and the angioplasty goes to...

...JOEHAMMED!!!

Okee dokee.

So.

After the procedure, Joe's doctor came out to speak with me and, for some reason, my heart started pounding out through my chest. Not sure why, but I all of a sudden freaked out. It was unnecessary, though, as the doctor proceeded to tell me that everything went fine.

He said it ended up being more complicated than they originally thought. Meaning, they went up through the femoral artery in the left leg (which is what they normally do) and they found that one of the kidney arteries (there are more than one!) showed significant constriction. It was a little more than 75% closed!

So they definitely decided to go ahead with the angioplasty.

The doctor said that the reason it was complicated, though, is because of the way that the kidney was transplanted. He said it was transplanted beautifully, but that the location made it difficult to keep the catheter coming in from the left side. So they realized that it was more advantageous to do the angioplasty from the right side. Which means that they ended up taking the tube out of the left side and putting one in through the right side.

OUCH!!!

But the angioplasty went really well. Hooray!!

They took the balloon and opened the artery and then removed the balloon. They saw that the artery did not stay 100% opened, but the doctor said it stayed at 90% opened, which is significant....and a heck of a lot better than the 25% opened it was before!

Also, the doctor said he was very hesitant to put in a stent to keep it open because he said that sometimes a stent can become consumed by scar tissue and cause additional closure of the artery...plus a stent can never be removed. And he was hesitant to do that because this is Joe's only working kidney, which made him more conservative in this procedure (<-- good thing!). So...he decided to leave the artery at 90% opened and then Joe will go back in about 6 months for an ultrasound to see if there is any closure or if it looks okay.

I am hoping that it will look okay, so keep your fingers crossed!!

all you need to know about renal angiograms

Dear Reader -

This is what you need to know about renal angiography and angioplasty in a transplanted kidney**.

A renal angiogram involves the insertion of a long, thin tube into the femoral artery (in the groin). The tube is then guided up through the femoral artery where it will reach the area where the transplanted kidney is connected to the artery.

A radioactive (X-Ray) dye is then inserted from the tube into the artery so that the X-Ray equipment can detect the movement of the blood/fluid throughout the blood vessels. If it is noted that there is significant loss or constriction of blood flow to the kidney, an angioplasty can then be performed.

A renal angioplasty involves inserting a small balloon-like object through the tube into the constricted blood vessel/artery. The balloon is then equipped to expand and thus open said blood vessel/artery so that adequate blood flow to the kidney can then be resumed. If necessary, a stent (which is a metal or plastic tube-like balloon) can be place into the blood vessel/artery permanently to prevent it from becoming constricted again.

**PS - I am not a doctor. I repeat...I am not a doctor! So please do not quote me. Please.

---

This is what Joe is getting done today.

A couple months ago when Joe had his yearly post-transplant ultrasound and biopsy, the ultrasound showed possible narrowing of the artery/blood vessels supplying blood to his new kidney. So he is getting the angiogram done today and, if there is significant enough narrowing, they will do the angioplasty and possible stent placement to maintain unconstricted blood flow to the kidney.

I must say that I just plain hate hospitals. I know they help sustain life and, come August, will help deliver a new little life into our arms. But I just hate hospitals. And even though Joe has spent enough time in hospitals, it still doesn't make it easier when we have to come back. I know he prefers to stay away from hospitals as much as he can and would probably rather watch paint dry than have to go through a procedure, but he's a champ. He's a real trooper. And I am proud of him!

His doctor for the procedure is super nice and this seems like a really good hospital. So I know he's in good hands. But I just can't wait for this day to be over...

the elephants have come and gone

The fact that our last blog entry was 4 months ago is abominable. My entry about The Cove yesterday doesn't count because it was my attempt at a PSA. So I count the last true McGresa blog entry as June 23rd. Really? It's October people!! What in the name of all that is holy have we been doing since then?

Well...

I remember talking about the elephants walking down the street in downtown Phoenix. That means our circus adventure has come and gone and obviously those elephants are long gone as well. But they were so cute. The circus was actually super entertaining altogether and I'm really glad that we all went. I really like the elephants, but the tigers were actually pretty amazing, too, because there was a big circular cage with one man and nine tigers. Yep...you saw that right. NINE tigers. ONE man. That guy has some major cojones, I'll tell you that much! I think my favorite part of the circus, though, was the motorcycle cage ball thingiedoo. There was one point when the cage had 7 bikes riding around and around. Utterly amazing. So, just as a quick summary - the circus was AWESOME!



