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I have come to realize that a lot of you don't know our story or history with Manny’s health. Back on in 2014 Manny was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Early in the month of June he started showing symptoms of the disease (but we of course had no clue, it wasn’t even on our radar) what started with small charlie horses in the calfs quickly, in the days to come, turned into debilitating cramps. I remember an evening of bad cramps, chest pains, and exhaustion. He was being SO stubborn and didn't want to see a doctor. I picked him up from work the following morning and told him to tell his boss he would be back and if he wasn't going to do it I would. We went to the hospital and within 15-20 minutes they are asking ALL the questions. The doctor told us he didn't even know how his body was still functioning let alone working 10-12 hour days at a physical job (at the time Manny was a car tech at Mazda). Everything happened so fast and before we knew it he was starting dialysis with a chest catheter that was hooked directly to his heart 2 days later. This was a really rough time for us we were young, with young kids, and new in our faith. Manny switched departments at work so he could continue to work and do dialysis in a center 3 days a week 4 hours a day (because the chest catheter is linked to a main artery in the heart you have to be VERY carful with whats around you and the shop was no place for him now). In center dialysis was SO HARD on Manny’s body. I remember one time walking in and he was white as a ghost, we couldn't talk or breath, he was trying to say something but no words were coming out. He was in a room by himself, no one was around, I froze or yelled for someone I don't really remember but it seemed like forever before someone came to help and got him back to normal. After that night I remember being on my knees in prayer EVERY night that he was at the center, praying for protection and a new kidney. At this point a transplant was NO WHERE on our radar. We hadn't attended any classes, talked with any doctors, literally nothing. We were just getting “comfortable” with dialysis.
About 3 weeks after the really scary incident I got a call while Manny was at the center getting treatment. A non blood family member was passing away, she was on life support, and they wanted to see if there was a chance she could be a match for Manny. That night was a whirlwind and I don't remember all the details. We headed to the hospital at midnight because she was a good match for Manny. The transplant was a success and we had no clue what we were in for because like I said we were barely settling into this new life of kidney disease and dialysis (at this point we were 3 months into this journey, 9-11-14 was his first transplant date.).
We were blessed with THE BEST transplant team, from great doctors to an amazing coordinator to help get us though the weeks to come. The surgery went flawlessly (although it felt forever), and recovery was a breeze. Before we knew it Manny was back on his feet and at work, it was like he didn't even have this disease any more. His body accepted the kidney well, and the first year was great. At his 12 month check up, just when we thought we were in the all clear and good to go for years to come, Manny was diagnosed with what’s called BK virus. This virus attacked his new transplanted kidney (yes he has 3 kidneys currency, they don't take out the old ones because the old ones aren't hurting him they're just not working-and no we do now know what originally caused this disease-many biopsies and tests have been done and no one can give us an answer - also yes we test our children every year to make sure theres are functioning perfectly because we just cant be too safe). By the time the doctors could get his medications corrected and get the virus to hibernate about 5 months had passed. The virus caused a significant amount of damage to the new kidney and we knew that it wouldn't last us the 10-15+ years we were hoping it would. Manny has taken all the medication, gone to all the doctors visits, taken all the blood tests to doctors have requested to try to keep this kidney as long as he can.
Fast forward to about 5 months ago, we found out it was time to start looking at our options. Dialysis, transplant, or do nothing. Obviously doing nothing is not an option, dialysis is a good option but transplant is the best option. A 2nd time transplant patient will wait longer than a first time transplant patient because they're anti bodies are stronger (most of the time) than those who are transplanting for the first time. This does not mean it’s not possible, it just means we have to be open to all of our options. Manny is currently on the national organ donor list for a non living donor, the wait for that is 5-7+ years and will last about half as long as a living donor kidney. A living donor transplant can last for 10-15+ years ( they have seen them last for 20-30+ years when matched almost perfectly) and the wait time to get one is months compared to years. This time around we are at a hospital that is top in the state for transplants. They are a hospital of excellence, if we would have known more about this 5 years ago when all of this began, we would have been in San Antonio since the beginning working with these doctors.
