As parents, you do what you have to do to save your child at any age. Giving birth is spectacular and organ donation is as well spectacular. It is rebirth for the organ recipient. My husband is well and does not miss his kidney. He healed very nicely. Of course, we prayed a lot and we researched a lot. You would do it for your loved one, too. Embrace life's trials and tribulations. Thank you, Jesus.
September 15, 2003, I have had many inquiries about my husband's health since the donation/transplantation.He is doing wonderful! He says there has not been any change in his health. Allen is active outside the house with his flower and vegetable gardens. Equally important, please understand that all human bodies are different.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Updates
November 1, 2000, our son is doing well and is surprised how well he does feels. His creatinine is between 1.5 and 1.9. When September rolled around, the three of us said, "Transplant time." So vividly, the three of us are reminded of the transplant and always will be by the outdoor smells, the outdoor colors, and the outdoor sounds. Our son is in his last year of school at MSU. He is busy with a full load of academic credits and his job. In May 2001 he will be graduating with a degree in fisheries and wildlife. Alleluia!
May 5, 2001, Darryl graduated from Michigan State University and attained his fisheries and wildlife degree. A couple days after the graduation, Darryl, Dad, and I drove to Arkansas to visit the Albert aunts, uncles, and cousins. We spent five days in Arkansas, and Darryl brought plenty meds.
November 7, 2001, in September, we were concerned about Darryl's creatinine level as it had risen to 2.1 from his normal 1.9. Darryl explained that if he does not drink enough water or if he ingests too much caffeine this will affect his creatinine levels. Today, he has good blood pressure and his creatinine level is down to 1.9.
May 11, 2002, Darryl and Eileen became engaged at Christmas 2001. Their wedding date is set for July 13, 2002. In November 2001, Darryl was hired by an environmental company. The company and Darryl work very long hours, 12 hours or more per day. Darryl's health is doing very well. Thank you, Jesus.
October 22, 2002, Darryl and Eileen were married July 13, 2002. All weddings are beautiful. Darryl maintains a low fat diet. He runs, jogs, or walks five times a week and works with weights four or five times a week. He is maintaining good blood pressure as well as his creatinine levels.
March 25, 2004, Darryl and Eileen are expecting their first child, October 7, 2004. To have another person to love is a wonderful blessing from Jesus.
June 28, 2007, I am sorry that I have been lazy to update my site or blog. Just recently Yahoo/GeoCities removed my web site after I changed telephone companies, no more AT&T. Wow, I had my web site with Yahoo since the year 2000.
May 5, 2001, Darryl graduated from Michigan State University and attained his fisheries and wildlife degree. A couple days after the graduation, Darryl, Dad, and I drove to Arkansas to visit the Albert aunts, uncles, and cousins. We spent five days in Arkansas, and Darryl brought plenty meds.
November 7, 2001, in September, we were concerned about Darryl's creatinine level as it had risen to 2.1 from his normal 1.9. Darryl explained that if he does not drink enough water or if he ingests too much caffeine this will affect his creatinine levels. Today, he has good blood pressure and his creatinine level is down to 1.9.
May 11, 2002, Darryl and Eileen became engaged at Christmas 2001. Their wedding date is set for July 13, 2002. In November 2001, Darryl was hired by an environmental company. The company and Darryl work very long hours, 12 hours or more per day. Darryl's health is doing very well. Thank you, Jesus.
October 22, 2002, Darryl and Eileen were married July 13, 2002. All weddings are beautiful. Darryl maintains a low fat diet. He runs, jogs, or walks five times a week and works with weights four or five times a week. He is maintaining good blood pressure as well as his creatinine levels.
September 8, 2003, it is now four years since Darryl's transplantation. He continues his diet and exercise regimen as I explained in October 2002. One thing in particular I must add for Darryl's diet, he eats chicken every day for his protein, a portion. He feels great, and his appearance has not changed from a year ago; although, he is a year older. In July 2003 Darryl changed jobs and now works in the Department of Agriculture for the State of Michigan.
March 25, 2004, Darryl and Eileen are expecting their first child, October 7, 2004. To have another person to love is a wonderful blessing from Jesus.
September 24, 2004, 3:40 p.m., Darryl and Eileen's baby girl was born, Olivia Luisa Albert, 8 pounds, 10 ounces. She is beautiful!
July 16, 2005, Darryl had surgery yesterday on his fistula, left arm. The area where the fistula was placed contracted infection and was very painful for Darryl. He was admitted at University of Michigan, Wednesday evening, and surgery was Friday, July 15, 2005. The surgeon completely removed the fistula because when he opened it, he found clotting at his wrist, results of Darryl's infection and pain.
June 28, 2007, I am sorry that I have been lazy to update my site or blog. Just recently Yahoo/GeoCities removed my web site after I changed telephone companies, no more AT&T. Wow, I had my web site with Yahoo since the year 2000.
I see I missed all of 2006. Darryl's health is wonderful! Since Michigan's economy is bad, Darryl went back to MSU to attain another bachelor's degree, this time in GIS (GPS), which he will receive in August 2007. While attending the university, again, Darryl has increased his weight, possible 30-40 pounds. He plans after graduation from MSU to get his weight off. I know he will. We all know university classes are stressful.
