For those of you still keeping up on this board...

I am scheduled for my bladder augment surgery on Tuesday, July 8th early morning.  My family and I will be making the trip to Cedars-Sinai on the 7th to have my pre-op prep work done. 

In case you don't remember (or don't know), I need to have my bladder augmented before I can have the transplant.  If this is not done, my "new" kidney will not survive.  It's not a common surgery to have pre-transplant, but in some cases it is necessary. 

In explaining the basic procedure, the doctors will be taking a small piece of my small intestine and after cutting open the bladder, attacthing the small intestine like a cup as part of the bladder.  This allows for the bladder to hold more urine.  The reason behind this is so it takes pressure off the kidney and so the urine won't back up into the kidney and destroy it.  This is what was happening to me and caused the renal failure.  It is really more complicated than this explanation but that's the gist of it.

Thanks again for everyone's support and I will do my best to update this as things happen.  If it is requested by many, I will update this board daily (as my computer will allow me) while in recovery at Cedars. 

Everyone,

I hope I have a few people who occassionally check this blog, and so in case I do, here is a big announcement:  I AM OFFICIALLY IN THE CEDARS-SINAI TRANSPLANT PROGRAM.  Some of you may be familiar with Dr. Stanley Jordan at Cedars, who has pioneered incompatible transplants to the rate of 95% successful (which is unbelieveable).  Just a few years ago, it was unheard of for a transplant reciepient to receive an organ from someone with an entirely different blood type.  The result would've been almost instant death from the body attacking the new organ because it doesn't recognize it as it's "own".  Dr. Jordan has created a method that allows the body to accept the new organ in most cases.  I'm not entirely sure if I will be part of this fairly new protocol, but the option at Cedars is there...and the best people for the job, who are experienced in doing it.

I have not yet met Dr. Jordan personally, or anyone from Cedars for that matter...but I have a couple of close friends who know him personally, and have nothing but the best to say of him.  I feel confident that I'm in good hands, and look forward to getting this thing done as soon as possible.  While I cannot give even the slightest clue of a realistic timeline for completion of my two surgeries and recovery, I can say that I'm hopeful it will all be done by the conclusion of 2008.

Thanks again for everyone's kind words and ongoing support...I hope to hear from a lot of you soon.  I also hope things are going well for you and your families.  Take care.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to thank COTA for all of their help over the past year.  We just celebrated our one year anniversary in partnership recently.  I appreciate everything they've done for me, the team and the campaign.  Without them, we wouldn't be where we are.

Also, I recently sent out an update to my team members about recent events.  Unfortunately, I cannot post everything on here so if you would like to know what else is going on, please e-mail me.  Nathan at NathansKidneyTeam.com

In order to prevent SPAM, I did not use the 'at' symbol so please be sure to do so in your correspondence.

Hi all,

 I told you that I would give an update from the last UCLA visit so here it is...

My mom and I went down on December 6th and met with Dr. Gerald Lipshutz who will be performing my transplant when the time comes.  He's a very kind, compassionate doctor who realizes the urgency of which my family and I have to get through this situation.  We spoke about the process that will be coming up here soon and will be moving quickly once it starts. 

UCLA apparently has just started to transplant with the ABO incompatability tests...meaning transplanting with different blood types.  They are doing their first one later this week, with a second one following in January.  It seemed like they didn't have anyone else ready to go for this kind of transplant...so it looks like I may be the third one in UCLA history if everything goes well in the coming months...so we'll see.

My dad is beginning his health regimen by stopping his smoking habit as well as losing around 25 lbs.  I know that this will be difficult for him but I'm grateful he's doing it and I know he realizes he needs to do it not only for me but for himself as well.

I am still planning on going to school in January, but things may change if we get my first surgery planned, etc.  I really don't know how to plan for that so I guess I'll just deal with it when the time comes.

I don't know if any of you still read these postings when they're updated, so if you do, please email me.  Also, if there's anything specific you want to know, please let me know that as well.