If you are interested in being tested as a living donor please know this, you are covered 100% by our insurance, and 100% covered for your remaining kidney for the rest of YOUR life under Manny’s medicare. If you are not a perfect match for Manny the hospital team will let you know and give you the option to be on our “swap” list. This means maybe you kidney is a perfect match for “Ashley” and Ashley's donor is a perfect match for Manny. All 4 people would go into surgery at the same time and Ashley and Manny would both receive a new kidney. Now, just because you are asking to be a donor for Manny does not mean you have to agree to be a swap donor if you are not a match for him. It is totally optional, and personally something I think is really amazing. The last time we were in SA they were doing a 8 person donor swap the next day, how amazing that one person from your life who loves and cares about you enough can make an impact on 4 families who are in need! I just think it’s an amazing thing what medicine can do these days. If you wold like to see if you can be a donor for Manny please visit www.UTCLivingDonor.com . You will need to input Manuel Padilla and his date of birth is February 10, 1983.
As Manny is waiting for a donor he is going to need to get on dialysis. The doctors and nurses want him to be prepared for his dialysis treatment so that when the time comes he can do his dialysis at home, during the night while he sleeps as opposed to a speed clean in a dialysis center. Because the catheter surgery is “optional” - optional to insurance - because it is not deemed an emergency that he needs to start right now - like he did 5 years ago, he is having to go in for a out patient surgery to get his catheter put in. This catheter is going to cost us just under $6,000. His appointment was scheduled for last Tuesday but has been rescheduled for January 7th. Once the catheter is in place it will stay buried under the skin for 2-3 weeks while his body heals so it can be used when ready. When the time comes and he is needing to start dialysis he will go in for another out patient surgery and they will make the port accessible so he can use it at home. This home dialysis allows his blood to slowly move through a machine a little bit at a time, taking out all the bad things in blood but leaving the good. Helping him wake up in the morning feeling like he's somewhat normal.
If he dose not get this surgery done, then when it becomes an emergency he will need to get a port put in (likely on his chest again) that flows straight to his heart (which comes with a lot of risk factors), and he will need to go into a center 3 days a week for 4 hours a day for treatment. These treatments are really hard on his body, this is because the machines in the centers take out all our blood and get rid of the bad AND good things that are in your blood in half of time. These treatments leave you feeling weak, tired, and just drained. By the time your body has healed itself enough to start feeling better, you have to go in for the next treatment, and this will continue until you can find a transplant.
This is were we currently stand; we are in prayer for the surgery to take place on the 7th for the financial part to figure itself out in time, for Manny’s future donor, and for God to show up in big ways over the next couple of weeks. We appreciate all of your love and support, and thank you in advance for your prayers. I will update everyone in the weeks to comes as we get closer to surgery and if anything changes between now and then.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Becca and Manny
About 3 weeks after the really scary incident I got a call while Manny was at the center getting treatment. A non blood family member was passing away, she was on life support, and they wanted to see if there was a chance she could be a match for Manny. That night was a whirlwind and I don't remember all the details. We headed to the hospital at midnight because she was a good match for Manny. The transplant was a success and we had no clue what we were in for because like I said we were barely settling into this new life of kidney disease and dialysis (at this point we were 3 months into this journey, 9-11-14 was his first transplant date.).
We were blessed with THE BEST transplant team, from great doctors to an amazing coordinator to help get us though the weeks to come. The surgery went flawlessly (although it felt forever), and recovery was a breeze. Before we knew it Manny was back on his feet and at work, it was like he didn't even have this disease any more. His body accepted the kidney well, and the first year was great. At his 12 month check up, just when we thought we were in the all clear and good to go for years to come, Manny was diagnosed with what’s called BK virus. This virus attacked his new transplanted kidney (yes he has 3 kidneys currency, they don't take out the old ones because the old ones aren't hurting him they're just not working-and no we do now know what originally caused this disease-many biopsies and tests have been done and no one can give us an answer - also yes we test our children every year to make sure theres are functioning perfectly because we just cant be too safe). By the time the doctors could get his medications corrected and get the virus to hibernate about 5 months had passed. The virus caused a significant amount of damage to the new kidney and we knew that it wouldn't last us the 10-15+ years we were hoping it would. Manny has taken all the medication, gone to all the doctors visits, taken all the blood tests to doctors have requested to try to keep this kidney as long as he can.