Also...remember me talking about those pounds I lost? Yeah. Definitely gained some of them back. Not all of them. Not even half of them. But definitely a few. So my goal of losing 50 pounds in one year was not reached. Oh well...the fight goes on, right?

I also remember talking about my jury duty experience a little bit, too. Well, I was NOT picked as I mentioned before and the trial was the State of Arizona against a young man accused of child abuse and the first degree murder of a 13-month old child. Apparently, from what I gather of the story, he and his girlfriend had a child together. Then they split up at some point and the girl got pregnant again by another man. Then the young man got back together with this girl and now they were taking care of both his child and the other man's child. Confused? Yeah. Well, anyway. He was accused of allegedly killing the child that was NOT his biological child but the 6-week-or-so-long trial ended up being declared a mistrial because the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict. In this case, preparations for a second trial were discussed but the young man ended up pleading guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced at the end of this month. But manslaughter? That's it? Ugh.

In case you are curious about some of the case details, you can find more information here and here. In case you are not curious in the slightest, please press onward...

In addition to that, to name a few things that have happened since June:

1. we saw the Twilight Saga's Eclipse and Joe loved it
2. we went camping on Mingus Mountain
3. we went camping on Mount Lemmon
4. we babysat Lucy's boyfriend, Yuma
5. Joe took his FIRST trip to California!
6. we went camping on Mingus Mountain a second time and literally within 20 minutes of starting to set up camp Lucy had already dug up a squeaky ball she buried when we camped there 2 months earlier
   
7. Theresa sang in the wedding of a lifelong friend and biffed up one of the songs that had a Spanish verse (which really isn't the WORST thing in the world except for the fact that 90% of the people at the wedding spoke Spanish!)
   
8. Theresa celebrated her 2 year anniversary with University of Phoenix
9. Joe celebrated his 3 year anniversary with Powill Mfg & Eng
10. Joe ALSO celebrated his 2 year anniversary of having a new kidney (WOO HOO!!!)
    
11. Lucy celebrated her 3rd birthday (crazy!!)
12. we started preparing and planning to build a teardrop trailer...and we can't WAIT until we are able to camp in it!!

More things have happened since June, but that's all that comes to mind right now because we have to get going and take Lucy to the park for a play date with her boyfriend. Hope you enjoyed the quick recap of our crazy past 4 months. Hope you all are well.

XOXO,
T and Joe and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Fur

the countdown is ON!!!

I'm sure you have noticed that Joe and I have been a little lacksadaisical on our blogging over the past month or so. Please accept our apologies. We have had so much going on lately and definitely should have been blogging about it. We've been working, planning, meeting with DJs and MCs, meeting with the church wedding coordinator and musicians, hiking, camping, making seating arrangements, designing programs, getting kidney biopsies, etc.

[by the way...that last part was just Joe]

In addition, the next week or so may be a little crazy, too, because......Joe and I are gettin' hitched in exactly 7 days from today. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? Time just flies by like you wouldn't believe, huh? We were talking about this last night, actually. When you're going through anything, it always seems like it will take such a long time to get through. But once it's past, you look back on it and realize that time just flew right on by. For example:

When we knew that Joe had to get a new kidney and that he would be on dialysis for a while, that time went by SO SLOWLY! And then the transplant day itself was crazy - realizing that it was all actually happening. He was actually getting a new organ! And right after the surgery, wondering if his body would accept or reject it, if there would be any complications, etc. It was all physically and mentally draining. But now, he's going on 4 months and 1 week with no complications whatsoever! Jen and the Mayo Clinic really worked a miracle!

And when Joe proposed last April we knew that we had almost a whole year before our big day. But now it's only 1 week away.

Time just flies by.

This weekend we will be cleaning like mad people, putting programs together (I am making them myself and really hope they turn out okay), getting a trial run of hair and makeup (this will be me only), as well as getting some last minute shopping done. Other than that, we are pretty much DONE and it is so exciting!!! I am excited to marry Joe because he's my favorite person! I'm excited to see all of my family and to meet Joe's friends and family I haven't met! I'm excited to spend time with friends, to see all of our family friends, and just have a good time! I'm so excited!!!

