Transplant Time for Pierce
Donation protected
It's finally transplant time!!!
We have been waiting for this day to come for the last 18 months.On Thursday of last week we finally got the call that Pierce’s transplant could finally be scheduled.
On Thursday November 28th Pierce and I will go into surgery in the morning and if all goes well Pierce will have a working, healthy kidney by that night.
Pierce was born with chronic kidney disease and has been treated through UC Davis in Sacramento since then. We have been very lucky to make it to a transplant date without having to do dialysis.
Pierce does not eat solids and has been taking most of his nourishment by Gtube since he was 11 months. The Gtube allows food to be pumped directly into his stomach which seems to help with the nausea he feels from the side effects of the limited kidney function. He also has several medications he takes on a daily basis to help combat the high blood pressure and acids that build up in his system.
After the surgery I will most likely be discharged after 2 days and will have a similar recovery to a C-section. Pierce is expected to stay in the Pediatric ICU at UC Davis Childrens hospital for about 3 weeks after the surgery. Bradley will be his primary caretaker and be able to stay there in the room with him. The weeks following his surgery he will be closely monitored to make sure his system does not reject my kidney and to help dial in the antirejection meds he will need to take. Our family and friends will be taking turns coming down to help take care of me at home the first few days and shuttle me back and forth to the hospital. They will also be at the hospital every day to help support Bradley. I am sure that any of you that have had a loved one that had to make a extended stay at a hospital know how emotionally and physically draining it can be.
The transplant will not be a cure but is one of the best options for Pierce to live a relatively normal life. By receiving a kidney from a living donor the expected life of the donated organ is doubled to around 20 years on average. He will not have to be on a special renal diet and will hopefully be able to have a normal childhood with the exception of daily antirejection medications he will need to take.
The funds we are hoping to raise will go towards our medical deductible for next year that will quickly be hit in January because of the care and specialty medications Pierce will need following his surgery. It will also be used to help cover the fuel, meals and parking costs that our support people will encounter while they help support our family at the hospital.
Thank you for taking the time to read about and support our family.
With love,
Pierce, Bradley and Jennifer
We have been waiting for this day to come for the last 18 months.On Thursday of last week we finally got the call that Pierce’s transplant could finally be scheduled. On Thursday November 28th Pierce and I will go into surgery in the morning and if all goes well Pierce will have a working, healthy kidney by that night.
Pierce was born with chronic kidney disease and has been treated through UC Davis in Sacramento since then. We have been very lucky to make it to a transplant date without having to do dialysis.
Pierce does not eat solids and has been taking most of his nourishment by Gtube since he was 11 months. The Gtube allows food to be pumped directly into his stomach which seems to help with the nausea he feels from the side effects of the limited kidney function. He also has several medications he takes on a daily basis to help combat the high blood pressure and acids that build up in his system.
After the surgery I will most likely be discharged after 2 days and will have a similar recovery to a C-section. Pierce is expected to stay in the Pediatric ICU at UC Davis Childrens hospital for about 3 weeks after the surgery. Bradley will be his primary caretaker and be able to stay there in the room with him. The weeks following his surgery he will be closely monitored to make sure his system does not reject my kidney and to help dial in the antirejection meds he will need to take. Our family and friends will be taking turns coming down to help take care of me at home the first few days and shuttle me back and forth to the hospital. They will also be at the hospital every day to help support Bradley. I am sure that any of you that have had a loved one that had to make a extended stay at a hospital know how emotionally and physically draining it can be.
The transplant will not be a cure but is one of the best options for Pierce to live a relatively normal life. By receiving a kidney from a living donor the expected life of the donated organ is doubled to around 20 years on average. He will not have to be on a special renal diet and will hopefully be able to have a normal childhood with the exception of daily antirejection medications he will need to take.
The funds we are hoping to raise will go towards our medical deductible for next year that will quickly be hit in January because of the care and specialty medications Pierce will need following his surgery. It will also be used to help cover the fuel, meals and parking costs that our support people will encounter while they help support our family at the hospital.
Thank you for taking the time to read about and support our family.
With love,
Pierce, Bradley and Jennifer
Organizer
Jennifer Roberts
Organizer
Winters, CA
