Ladies I've Got Fantastic News

[Python]

As you know my son is a renal dialysis patient. A couple of weeks ago my brother was tested as a possible donor.

We just got the results today.

My brother is not just a match but a GOOD match:D :D :D

Provided my brother passes all the assessment tests Ian should have his transplant in the next 3 to 6 months and be able to lead a normal, healthy (cycling) life:D :D :D

What a truly wonderful man my brother is.

Thanks for sharing:D

[mimitabby]

great news. python. and yes, you have a great brother!

[spokewench]

Wow, that is wonderful news!

[Flybye]

Brings tears to my eyes. Families can be so great! I will keep you in my prayers!!!

[bouncybouncy]

Congrats!!!

Your brother is a generous soul!!!!

[ShubieGA]

That's great news! Your brother is giving such a special gift!

[mtbdarby]

That's amazing news Python! I am so happy to you all for this wonderful opportunity and I'll keep you in my prayers as well. Please keep us posted.

[Pax]

That is fantastic!! Big props to your brother for stepping up and doing the right thing.

[Ninabike]

Python, that is such wonderful news!! All the best to you, your son and your brother.

[jeannierides]

Wonderful news, for sure!

[Tri Girl]

Wow- that's fantastic news!!! Please keep us updated as everything progresses!!!

[sbctwin]

Good news, indead. What a wonderful gift your brother is giving.

[Jenn]

Oh it is SO nice to finally read or hear about something good and positive happening!! What a TRUE blessing that is. Your brother is an amazing person!

[Python]

My brother is a wonderful, caring person. Best brother and Uncle in the world:D

We have a kidney disease called Alports Syndrome which runs in our family on my mother's side. It's a genetic hereditary disease. Unbeknown to me, I inherited the bad gene and passed it onto my son. It's a disease that hits the males much harder than females. Most females don't even know they've got it. Some, like my grandmother go on to full kidney failure. She died in 1934 because of it. We knew she died of kidney failure but didn't know what had caused it and had no idea it was hereditary. Of course, in 1934 there was no dialysis or transplants, so she died at the relatively young age of 55.

My brother inherited the good gene so he doesn't have the disease. Unfortunately Ian has full-blown Alports. The disease also causes eye and ear problems (why I wear specs). Ian is also deaf and wears hearing aids. He's also very short-sighted. Basically, what Alports is, is a collagen is completely missing from our DNA structure. That collagen is the one that forms the tissue for the kidneys, ears and eyes, so the filters of the kidney eventually end up looking like a frayed rag with holes in it, the ears gradually go deaf (total deafness eventually is not uncommon, Ian has about 20% hearing in his "good" ear) and the lens of the eyes are mishapen, hence I'm very long-sighted and Ian is very short-sighted. It also damages the peripheral nerves so Alports people often suffer from Reynauds disease as well - one of the reasons I hate getting cold.

The kidneys fail over a period of time. We first knew there was a problem when Ian started passing blood in his urine at the age of 11 months. The deafness started to show at about 2 years old and gradually got worse so that by the time Ian was 10 he was quite deaf. At 15 his kidneys completely failed and he's been on dialysis all this time. He never complains and tries very hard to lead as normal a life as possible between dialysis sessions - even coming out on his bike with me although we don't go too far as he tires easily.

We're really hoping things go well as Ian's never known what it feels like to be healthy.

My kidneys could fail too and I do know, although they work, they're not 100% and that's why I couldn't be a donor for Ian which was a pity as I would have been the best match. This placed the hospital in a bit of a dilema. Their reasoning was if my kidneys failed then my brother would be an excellent match for me. My reasoning was let Ian have my brother's kidney as there was no guarantee mine would fail and I've at least had something of a life. It was a bridge I would cross if it ever happened. Fingers crossed that it doesn't.

Ian is still very young (only 20) and deserves to lead a normal life and thanks to my brother he may get that soon:D

[cosc]

What great news to rejoice over. I will keep you, brother and son in my prayers.

[Zen]

That's one lucky boy and one wonderful brother. Dialysis must be an awful hinderance to a normal childhood. If only more people were willing donors.

What does it say on YOUR drivers license?

[SouthernBelle]

Fantastic is not suffcient. Keep us updated!

[madscot13]

best wishes to your son and brother. It takes courage to voluntarily undergo a surgery that leaves you without an organ and courage to live with such a difficult disease. May this bring ease to your son and to your family's worries.

[Python]

If only more people were willing donors.

What does it say on YOUR drivers license?


I carry a Donor Card. Although I can't donate my kidneys to anyone there are lots of other bits and pieces of me that could help bring normal life to someone:D

[pooks]

I'm so happy for you and your family.

As for your decision to make sure your son gets the kidney, and being willing to roll the dice for your own future --

I have a friend who has a genetic kidney problem that all four of her children inherited. I don't know if it's Alports or not, though. But when she needed a kidney donor there was nobody available in her family because it was so widespread (though somehow nobody had ever known this until her situation came up).

She went on the donor list expecting to be there a long time waiting her turn, when after only one session of dialysis, she got a phone call that there was a kidney available for her. It seems that (in the US, anyway) if the next available kidney is a really really good match for somebody on the waiting list, they jump ahead of everybody else. That was about 15 years ago and she's still doing great.

We never know what is waiting for us around the next corner, so I don't blame you for wanting Ian to have that kidney.

Keep us posted.

[northstar]

Python,

Many happy thoughts of hope and thanksgiving for your family! What terrific news!

[Geonz]

INner Snoopy Dance here :D :D :D
Thinking good vibes...