August 10, 2010, Wow! Over ten years have passed since the transplantation. Darryl is doing well. He maintains his weight, gets exercise, and sees his doctor regularly. So much has happened in this Michigan economy. Darryl changed jobs, his wife changed jobs, and his daughter is growing up. Daughter will turn six next month.
August 10, 2010, Wow! Over ten years have passed since the transplantation. Darryl is doing well. He maintains his weight, gets exercise, and sees his doctor regularly. So much has happened in this Michigan economy. Darryl changed jobs, his wife changed jobs, and his daughter is growing up. Daughter will turn six next month.
The Transplant
From then on, our son's care was provided by the University of Michigan Medical Center. His health spiraled downward quickly. On February 5, 1999, the nephrologist placed Darryl on a transplant list for the future. During June 1999, Darryl's nurse called from the University of Michigan Medical Center, and he was placed on an emergency transplant list. At the time of this telephone call, our son's labs came back stating that his creatinine was a 12.1. The emergency transplant method from the University of Michigan Medical Center implies that it is time for preparation for organ donation testing from family and friends as well as informative program meetings for kidney donor and kidney recipient. Our son installed swimming pools from May through July of 1999. In July 1999, he had a fistula placed in his left arm for dialysis, and he could not work while this surgical procedure was healing. His kidneys failed in August 1999, and he had to be placed on dialysis. When his kidneys failed, his creatinine was between a 24 through 30 and his BUN was 186. During this whole summer, my husband (Dad), Eileen (son's girlfriend), and I (Mom) were tested for organ donation. I was ruled out immediately as I did not have the same blood type as well as Darryl's sister, Julie. Eileen was a match, but Dad was the perfect match. After all the testing Dad had to go through, our son's family was ready for the transplant, and his dad was the perfect match. After all the testing Dad had to go through, our son's family was ready for the transplant, and his dad was the perfect donor. The transplantation was scheduled for September 8, 1999. Everything went as perfect as it could for a transplant. Dad was sleeping his donation off in his hospital room. Seven hours later I was waiting outside of my son's hospital room. The nurses had just brought him up from recovery, and they were moving him to his bed. The first thing I voiced, "Darryl, you have color."
My husband came home on the second day, and my son came home on the third day. For awhile after the transplant, there were ups and downs but with God's help the three of us got through it. We laughed a lot and prayed a lot. We thank God for all his blessings. Also, we were blessed with Eileen; Omega; my daughter, Julie; my son-in-law, Ramón; my grandson, Samuel; my mom and my step-father; my sister, Joann; my nieces and their families, Trish & Nancy; my nephews and their families, David and Stephen; and my sister-in-law, Pat. Additionally, blessings to our neighbors who provided care of our two dogs. God bless all of you.
I cannot write enough good things about the University of Michigan Medical Center especially the Transplant Group and the Nephrology Department. The professional people in the group and department are good, caring people. Please send an e-mail to treasuresofodie@gmail.com if you would like more information on IGA Nephropathy or just to reach me.
My husband came home on the second day, and my son came home on the third day. For awhile after the transplant, there were ups and downs but with God's help the three of us got through it. We laughed a lot and prayed a lot. We thank God for all his blessings. Also, we were blessed with Eileen; Omega; my daughter, Julie; my son-in-law, Ramón; my grandson, Samuel; my mom and my step-father; my sister, Joann; my nieces and their families, Trish & Nancy; my nephews and their families, David and Stephen; and my sister-in-law, Pat. Additionally, blessings to our neighbors who provided care of our two dogs. God bless all of you.
I cannot write enough good things about the University of Michigan Medical Center especially the Transplant Group and the Nephrology Department. The professional people in the group and department are good, caring people. Please send an e-mail to treasuresofodie@gmail.com if you would like more information on IGA Nephropathy or just to reach me.
The Diagnose
After blood labs, ultra sound, and a kidney biopsy, our son was diagnosed with a kidney disease, IGA Nephropathy, March 1998. The nephrologist told us that our son had 48% kidney function. During this revelation, his creatinine was 2.1. Any creatinine level above 1.5 is possibly a kidney problem. Then, he was 22 years old. My husband, Darryl, and I sat there stunned. Usually, IGA is caused by some kind of respiratory infection. Our son did not have any kind of respiratory onset; although, in 1996 and 1997, Michigan State University had a meningitis epidemic. The doctor started him on prednisone and blood pressure medicine to maintain his kidneys and his high blood pressure. After six weeks, the nephrologist made us all an appointment with the Nephrology Department at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our son's girlfriend, Eileen, went with us, too. She and her family were great supporters.
What is more, the four of us learned quickly about creatinine and BUN read outs from the lab reports.
What is more, the four of us learned quickly about creatinine and BUN read outs from the lab reports.
The Beginning
In 1995 Darryl started his first year of college at Michigan State University (MSU). During the fall of 1997 at a plasma donation center, his urine was tested at a high protein count. It was around an eight count. He felt fine and was physically active. Again and again, he went back to the plasma center and still the protein in his urine was a high count. The center would not draw his plasma
Smile, God Loves You
If you have been diagnosed with the disease of IGA Nephropathy or want to know our story, please continue to read our homepage, and we hope it is beneficial for you. This is our story about our son, Darryl. By telling our story, we feel that God is directing us to give you comfort, peace, and contact and for us this is uplifting. Our story will start at the beginning, then the diagnose, the transplant, the update, and finally the parents.
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