Thank you all for being there for us every step of the way...

the wait is over

Doesn't seem like there's a new kidney in there, does it?? Well....there is! See...



UPDATE:

• The surgery on Tuesday went smoothly and took WAY less time than they originally estimated.
  
• They let Jen go the next day (which, by our consensus, we think they could have at least kept her there longer).
  
• Joe was up and starting to get around a little the next day, too. With pain, of course, but he still got up to walk a little.
• Joe's surgeon (a nice little Indian man) was just awesome and said that Joe was doing so well with everything.
• They released Joe on Friday.

Now, Joe and Jen are home and healthy. Still in pain, but all is well. And some good news = no more dialysis!!!

All in all, I am so very much impressed by the Mayo Clinic. They were just very informative with everything, always there for any need whatsoever, and they were just very on top of things. Since I just started training for a new job (that is pretty inflexible with missing work for a kidney transplant), so it was really hard to be gone for 10+ hours each day while Joe was in the hospital. But everyone is home now and on the road to recovery. It's hard to believe it has already come and gone. Thanks to EVERYONE for all of your prayers and support for Jen and Joe. It has really paid off!!!

1 day, 9 hrs, 1 min, 30 scds, 29 scds, 28 scds...

FIRSTLY:

Here's a little PR for my friend, Lindsay.

Besides being an amazing woman (who has the most wonderful friends and family!!!)...she is having twins this December. Identical twins. And she's also (fairly) newly married! What an exciting year, huh??

Her tale has been rather taxing and there have definitely been some scary moments during her pregnancy, but all is well for her, she is looking beautiful as ever, and she has an awesome support network and a husband who will, without a doubt, be the best father to these special little girls! Thank you, Lindsay, for letting me be part of your journey to parenthood!



LASTLY (but definitely NOT leastly):

This is Joe before his transplant (he is reading some mail in this picture because I interrupted him to snap this photo).

If I had a picture of Jen right now, I'd put that up, too...but I don't. I'll take some pictures over the next week, though, and will keep you all posted on everything that's going on.

I can't believe how quickly time has passed. And, while I know that this is major surgery for both Joe and his sister, I know that the outcome will be wondrous.

There is this booklet that Joe picked up once when he was at the Mayo Clinic for testing and it tells a bunch of different stories of people who have had transplants of all kinds - even the story about an artificial heart transplant that lasted for 13 days before the woman was able to get an actual heart transplanted in her. AMAZING!! These folks at the Mayo Clinic are first class and I'm just so happy that, of all places, Joe and Jen are in their hands.

Once again, I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I have details (and as soon as I'm able to actually sit down at the computer). So until then...hats off to Joe, Jen and the doctors. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

laparoscopic donor nephrectomy and renal transplant

Yeah. You heard me right. Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy and Renal Transplant. Now say it 10 times fast!

Joe and Jen's surgery is taking place next Tuesday...can you believe it? That's less than 5 days from now. Tuesday! I can't believe how quickly time has passed. For those who will be cheering on Joe, Jen and the doctors from afar, here's a sneak peek at what will be happening...

JEN

Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

• This operation is performed by using a "scope" to peer into the abdomen through a small incision. This approach makes it possible to locate, secure, and remove the kidney through a surprisingly small wound. This "minimally invasive" surgery allows for a faster recovery than with the traditional operation. Donors are generally able to leave the hospital one or two days after the surgery and can often resume work within two to three weeks.
• source: Mayo Clinic
  

On surgery day, once the kidney is safely removed from Jen, Joe gets wheeled into his OR for the next part of the transplant...

JOE

Renal Transplant:

• During kidney transplant surgery, an incision is made in the transplant recipient's abdomen, usually on the lower right side near the "hip bone." The donor kidney is placed near the bladder on the right side of the recipient's pelvis. Surgeons usually attach the donor ureter to the recipient's bladder, allowing urine from the new kidney to flow normally. Surgeons restore blood supply to the donor kidney by connecting it to blood vessels supplying the recipient's legs.
• The patient's own kidneys are usually not removed. In some cases, such as when the kidneys have been a lingering cause of high blood pressure, one or both kidneys are removed during the transplant or at a later operation.
• Transplant typically takes about three hours. The recipient usually gets out of bed and takes a short walk the day after surgery. Liquids can be sipped the day of surgery, and a normal diet is usually resumed within two to three days. During recovery, most patients gradually experience less discomfort in the incision, a greater ability to move around, and return to normal activities. The donor kidney should begin to function immediately, and patients typically remain in the hospital for three to five days.
• source: Mayo Clinic

PICTORIAL DISPLAY

From Jen to Joe.



