The adventure unfolds

Amy and I are starting this blog as a way to share with you the adventure we have been on. Some of the things we post will be on current events and updating you on our progress. Other things will be bits of information for those dealing with kidney donation, transplantation and all the many thing that go on when dealing with kidney failure and the search to heal someone we both love. 

Mike is an amazing man. He is my husband and friend and the step-father to our boy Alexander. He is brilliant, funny and generous. Four years ago over a plate of mexican food Mike informed me that he was very sick. He told me about the diagnosis he had received that day from the doctor. He was experiencing kidney failure brought on by a genetic disease called Polycystic Kidney disease. His mom had experienced this and was a kidney transplant recipient years before. I remember trembling because all I could think about was loosing him and all I could hear in my mind was that he was dying. We sat and cried together and once the tears dried I told him I would stick by him and that I loved him no matter what. We had been dating for only about 1 year but I knew I loved this man and that I would do anything to help him and be with him.  He was already our family and as Alex put it, "He is our Mikie and we need him and love him."

The years passed and Mike was sick. He had infections,  fatigue and all the other symptoms that go along with kidney failure yet he continued to work, live and keep his spirits high. He took care of himself by taking many types of vitamins, resting when he could and eating a very healthy diet. He went to acupuncture to build up his immune system and met with his doctors on a regular basis. Many people did not know how sick he was because he is very strong and determined to live his life. he never missed a beat until about one year ago when he started to get worse.

We had a meeting with his doctor and for the first time I was invited. The doctor told me that Mike needed a kidney transplant and that it was my job to help make this happen. He asked me to be Mike's partner in dealing with his kidney failure. I would attend all appointments, support him when he needed me and also help find a living donor for Mike. I was finally asked to help and put my all into the job of helping to heal the man I love. 

I though I would donate my kidney. I wanted to do this for him and thought I was young and healthy and could easily be the one. I was told it could be possible but I would need to start the testing. I tested and soon found I was not a match for Mike. I was very disappointed that it was not going to be me.  I would now need to reach out to those I love and ask them to give a very special gift of life to Mike. If you know me you will understand that asking was not hard for me. I am surrounded by amazing friends that I know care for me, Alex and Mike and I felt they would come to help me when needed. The time of need was upon us!

I asked friends who I knew were blood type O if they would be tested to start. I asked friends if they knew any O type friends who they could ask for help. I emailed, called, and soon a few people came forward. A Mitchell from our Grand Central board, Matt from my staff, Jack who owns a local gallery, my best friend Amy and her boyfriend Kevin, my friend Danny, Caramia all the way from Oregon. This was the real beginning of the search for a match!