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Dear family & friends,
I apologize for not updating as regularly as I had planned. Quite a few of you have been calling and emailing wondering how things are going with Jeff's health, so here is the latest. Jeff was approved for and has been listed on the transplant list. This is great news, because now that he is listed, it also opens the door for checking out living donor possibilities.
There have been a few bumps in the road with his health over the last couple of months, which led to some changes in medication. One, in particular, has helped lower his potassium levels. Another change is, he has started getting a shot every two weeks for the past month or so that helps to build red blood cells, which really helps with his energy level. Jeff saw his kidney doctor last week and tests showed that his potassium levels were down, which is a good sign, however, his overall kidney function is now at 15%. He was told early on that since he is in otherwise good health, he could probably withstand getting down to 10% kidney function before needing to go on dialysis. Our continued prayer is that a living donor match would be found and Jeff could get a transplant before having to go on dialysis.
Right now, Jeff continues to keep busy working and even playing a bit, even though his energy level is not what it used to be. God continues to bless him just at the right time with new clients and house purchases & sales when it's needed. He has also kept very busy around the house and is close to finishing our master bathroom remodel that he's worked really hard on. Jeff's most enjoyment, though, comes when he can find time to get to the golf course for a round with friends or just to practice his chipping & putting! Naps tend to be a little more common for him now 
and he's early to bed most nights. Jeff's attitude continues to amaze me. He is very positive, wears that big smile most of the time, and attacks every day with more "get-up-and-go" than most people I know, who have 100% kidney function - no pun intended! :0) We both appreciate so much your prayers and calls/emails of support that you've continued to give us as we venture our way through this. We couldn't do it without it. We also, certainly wouldn't be able to do it without our faith and the knowledge we have that God is in this with us giving us continued strength and courage to face each new step. So, please keep praying for us...it works!
~LaRae
If becoming a living donor is something you would be interested in or you would just like to find out more information, please call the Living Donor Program at the University of Washington (206) 598-3627. Making the call does not obligate you to anything and they are willing to answer questions over the phone or send more information to you about their program.
Earlier this week, Jeff & I met with the various members of the transplant team at the University of Washington Hospital. This meeting was for them to determine if Jeff is a good candidate to be put on the transplant list and it also was a chance for us to learn more about kidney transplant. We came away from this appointment feeling pretty confident that they would accept Jeff and he would be added to the transplant list, however the team still needed to meet and discuss Jeff's case. After their meeting, they will send us a letter to notify us of their decision. Our understanding is that we should know by the end of this week or early next week.
We are learning a lot regarding transplantation through the material we've been given and the doctors we've met with. There are basically two types of kidney transplantation: cadaveric and living donor. One of the main differences between receiving a cadaveric kidney compared to receiving a kidney from a living donor is wait time. From what we've read and have been told, there are about 80,000 people on the transplant list and depending on blood type the wait time could be anywhere from 2 to 6 years for a cadaveric kidney. If there is a possibility of receiving a kidney from a living donor, the transplant can take place as soon as a match is found.
There are other positives about living donor transplants. One is that if a match is found soon enough, Jeff would not have to go on dialysis. This would mean his body would be in better shape at the time of transplant, which would make accepting a new kidney easier. Another positive is that a kidney from a living donor tends to work right away because it is going straight from a healthy body to the recipient's body. A living donor kidney also tends to work for more years than a cadaveric kidney. We have been told that Jeff would have a better chance at long term success if he received a transplant from a living donor.
If you would like to learn more about the living donor program at the University of Washington Hospital, you can call (206) 598-3627. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and it is confidential. We are so blessed by all your prayers and support, so please continue to pray for Jeff and our family. It makes such a difference! Jeff's attitude continues to be positive and we know that with God anything is possible!
I've decided to create this blog to allow family and friends an easy way to get information and stay updated on all that is going on with us and mainly Jeff's health. I will try to blog regularly and update you all as much as possible as we learn more.
To catch everyone up: A little over a year ago, Jeff went to his doctor for a physical. He wasn't feeling quite right, felt like his blood pressure was high and knew something was different. After many appointments, a lot of different tests, and various medications, doctors were able to determin that Jeff's kidneys were failing. In the fall of '08 Jeff had 38% kidney function. More tests were done to see if there was an underlying cause for the kidney failure such as cancer. However, after a bone marrow test & kidney biopsy, cancer was ruled out.
As of May: Jeff's kidney function was down to 17%. We have since met with a doctor at the University of Washington Hospital who feels Jeff is a good canidate for a kidney transplant and we have started going through the process of getting Jeff put on the transplant list. We meet with the U of W transplant team on July 20th and are hoping we know more after this meeting. Our hope & prayer is that they will accept Jeff as a canidate for kidney transplant and we can begin the necessary steps in that direction.
We have been asked by many of you what it would take to be a donor. First of all, we want to say how amazing it is that anyone would even consider this. We don't know all there is to know yet and won't really know until our meeting on the 20th. I'm hoping this meeting will answer some of those questions and I can then post information that we learn.
We are so appreciative of all the prayers and support you have given us through this. Please continue to pray for Jeff. We certainly feel very blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Our faith and hope are in the many miracles God has done and will continue to do. He will carry us through this and it is in Him we find our strength and comfort, even when times aren't very comfortable!
and he's early to bed most nights. Jeff's attitude continues to amaze me. He is very positive, wears that big smile most of the time, and attacks every day with more "get-up-and-go" than most people I know, who have 100% kidney function - no pun intended! :0) We both appreciate so much your prayers and calls/emails of support that you've continued to give us as we venture our way through this. We couldn't do it without it. We also, certainly wouldn't be able to do it without our faith and the knowledge we have that God is in this with us giving us continued strength and courage to face each new step. So, please keep praying for us...it works! 
