Tim updates and some pictures of life lately. 

Since the last update in April, his kidney labs have continued to be…meh (creatinine around 2, GFR 40). The doctors expect the kidney to work better than those numbers show, so they have continued investigating to try and figure out why he’s plateaued there, including another biopsy which showed no rejection, a drain for a lymphocele, and lots of other appointments and labs. Last week Tim had some imaging that showed the new ureter was narrowed or blocked, preventing the new kidney from draining well. In order to help it drain, they placed nephrostomy tube (an external drain that goes directly into the kidney) with a stent (opens up the ureter) in IR. He’ll have the neph tube/stent for 8ish weeks and will have some procedures done to stretch the ureter back out (basically dilation with a balloon and progressively larger stents). We’re hoping this works but it’s not a guarantee so pray for success with this first line option! 

Good news, since the neph tube and stent were placed, his labs have started to improve! On Friday: Creatinine 1.55, GFR 59. The best yet! Grateful that what’s going on is not a problem with a new kidney, “simply” (lol) a mechanical problem. He saw a nephrologist today who didn’t even want to give him a new post-transplant baseline creatine/GFR yet, because we might see it get even better! 

And can I just tell you: Tim has been SUCH a trooper through all this. I don’t know of anyone else in the world who would have a drain and a neph tube in place, and still be digging in the yard and doing projects, playing legos with the kids, working on the dock, and never once complain about it. I forget he has these things because he keeps it close, but there’s no way he’s forgetting…he’s just determined and so strong. So proud of him and the absolute force of his character and sheer will, and hoping that soon, this will all be behind him.