Where Joe's battle wound will be.



How Joe will get hooked up.



When all is said and done...

all things joe + theresa

I thought that I would take a minute to update everyone on life in T & Joe Land:

1. This weekend was so relaxing! Saturday was fun. All we did was sit around, relax, play with Lucy and relax. Yes, we did pretty much the same thing the previous weekend, but sometimes it's just really good to do nothing, you know? And then Saturday night we met up with my friend, Lindsay, from grade school and her husband, Michael. I hadn't seen her since I was about 14 years old, so it's kind of like we have to get to know each other all over again since there is a universe of things that have happened since we last saw each other. But she's just so easy-going and fun to be around, so we all had a blast! Let's do it again sometime, Linds!!
   
2. Joe and I started to attend Evenings for the Engaged. Our first session was last night (Sunday). I gotta say...neither of us wanted to go. First of all, it's at 6:30pm on a Sunday night, lasts for 2.5 hours and is way out in East Mesa (about 45 minutes from the apartment). Plus, Joe has to get up really early for work, so we were just in a bad mood about the whole thing. Plus, we had this vision of crazy Jesus Freaks praying and chanting in circles and telling us how to live our lives. Ok...so that was MY vision. But on the way there, we were thinking, "you know...I bet the other couples attending these sessions aren't really thrilled about coming either...so let's just keep an open mind and give it a shot." Turns out, the couple hosting the session was pretty laid back and even funny at times, the other couples seemed really nice (there were 5 other couples in addition to us), there was nothing really Jesus Freaky about it (except all the crazy pictures on the walls), and the time actually flew by once we got there. And the group, as a whole, decided to start meeting a little earlier on Sundays. So that was cool. I think it will be an interesting experience and, actually....I'm looking forward to it!
3. As for everything else: Joe is still on dialysis for a few more months until he gets his new kidney from Jen - I am still working as a graphic designer part time and looking for full time work (if anyone has any contacts that may need work, LET ME KNOW and I'll get you my resume) - Lucy is wonderfully cute as always (although...she gained 2 pounds in one week so it looks like I'll have to start walking her more than 2 miles a day) - and life (besides the crazy heat) is just...good.
   

kidney update

Just letting you all know that Joe completed his evaluation process with the Mayo Clinic today.

He had to go for testing last week (all day Wednesday and Friday) and this week (Monday and Wednesday) - blood tests, ultrasounds, heart tests, electrocardiograms, meetings with doctors, screening, etc. etc. so that they could evaluate his health to see whether or not he is a good candidate for a kidney transplant. For example, if there are other things wrong with your health (diseases, conditions, etc.), they may deny you a transplant. The transplant board had their evaluation meeting yesterday, however, and...

Joe has been accepted for a kidney transplant!!!

YAHOO!!!!!!!!!

And...if all goes well with testing his family matches...this might be taking place sometime this summer. So not to far to go!

I'm so excited for this! I know that there is a LOT involved in transplantation (month-long recovery, nutrition changes, lifestyle changes, daily medication forever, to name a few), but there is also much to gain. He'll hopefully be feeling better and more energized in no time!

To whichever of you end up being the best match for Joe...there are not enough words to express thanks! I know that there is a lot involved on your end as well (time off, recovery, etc.). But this is the best gift that he could ever receive!

why Tax Day 2008 wasn't that bad...

Good day to you all! -

Life in Phoenix is getting a little more interesting lately, to say the least. For example: Lucy Pants (I like to call her Lucy Pants sometimes) is starting to "talk" more, work is picking up a little in spite of the "recessing" economy, Joe is having his evaluations and tests at the Mayo Clinic this week and next week (GO JOE! I hope they OK your transplant!), and the weather is a-changin! (got up to 97 this week!).

Also, the sometimes feared and dreaded Tax Day has come and gone. Most of the time I'm at least able to get at least 20 bucks back from the government, but there have been a few times when I've had to paid an ungodly amount to the IRS. During those years, I would pray for dear life that April 14th would just sweep over to the 16th. But here are a few reasons why April 15th this year wasn't all that bad:

(1) We have a brand spankin' new computer thanks to tax money...it's so AWESOME!!!!!


