Wow, It's been so long since I've updated this site-so sorry. So much has happened-mostly good, some not so much. I'll start with the not so good.
My Aunt B flew down to NC from NY to get screened as a kidney donor for me in July. Also, Tom was screened soon after. Neither are qualify to donate, which was of course, disappointing. I have a girlfriend from NH who I've known forever, in the preliminary stages of screening for me. I can't even describe how huge my heart feels from the generosity and love I've been shown by so many in different ways, even small ones, that have touched me and Tom. Thank you all. I feel very blessed.

Now the good news-and this is hard to write because I haven't quite gotten my head around it yet and a part of me still feels like it can't be true. But it is.

I have been off dialysis for a month now. My kidneys have recovered to a degree that they are able to sustain me without any help right now. It's week to week, but my nephrologist, who is not quick to give false hope, has been smiling from ear to ear every time I talk to her. I have blood work every week right now and all my labs are perfect. My creatinine has stabilized at an acceptable level and though my kidneys will never be working optimally, I am hoping for continued recovery. The thing that's important now is NO DIALYSIS. (Celebratory confetti flying!!!!) I have an appointment on Tues with the doctor to discuss what's next. 

I would like to keep the kidney donor end of things in the works and if a match is found, I will have that ready to go in case things change in the future. 

I see my rheumatologist in Oct and we will discuss what my options are for treating the scleroderma. I'm not sure what the qualifications are for being considered for the stem cell transplant as far as kidney function is concerned. I know I cannot be on dialysis, but how long must I be off before I would be considered? I'm actually not ready to think about that in any depth right now-I just want to enjoy the freedom I feel right now. Whew! Thank you all for the prayers and well-wishes over the past months. I have no doubt they have played a huge roll in what is happening right now. 



I'm so excited that after a whole summer of not going anywhere (beach, mountains) Tom and I have booked a cabin in Banner Elk, NC to celebrate our 4th anniversary! The trees should be colorful and we can get a reprieve from summer and just relax and enjoy. We are hoping that no hurricanes make their way up there this time. When we got married at the vineyard up there in 2015, hurricane Joquin (sp?) paid us a visit and blew us all away. Either way, like our wedding, we will enjoy the mountains like we always do. 

My son, Brian is getting married in May next year in Destin, FL-so looking forward to that, plus, we are trying to get out to Oregon to visit Josh and Kate-maybe next spring/summer. Their wedding in June was so uplifting for me and I'm so grateful to have been able to share that with the family. We got to see all 8 grandkids, had an amazing time visiting with Nathan, Candice and two of the most precious little girls I've ever met. We got to see Tom's brothers and nieces and nephew, and of course, the 4 kids and their families. All at the same time!! It was such a perfect wedding for such an amazing couple. 

So, life is good, calm, relatively predictable right now. Again, thank you all for following my posts and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers always. You are in ours as well. I'm sharing some photos from recent months and want to thank Nathan, Jessica, Josh and Kendall for making me feel so welcomed. Your are all very dear to me  (more than you can know). And Debbie, I'll just say-thank you!

God bless all of you.
Love, Barb