[farrellcollie]

That is fantastic.

Good luck with it all.

[short cut sally]

Best of wishes and regards to you, your son and your brother. Keep us posted on the progress please.

[Artisan]

That's awesome! You are right, your brother is a wonderful guy. Wishing the best for you all.

[wannaduacentury]

As you know my son is a renal dialysis patient. A couple of weeks ago my brother was tested as a possible donor.

We just got the results today.

My brother is not just a match but a GOOD match:D :D :D

Provided my brother passes all the assessment tests Ian should have his transplant in the next 3 to 6 months and be able to lead a normal, healthy (cycling) life:D :D :D

What a truly wonderful man my brother is.

Thanks for sharing:D

That's wonderful - Big Hugs to your brother. Jenn:)

[Aggie_Ama]

Awesome news! I hope that I could be strong enough to do the same if one of my nieces were ill. Best wishes for good health to your brother and Ian.

[Python]

We have Transplant Games here in the UK too. Who knows. Maybe we'll see Ian competing in the Cycling event:D

[7rider]

Wow.
Wonderful news, Python.

A good friend of mine has kidney disease and just received a transplant. Her son was the donor. What a wonderful gift.

Wishing the best to Ian and your brother.

[farrellcollie]

We have Transplant Games here in the UK too. Who knows. Maybe we'll see Ian competing in the Cycling event:D

That would be great. I edited my earlier post after realizing you were in the UK. - The games are an emotional event for all (my dad has gotten really involved with the New England Organ Donation organization over here)- and it was great to see all the athletes - from little tiny kids to senior citizens - all those people with transplants leading healthy, active lives.

[annie]

Oh my! What a wonderful and selfless brother you have, Python. I hope this leads to many healthy and happy years for all of you.

Annie

[aka_kim]

What exciting news for your family! Please keep us posted on how the surgeries go. It's amazing how quickly "live donor" kidneys start working (right away usually) and how immediate the benefit is.

My family has also been affected by kidney disease, in our case polycystic kidney disease. It's been in my father's family for generations. My father received a kidney 6 years ago and is doing great. My 2 brothers have the disease too, but are doing fine so far, and I lucked out on this roll of the dice.

If your brother needs info or support (donation is actually kind of a lonely and scary process, but well worth it) http://www.livingdonorsonline.org is a good resource.

[snapdragen]

This is great news Python! A woman I worked with had a transplant many years ago. I still remember the excitment in the office the day she got the call that a donor had been found.

Wishing your son and brother speedy recoveries!

[KnottedYet]

What a wonderful and beautiful thing!

Best wishes to everyone involved!

(I'd like to be on a donor registration for bone marrow, blood, etc.; but once you've had a Bad Cancer nobody wants you...:( So instead I shall send love and good thoughts to everyone who CAN!! :D )

[Mr. Bloom]

I didn't know about that, but it sounds like a wonderful blessing!

[amymisk]

What wonderful news. Best wishes.

Kidney transplant surgery these days can be done with minimal incisions and recovery time is not too bad for the recipient. A friend donated one to her brother and she was down and out for much longer than her brother. He immediately felt better.

Keep us up to date!

[madscot13]

Amymisk,
I don't know how long ago that surgery was done, but I hear things have changed quite a bit. A friend from school (a biker before a racoon/ rabbit combo got the best of him and his front wheel) was telling me about how kidney transplants have changed over the years, and he would be an expert seeing as how he had one a while back. Basically without getting into too much detail, a much smaller incision is made into the donor and in a way that the donor can help relieve the pain following the surgery. The result- a much better recovery for the donor and someone gets a kidney. Everyone is happy, especially Python, Python's son, and Python's brother.

[Zen]

What a wonderful and beautiful thing!

Best wishes to everyone involved!

(I'd like to be on a donor registration for bone marrow, blood, etc.; but once you've had a Bad Cancer nobody wants you...:( So instead I shall send love and good thoughts to everyone who CAN!! :D )

What about skin and corneas?

[RoadRaven]

Wonderful news, Python

I don't know what else to say...

Just wonderful

[crazycanuck]

Wahoooooooey! :)

Wonderful news python!

Funky dance happenin!

c

[Python]

My brother's been told that if he can lose 3 stone in weight, they will remove the kidney by keyhole surgery. This means that he will only be in hospital for 2 or 3 days. He's already put himself on a diet and is joining a gym this week so next time I see my brother, he's going to be super streamlined:D He'll be staying with us for several weeks until he's fit enough to go back to Scotland. Ian is champing at the bit for the transplant now.

One lady I know had a kidney transplant when she was a teenager. She got married and had two healthy children to the delight of the hospital staff. Her kidney is around 20 years old and has now started to fail so she's back on the transplant list. She doesn't need dialysis yet but that could happen fairly soon. She's very upbeat about it. The longest kidney transplant I know of belongs to the man who helps run our local Kidney Patient's Association. His is 32 years old and still going strong!!!

Anyone out there who isn't carrying a Donor Card, please consider getting one and spread the word to all your family and friends:D

[Triskeliongirl]

I am so happy for you and your family. One of my riding buds is now on his second kidney transplant (along with a pancreas transplant) and riding strong. When he was between kidneys he would still bike tour, by riding from dialysis center to dialysis center. His story is here, perhaps your son will enjoy reading it, its quite inspiring: http://www.bikefriday.com/tedcampbell
Good luck to your entire family!!!!!!!!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

Wonderful news! Your son, your brother, and your family are in my prayers.