and go home. When the deceased donor’s kidney was being removed, they were found to be an unsuitable donor. So, back home it was.
May 2022: Not a creature was stirring, not even a kidney. Nothing.
June 4, 2022: At 10:30 PM, my phone lit up. This was the one. This kidney was in excellent condition! Stand by for further instructions!
June 5, 2022: Finally, at 12:30 AM, the call came saying to leave ASAP! We loaded the car and headed to a friend’s to drop off the dogs. We were on the road at 1:30 AM. We drove all night. At 7:30 AM, we made it to the lab in Dallas for bloodwork. We then headed straight to Baylor in Ft. Worth where they sent me directly to Pre-OP. It was all happening so fast, like a whirlwind. We were waiting for the blood results. They mix my blood with the donors blood to make sure we’re a match. We were! This was really happening! I remember waking up and asking the nurse when I was going to go into surgery. She said, “Honey, you already went!”
June 8, 2022: I was released from the hospital, but I would have to stay in Ft. Worth for a while. We went to lunch then went back to our little air bnb. Everything seemed fine.
June 9, 2022: I woke up at 4 AM with some slight discomfort. I went to the bathroom and my urine looked like blood. From then on, the pain escalated rapidly. I couldn’t even make it to the car for my partner Shawn to take me to the ER. We had to call an ambulance. By this time, the pain was unbearable. Nothing seemed to help, not even the Fentanyl given in the ambulance. I blacked out at least 3 times in the ER from pain. My surgeons came in the room and delivered the worse possible news. They were sure the kidney would need to be removed. And that’s what happened. It was basically falling apart inside me. It was hemorrhaging and throwing blood clots into my bladder.
June 13, 2022: I was released to go home. I was sent with 20 staples, a Foley catheter and a drain tube with a little bottle on the end, and, to top it off, I had to use a walker to get around. I felt like a cyborg.
August 2022: I’m almost fully recuperated and we’ve already starting testing for another future transplant. I’m not back on the list yet, but I hope to be very soon. My journey isn’t over yet.
So, now, I’m just a kidneyless guy with only one testicle standing in front of you, asking for help.
Seriously, any help would be much appreciated. I was planning on a transplant, not a transplant, a transplant reversal and, now, another transplant.
So, thanks for stopping by. I’ll add updates as they happen!
Jeff
**Update 9/20/22
I’ve been approved for a 2nd transplant by Baylor and my insurance! That officially puts me back on top of the waiting list! Now, we wait for the call!
***Update 1/29/23
I received a new kidney on Monday, January 23, 2023! Everything is going great and the kidney seems to really be working well! We are basically living in Ft Worth for the time being. I have to be examined every other day, just to make sure everything is working properly. With the help of another Angel, we were able to find an apartment air bnb that’s just about 10 minutes from the hospital. After what happened last time, the closer to the hospital, the better.
Thank you all for being on my team and really picking me up during those times when I just couldn’t move my feet anymore. I love you all and thank God every day that you’re a part of my life.
For 30 years, I lived with kidney problems. In 2016 it all came to a head when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Testicular Cancer AND End Stage Renal Failure. Double bummer.
I began dialysis immediately, lost my right testicle, which was my favorite if we’re being honest, underwent 5 rounds of radiation and 40 rounds of chemo. I came out Cancer free, but was left bald, blistered and bewildered… am I? (Ha)
With my particular Cancer, the Transplant Committee decided that I would need to remain Cancer free for 5 years before I could be considered for a kidney transplant. That meant, 5 years of dialysis ahead of me.
Those 5 years flew by in retrospect. I did everything I was supposed to. I followed my renal diet. I haven’t had a baked potato in over 6 years. I went to all of my treatments, even when out of town. Other than the obvious, I had no other major health issues. My doctor said I was the perfect candidate for transplant.
You bet your booty, I had my application ready as soon as I hit the 5 year mark. My application was approved, then came all of the testing. Passed all of that, too! Finally, I was approved to go on the waiting list! PLUS, the 5 years I had to wait were taken into consideration, so, I went to the TOP of the list!
