I think my kidney doctors are geniuses.

As I've mentioned before, I've had kidney issues my whole life, which started when I was a three-year-old nephrectomy survivor. 

As an overall update: My dialysis port is doing swimmingly well. The new one isn't bleeding--the nurses discovered I'm allergic to the tape and gauze used, causing a flaming red, itchy rash around the port area. My liver is still sooo not being the anchor it was meant to be for any of my organs. I meet with liver doctors from one hospital in the middle of July, and possibly another hospital soon to see if either is a good fit for a transplant. I have  to be on my best behavior to get on their list, so I am literally following all the doctors' words of wisdom. There's no messing around with a liver doctor and their national list. They think I can survive just fine with a partial liver that can grow and thrive--as long as I don't touch a drop of alcohol. Fine by me. Coffee has turned into my good friend--throw a piece of cake in there and I'm a happy swimmer.

I'm a little slow to the races; my doctors explained all the following to me for the five weeks I've been here. But I was on pain meds and loads of other pills that made me sleep and manage various bodily functions that my injured organs couldn't do on their own. I think I was delirious most of the time, which is why I didn't want many visitors. It was a very private time for me.

My kidney doctors could tell from my lab work that my kidney function still had some chutzpuh, so why not give it a break while it heals? That's why I'm on short-term dialysis. Here I've been boo-hooing because I thought my formerly strong solitary kidney was breaking down and going all end-stage on me, but I suddenly remembered today when I came off the hardcore pain meds that they won't know for sure for another 4 weeks if it's permanently injured. I've been following my creatinine levels; on days after dialysis they're show signs of improvement, which means dirty fluid is being removed. On other days, creatinine jumps to a do-able 4.5 or worse. I tend to feel pretty yucky on those days, so lots of bed rest and limiting my water intake.

There's hope! And I'm feeling so much better physically that it's a no-brainer to start the process for coming out of the sedative state. It's sort of like when doctors put their patients in a coma state after an accident and then take them out again--no one told me that, that's just my analysis/comparison for what this process has been like. 

I've met some foodie friends who are nurses in dialysis. We're meeting for food at the Asian Festival of all places ("We better not find you near the Chinese food--but sushi is okay."), so that will be fun. You can never have too many friends--especially ones who enjoy healthy, good food that like your kidney!

Even though I've been told this for over a week, it looks like I'm going home later today. They have a dialysis bed reserved for me in Wyoming, which isn't too far from my home. I don't think I'll drive myself there yet (I get very sleepy after dialysis), so my parents will take me when Andy can't drive me because of work. I am so thankful for feeling better and my supportive family during this unsure time--and for your prayers and other support I don't know about! Your support is felt, my friends.

I think there are three devotions in this one blurb once I unpack it!