March 4 '19

When I first learned I was a blood match for my dad, it was November 2018. Hmm, how long would it take for the work up and to get this done? We all just want him to feel better. Hours and hours of googling later, I still had no clue. In my mind, how about March? That seemed a little tight, but not impossible. March 4th, day after showcase, perfect. That would leave me a couple of weeks to recuperate before our first competition. As we waited for an appointment, and waited, and waited some more. The likelyhood of a March transplant was slipping away.

March 3rd, an exhusting, yet amazing day of performances had come to an end. Showcase could not have gone better! My dad didn't make it through the entire day, but he was there! I was ready to go home. We were all exhausted. For just once, I turn my phone off completely. Nobody wake me up, kids sleep in, we all deserved a good nights sleep.

Monday, March 4th 2019 - I wake up, it's around 7 am. Bryson is yelling for me, "Mom, Uncle Todd needs to talk to you". He throws me his phone, dad is back in hospital again!

I get the kids off to school, and head to the hospital. The 10 minute drive feels like 30, I'm playing the last 2 weeks over and over in my head. There is no freaking way I'm letting them release my dad this time. He was literally in last week twice, now again at the beginning of this week. 3 times in 7 days. There is NO way I will allow him to be released without a concrete plan!

I show up to the hospital, they are running the same tests as the week prior with very similar results. Extremely high potassium, increasing creatinine levels, very low kidney function. I ask the doctor on call to please call to the clinic. Today is a lucky day - his clinic nephrologist is on call at the hospital! He is admitted. Thank goodness, they are finally taking his rapid decline seriously.

3 days later, dads potassium levels are finally under control. That was scary. Now what?

Before I talk about the next few days, I want to briefly note the conditions of our hospitals. Although I do not want to get into a debate over our health care system, our hospitals are in desperate need of attention. As my dad was offically admitted, he was actually placed in an emergency overflow room. This room was converted from an old operating room. We knew this because the old flood lights were still there (tied to the ceiling with plastic tie wraps), lots of switches and outlets that were labeled as such, as well as the ventilation system was unlike a regular room. Blankets, cups, and yes - even water (don't even mention ice) were a hot commodity. Did I mention there was only one light - either on or off. Trying to get an IV tower - good luck. And a working blood pressure machine - ha! There were no call buttons, there was a handbell that the 4 men could share though. The nurses room also doubled as the janitors closet, and a single washroom that we know would not pass a code inspection rounded out the tight hallway of the overflow floor. My dad was in quite a few days, and the plastic garbage packaging that had been dropped on the floor from a neighboring patient remained on the floor my dads entire stay. Think 1970's Mash. Exact same room dividers!

A few days later, dad is stable. Potassium levels are better, kidneys not great, functioning around 7-9%. What does that mean now? Dialysis is needed.

A nurse visits from the Dialysis unit, she brings dad some information and asks if dad has made a decision on what type of dialysis he wants if he gets the choice. Unfortunately dad was only given dialysis information about 2 weeks ago. He's not sure. All of this has happened so suddenly.

Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis? that is the question!