As life has begun to return somewhat back to normal it’s been harder to find the time to write updates. I’m in California for a few days and it’s just Meredith and the kids at home, which says a lot about how far she has come since surgery. It’s hard to believe that 8 weeks have passed now. Overall, Meredith is doing pretty well.  Her new kidney is working great. The problems that sent her to the ER a while back all resolved. Her urine output is normal and she no longer has a catheter or a stent in her ureter.  She’s been getting lab work and having clinic appointments every week but that has now spaced out to every 3 weeks. She is gradually regaining her strength. Physical Therapy comes weekly. Most activities that she needs to do at home she is able to do on her own. 

Unfortunately, her major challenge has been with low blood pressure.  Several years ago she struggled with low BP episodes.  The presumed cause was autonomic dysfunction, a problem with the part of the nervous system that helps control BP as a result of long-standing diabetes. This can result in BP and heart rate fluctuations, lack of sweating, digestion problems as well as other symptoms. Once her first transplanted kidney began failing her BP started rising – if it dropped low, it would drop to a normal level. Now that she has a functioning kidney, her baseline BP is back to normal and often a bit below normal. Whenever she stands up it drops very low and she feels as if she will pass out.  This happens every time she stands up. She is now on medication to increase her BP but even with the max dose it is still on the low side.  Despite her increased strength, this makes it very difficult to get up and do anything. She’s using a walker or cane to get around just so she has some support. Unfortunately there’s not much else to do in regards to treating this so please be praying that her body will adapt and her BP will normalize. 

As I mentioned, life is getting a bit closer to returning to normal.  Meredith’s isolation requirements have been relaxed some. She’s been out to a couple of stores with assistance.  She and I went on a lunch date earlier this week. We were able to have a fairly normal Thanksgiving. Meredith did a lot of work preparing Thanksgiving dinner and the kids and I all had assigned dishes to prepare (under her close oversight!). Meredith’s mom has returned home for a few weeks and we’re determined to start becoming a little more self-reliant. Because of the low BP, Meredith is unable to drive so one of her biggest hurdles will be figuring out how to get to and from appointments and take care of errands. 

As always, thank you for your continued prayers and for all the ways in which many of you have supported us!

(The pictures included are from Thanksgiving dinner