Here is where the rollercoaster really takes off. The next few months had some of the highest highs and lowest lows I’ve ever had, next to fighting Cancer.
A timeline is in order to help.
February 2022: I have 10 friends being tested to be a living donor. Only 1 makes it past the first round.
March 2022: That 1 friend makes it all the way to Baylor in Ft. Worth for final testing. She was denied. We were pretty devastated. We both just knew she was the one. I also received my first waiting list call. It came while I was at dialysis and my doctor happened to be close by. We decided to pass due to the deceased donor’s sketchy medical history.
April 2022: I got my second waiting list call. With my doctor’s advice, we passed again. He said a better kidney was out there for me. On the 20th, I got my third call. This time, I accepted it. I was told to leave immediately for Ft. Worth. 100 miles from home later, the call came to turn around and go home. When the deceased donor’s kidney was being removed, they were found to be an unsuitable donor. So, back home it was.
May 2022: Not a creature was stirring, not even a kidney. Nothing.
June 4, 2022: At 10:30 PM, my phone lit up. This was the one. This kidney was in excellent condition! Stand by for further instructions!
June 5, 2022: Finally, at 12:30 AM, the call came saying to leave ASAP! We loaded the car and headed to a friend’s to drop off the dogs. We were on the road at 1:30 AM. We drove all night. At 7:30 AM, we made it to the lab in Dallas for bloodwork. We then headed straight to Baylor in Ft. Worth where they sent me directly to Pre-OP. It was all happening so fast, like a whirlwind. We were waiting for the blood results. They mix my blood with the donors blood to make sure we’re a match. We were! This was really happening! I remember waking up and asking the nurse when I was going to go into surgery. She said, “Honey, you already went!”
June 8, 2022: I was released from the hospital, but I would have to stay in Ft. Worth for a while. We went to lunch then went back to our little air bnb. Everything seemed fine.
June 9, 2022: I woke up at 4 AM with some slight discomfort. I went to the bathroom and my urine looked like blood. From then on, the pain escalated rapidly. I couldn’t even make it to the car for my partner Shawn to take me to the ER. We had to call an ambulance. By this time, the pain was unbearable. Nothing seemed to help, not even the Fentanyl given in the ambulance. I blacked out at least 3 times in the ER from pain. My surgeons came in the room and delivered the worse possible news. They were sure the kidney would need to be removed. And that’s what happened. It was basically falling apart inside me. It was hemorrhaging and throwing blood clots into my bladder.
June 13, 2022: I was released to go home. I was sent with 20 staples, a Foley catheter and a drain tube with a little bottle on the end, and, to top it off, I had to use a walker to get around. I felt like a cyborg.
August 2022: I’m almost fully recuperated and we’ve already starting testing for another future transplant. I’m not back on the list yet, but I hope to be very soon. My journey isn’t over yet.
So, now, I’m just a kidneyless guy with only one testicle standing in front of you, asking for help.
Seriously, any help would be much appreciated. I was planning on a transplant, not a transplant, a transplant reversal and, now, another transplant.
So, thanks for stopping by. I’ll add updates as they happen!
Jeff
**Update 9/20/22
I’ve been approved for a 2nd transplant by Baylor and my insurance! That officially puts me back on top of the waiting list! Now, we wait for the call!
***Update 1/29/23
I received a new kidney on Monday, January 23, 2023! Everything is going great and the kidney seems to really be working well! We are basically living in Ft Worth for the time being. I have to be examined every other day, just to make sure everything is working properly. With the help of another Angel, we were able to find an apartment air bnb that’s just about 10 minutes from the hospital. After what happened last time, the closer to the hospital, the better.
Thank you all for being on my team and really picking me up during those times when I just couldn’t move my feet anymore. I love you all and thank God every day that you’re a part of my life.
Organizer
Jeff Jarnagin
Organizer
Amarillo, TX