Fast forward to about 5 months ago, we found out it was time to start looking at our options. Dialysis, transplant, or do nothing. Obviously doing nothing is not an option, dialysis is a good option but transplant is the best option. A 2nd time transplant patient will wait longer than a first time transplant patient because they're anti bodies are stronger (most of the time) than those who are transplanting for the first time. This does not mean it’s not possible, it just means we have to be open to all of our options. Manny is currently on the national organ donor list for a non living donor, the wait for that is 5-7+ years and will last about half as long as a living donor kidney. A living donor transplant can last for 10-15+ years ( they have seen them last for 20-30+ years when matched almost perfectly) and the wait time to get one is months compared to years. This time around we are at a hospital that is top in the state for transplants. They are a hospital of excellence, if we would have known more about this 5 years ago when all of this began, we would have been in San Antonio since the beginning working with these doctors.
If you are interested in being tested as a living donor please know this, you are covered 100% by our insurance, and 100% covered for your remaining kidney for the rest of YOUR life under Manny’s medicare. If you are not a perfect match for Manny the hospital team will let you know and give you the option to be on our “swap” list. This means maybe you kidney is a perfect match for “Ashley” and Ashley's donor is a perfect match for Manny. All 4 people would go into surgery at the same time and Ashley and Manny would both receive a new kidney. Now, just because you are asking to be a donor for Manny does not mean you have to agree to be a swap donor if you are not a match for him. It is totally optional, and personally something I think is really amazing. The last time we were in SA they were doing a 8 person donor swap the next day, how amazing that one person from your life who loves and cares about you enough can make an impact on 4 families who are in need! I just think it’s an amazing thing what medicine can do these days. If you wold like to see if you can be a donor for Manny please visit www.UTCLivingDonor.com . You will need to input Manuel Padilla and his date of birth is February 10, 1983.
As Manny is waiting for a donor he is going to need to get on dialysis. The doctors and nurses want him to be prepared for his dialysis treatment so that when the time comes he can do his dialysis at home, during the night while he sleeps as opposed to a speed clean in a dialysis center. Because the catheter surgery is “optional” - optional to insurance - because it is not deemed an emergency that he needs to start right now - like he did 5 years ago, he is having to go in for a out patient surgery to get his catheter put in. This catheter is going to cost us just under $6,000. His appointment was scheduled for last Tuesday but has been rescheduled for January 7th. Once the catheter is in place it will stay buried under the skin for 2-3 weeks while his body heals so it can be used when ready. When the time comes and he is needing to start dialysis he will go in for another out patient surgery and they will make the port accessible so he can use it at home. This home dialysis allows his blood to slowly move through a machine a little bit at a time, taking out all the bad things in blood but leaving the good. Helping him wake up in the morning feeling like he's somewhat normal.
If he dose not get this surgery done, then when it becomes an emergency he will need to get a port put in (likely on his chest again) that flows straight to his heart (which comes with a lot of risk factors), and he will need to go into a center 3 days a week for 4 hours a day for treatment. These treatments are really hard on his body, this is because the machines in the centers take out all our blood and get rid of the bad AND good things that are in your blood in half of time. These treatments leave you feeling weak, tired, and just drained. By the time your body has healed itself enough to start feeling better, you have to go in for the next treatment, and this will continue until you can find a transplant.
This is were we currently stand; we are in prayer for the surgery to take place on the 7th for the financial part to figure itself out in time, for Manny’s future donor, and for God to show up in big ways over the next couple of weeks. We appreciate all of your love and support, and thank you in advance for your prayers. I will update everyone in the weeks to comes as we get closer to surgery and if anything changes between now and then.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Becca and Manny