(2) I have a new haircut which is growing on me...especially since it's getting so warm out lately (it hasn't been this short since the 8th grade!)


(3) I have newly grown fingernails! For those who don't know, I've bit my nails to the cuticle (pretty much) ever since I can remember. And probably before then, too! This picture proves that after 20+ years of biting, quitting is still possible!

(4) Did you notice the ring?

Hemo Rhymes with Chemo

For those who aren't fully up-to-date on everything going on, we sincerely apologize. Life has...(how shall we put it?)...been a little on the hectic side for the past several months. Here's a quick recap, though, to catch you up:

• The Christmas season began to approach (way too quickly, as always) and Joe's vision became a little spotted.
• Joe decided to visit the eye doctor to see what is wrong.
  
• The optometrist told him to go to the ER right away because of high blood pressure (which was causing his optic nerve to pull away, thus causing spotty vision).
• Joe was admitted overnight for observation. The original plan was to get him on blood pressure control medication and send him home.
• But days passed and, after many tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, bloodwork, and a kidney biopsy, it was decided that he was in the end stages of kidney failure, or End Stage Renal Disease (which I will refer to as ESRD from now on).
  
• They discovered (somehow) that his ESRD was caused by a disease called Glomerulonephritis, specifically IgA Nephropathy, more specifically Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis. I've researched a LOT about this, but don't want to go into TOO much detail right now, otherwise this post will be a bojillion pages long.
• As a result of this disease, in which the immune system progressively destroys the kidneys, they decided to put him on chemotherapy (to sort of "attack" his immune system so that it would stop harming his own kidneys).
• After two rounds of chemo, Joe's lab results showed that his kidney function was getting worse.
• His doctors sent us to a modality class, which explain different methods of treatment for ESRD
  
• The options (and I'm TOTALLY paraphrasing here): Hemodialysis (a process done in a lab in which they remove the blood, filter out the toxins and return the blood to the body), Peritoneal dialysis (a process you can do yourself in which a solution is infused into the peritoneal cavity, the solution then acts as a magnet for all the toxins in the blood and then the solution with all toxins is removed from the peritoneal cavity), Transplantation, or no treatment (which would, obviously, have the worst effects).
  
• Joe's preference (in order): transplantation, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis
• Because of the negative results of Joe's most recent bloodwork, he got a call late on Friday saying that they needed to start dialysis right away and, because of the urgency of it all, hemodialysis was the option available.
  
• Normally, in order to start hemodialysis, an arteriovenous fistula needs to be formed in the arm to allow for maximum blood flow. This is where a vein is fused with a major artery in the arm to make a sort of "SuperVein". This fistula, however, takes at least a couple months to mature and become strong enough for treatment.
• So....the only way to get quick access to Joe's blood was to put in a venous catheter in through his neck. It sounds kind of gruesome, but isn't that bad. It is a little scary to think about since the catheter goes in to the superior vena cava of the heart (for those who don't remember from 7th grade science class...it's the major vein that carries blood directly to the heart)...but it's something that is temporary...to be used until he has a chance for a fistula to mature.
• Catheter was put in on Monday morning.
• First dialysis treatment was this afternoon and...so far, so good. Joe's relaxing on the couch now with Lucy laying across his lap (she's FINALLY calming down).
• Now he begins treatment 3 times each week in addition to a very strict diet. FUN! At least we'll get to keep cooking new things and learning how to be more healthy (hey...I'm trying to put a positive outlook on this!)
  

Sorry for the earful....I just wanted to keep you all informed as best as I can for now. I don't know when dialysis patients start to notice results, but his first treatment was today, so hopefully there will be notable difference in his next round of lab tests. I've heard that a lot of people start to feel so much better, healthier, happier, having more energy, feeling less sick, etc. etc. etc. Ideally, Joe would like a transplant. And, since he's so young (and has 3 beautiful and healthy sisters who, we believe, are all willing to donate), he's a great candidate for transplantation. But [in the interim] I really hope this treatment works well for him because...well...that would just be wonderful if it did!

So wish him the best and MORE...

We'll definitely keep you posted.

Until next time,
XOXO