Cobra guy in for a kidney transplant - Page 2

Dangerous Doug · #21 (**permalink**) 02-03-2011, 10:47 AM

Looks like I'm getting the green light for a transplant later this month or early March.

Winning the Mustang Ranch Cobra valve covers made my day! I'll have them on before the weekend is over, so I take a shot and post it here on CC.

Just updated my caringbridge site. No "sectioning" required. Wa-hoo!!!

DD

392cobra · #22 (**permalink**) 02-03-2011, 10:49 AM

Lots of good news there Doug !

Dominik · #23 (**permalink**) 02-03-2011, 11:21 PM

And in about 6 weeks you will feel like reborn!

Dangerous Doug · #24 (**permalink**) 02-04-2011, 03:41 PM

Well, $#it. An underlying health issue has emerged making my brother ineligible to donate for me. I'm glad his issue was found (all that compatibility testing uncovered it) and he'll be able to get it properly treated. However, this changes everything, though, for me.

Holy-freak'n-cow!

DD

Had A Cobra · #25 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 08:02 AM

Hi Doug
Had a transplant 7 was years ago-email me with any questions. It was easier than i thought. Did home dialyis for 3 years .
joeg

tkb289 · #26 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 12:55 PM

Doug,

Glad to hear the 'sectioning' is off the table, but very sorry to hear about your brother not being an eligible donor ... your Cobra buddies are holding good thoughts for you

- Tim

Dangerous Doug · #27 (**permalink**) 02-06-2011, 10:39 PM

Tim: "off the table"? No pun intended? Heh, heh, hee...

Joeg: I'll send you a PM once I've collected my thoughts. Dialysis will likely start soon, and my oldest brother and two sisters have stepped up to donate, so I'm actually pretty lucky. I'm also pretty high on "the list" having waited as long as I have, so a cadaver kidney is a fallback.

I do find it horrifying, though, to think that someone will have to undergo a surgery and give up a body part so that I can continue living---even more morbid, waiting for a kidney on the "list"---which means someone else's life has been cut short by their circumstances.

Perhaps I think too much...
DD

fordracing65 · #28 (**permalink**) 02-06-2011, 10:44 PM

Good luck with everything your going through. My prayers are with you.

Had A Cobra · #29 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 05:57 PM

Hi Doug
Hopefully you can do peritaneal diaylsis at home. Much easier and less in trusive on you.
Afer the initial shock of having to do it, my life did not change. Still swam, played volley
ball etc. I was 55 at the time.
joeg

392cobra · #30 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 05:30 PM

Doug,
Any word of a possible match yet ? Or is it too early to know ?

My Prayers are with you Doug.

750hp · #31 (**permalink**) 02-11-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

I do find it horrifying, though, to think that someone will have to undergo a surgery and give up a body part so that I can continue living---even more morbid, waiting for a kidney on the "list"---which means someone else's life has been cut short by their circumstances.

Perhaps I think too much...
DD

Here in Australia, if a family member isn't aware that someone had chosen to donate their organs, the family have the final say about whether it happens or not. Even if the individual had signed up to the Organ Donor Registry... Everyone in my family is 1000000% aware of my desire to give someone else a chance at a healthier life if something should happen to me, and I wish more families would have these conversations. It's much easier to talk about it without emotion at home now than in a small room beside an emergency ward at a hospital in the middle of the night...

All the best Doug - I hope everything works out for you.

Had A Cobra · #32 (**permalink**) 02-12-2011, 07:48 AM

One thing i found out after my transplant- if a family member donates an organ it moves you up on the list. In my case my donor gave me a kidney so his brother who needed a heart transplant moved higher on the list. My daughter had just been tested and was a match. I was reluctant to use her because she was only 22 at the time and i did not
want her to go through such a major operation and be scared.
joeg

392cobra · #33 (**permalink**) 03-20-2011, 05:53 PM

Great News from Doug....

He received notice this afternoon that a donor kidney that matches is available and Doug is getting it.

The transplant could take place tonight !!!

rustyBob · #34 (**permalink**) 03-20-2011, 06:02 PM

Keep us posted.....

392cobra · #35 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 06:45 AM

Here is the latest news.

It was delayed a little bit but .......

"It's official. On Monday 3/21 at 7:00 am I report to Stanford for a kidney transplant!

The surgery will be at around 11:30 am, though it's almost inevitable there will be delays. Nevertheless, by the time the sun melts into the horizon Monday evening, I should have a new kidney.

So, with nothing clever to write and the Vicodin weighing heavily on my eyelids, I'll say, "Good-night!"

See you on the other side!

Cheers,
Doug "

392cobra · #36 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 08:04 AM

Latest...He's on the way to Stanford for the transplant !

"5:49 am, and I'm on my way to Stanford. No pain killer since last night before I crashed, so I'm feeling it each incision from last week's surgeries.

So far, I've met the transplant news with quiet reserve.

I've got to let it out. So here's the soundtrack of my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXllELarVAY

Crank it!
Doug "

tkb289 · #37 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 10:07 AM

Fred,

Thanks for the updates, I have been following Doug's Caring Bridge log as well.

Doug's family, friends and Cobra buddies are all pulling for him that's for sure, and in the days and weeks to come he will be feeling a lot better ... and back driving his Cobra

- Tim

392cobra · #38 (**permalink**) 03-21-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

Well, I've held off as long as I can. Time for that kidney transplant that's been hanging over my head for so long---yeah, like 14 years...

No, my Cobra is NOT FOR SALE!

For those of you that know me or are interested:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/douglasking

I don't have a date set yet, but it is likely to be in the next six weeks or so (I've been moved into the "express lane").

This, after spending the last two years getting my son through Leukemia treatment.

I'm optimistic about the outcome. Look forward Spring and Summer in my ERA.

Dangerous Doug

For those that want to give Doug words of encouragement or follow closer his
process...it is the link above.

tkb289 · #39 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 09:49 AM

It might be a while before Doug posts to his Caring Bridge web page as to how the surgery went … I looked this up on the web:

" The average hospital stay for transplant recipients is about seven days. However, this can vary considerably from four days to three weeks, depending on many factors."

I would imagine Doug will be closer to the shorter time frame, as he is in good shape and will hopefully have a speedy recovery

Got the Bug · #40 (**permalink**) 03-22-2011, 10:53 PM

Doug's Yahoo email address is listed on his Caring Bridge page. I just sent him a get well eCard. Shoot him a quick email...I'm sure he'd love to hear from some fellow Cobra enthusiasts.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/douglasking