I'll try to keep this short. Y3K is doing great! It's hard to believe that it has been exactly one year today since Sherry Robinson and I lay on operating tables at UW Medical Center and they removed one of her kidneys, carried it down the hall and installed it in me! Sherry is doing fine; in fact, she and I had our "First Annual" celebratory lunch today, and she's as happy and cheerful as ever!
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| Back when I was recuperating - with 3 furry friends! |
I am extremely fortunate at how well my transplant has gone! I only have to visit my doctor once every couple of months, I take just 3 little daily handfulls of pills, and my life is pretty much back to normal. I've managed to keep off the 55 pounds I lost following the transplant (the silver lining for being nauseated for three months)! I'm trying to take care of myself (I don't smoke, drink, etc.) and avoid getting sick. Indeed, perhaps the biggest risk to Y3K is that if I caught a really serious infection, it could cause my immune system (which is currently kept sort of "groggy" by drugs) to perk up and get excited - and start attacking everything in my body it percieves as "foreign"...including the new kidney.
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| Me diving in the Cayman Islands in May (photo by Rick Max) |
One of the great things is that I'm able to keep diving! That was something I worried the transplant might prevent. It is going to limit how far afield I go (I doubt I'll ever return to some remote, exotic destinations - like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), but the point is that I do get to continue things I love!
Bottom line: I feel extremely lucky - I have a wonderful wife (Cheri), I'm able to keep working at a job I love (with the greatest co-workers imaginable), I get to continue pursuing my passion for underwater photography (and use it to raise money for a great cause - ICSF), and I have wonderful friends and family who continue to support and care about me!
What a great 3YK anniversary, Bruce. This is just the first of many years of good news to come, I'd bet. :)
ReplyDeleteThe man to whom my father donated a kidney has been doing well for nearly 10 years; my dad, minus his, is doing well, too.
Have a great holiday season -- and please give Cheri greetings from me.
Hope
Deb and I are very very glad to hear that you are going more UP UP and away with your new kidney.
ReplyDeleteYou can't be getting older since you have a "NEW" younger body part.
You are one of the truly "Real Gentleman" in the world, if there is anyone I want to model it is you.
Keep up the good health and great spirits, best of luck and and we miss seeing you.
Best
TonyM and DebF