Next update will be posted by: December 29, 2007 

Hi all,

 I realize it's been a while since I updated this blog.  I have been back in school as you know, and just finished the quarter...finally.  It was a tough one that I"m glad is finished.  I had two classes, one was Management Information Systems (MIS) which was pretty easy, and the other was Analysis for Making Business Decisions which utilized Microsoft Excel and Statistics.  Let me tell you...this was one tough class. 

As far as dialysis is concerned, things are well, considering.  I try my best to do everything the doctor tells me, and stay disciplined.  My weight gains are still excellent, as I do not gain more than 2 kgs over a weekend.  In comparison, there areothers at the treatment center who may gain 6-8 kgs in the same time period.  My fistula in my arm is working well which I'm grateful for, and my health is good.

I will be going to UCLA in a few days to meet the transplant surgeon who will do the transplant when the time comes.  We will be discussing that surgery in addition to the one I must have before that to prepare for it.

Basketball season is here, and I miss it more than ever...I wish I was coaching but I realize that is not what I'm meant to do.  Earning my business degree in Sport Management and going on to work "behind the scenes" is where I will be best. 

 My family and I are hanging in there and again want to thank everyone for their support.  I especially want to thank those who continue to visit me at dialysis and email me and call. 

I will update again in a few days to let everyone know what is happening with UCLA. 

Well everyone, this last week I had my first "official" appointment at UCLA Medical Center where I met some of the staff including the Director of Nephrology as well as a surgeon.  They had both looked over my records from here in town, including those from my dialysis unit and both felt that I am an ideal candidate for transplant.  This is GREAT news because if I have the confidence of those who will be treating me, then I feel a lot more comfortable.  Everyone was very nice...and the director even listened to my family concerns about me being transplanted with a incompatible blood type.  As you know, both my parents are A+ blood, while I'm O+ blood.  If you're not familiar with the blood type compatibility, O blood can be given to anyone, regardless of blood type (others are A, B, & AB).  I am what is known as a "universal donor" since I can give to anyone.  AB blood is the "universal receiver" because they can get A, B, AB, or O blood.  The cadaveric waiting list (also known as the "transplant list") is 7-10 YEARS for someone like me...therefore I want a "living donor" as it would be MUCH faster. 

My family and I are looking into a process we heard about to where we can transplant regardless of blood type, and it has shown great success in the times it's been done...but it's still a relatively new and unused process for the most part.  The director made clear that if they for some reason at UCLA cannot handle my case, they will send me wherever my case will be accepted...which is EXCELLENT news that they are willing to work with me. 

I may be hearing more about what will be happening in the coming months soon...maybe as soon as two or three weeks.  I will post when anything new comes up.

Please bear with me that it's tedious to journal every day, so I will not be doing that.  Any time something develops however, you will know. 

Hope everyone out there who has supported me is doing well. 

I will be attending the "Access Weekend" Event this weekend, August 3-4 at the First Presbyterian Church (1705 17th Street) as both a spectator and speaker.  There has not yet been a confirmed time on Saturday for me to speak, but it will be that day sometime in the afternoon.  I will be speaking about our fundraising efforts, the Fishlips event, and the wonderful support from the Bakersfield community!  I hope to see some of my friends there, and a couple Kidney Team members should be in attendance with me. 

12:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church

1705 17th Street (In Activity Center)

As of today, there are many pictures capturing the fun at Fishlips from Saturday night at http://bakersfieldpaparazzi.com  On the left side of the screen, to go "Events" and then select "Nathan's Kidney Fundraiser"  There are about 20 pages of pictures so take your time and look at them all.  Hopefully we'll be able to post a few of those pictures on this website in the coming days.

To My Friends & Supporters:

Thanks again for attending my fundraiser at Fishlips this past Saturday night.  I hope everyone had a good time.  I need to make an important announcement...

In the past couple of days, there has been a question as to why exactly my Kidney Team and & I are fundraising money.  Although I feel it has been adequately addressed, here is the explanation once again. 

We are raising funds to cover transplant-related expenses that are not covered by insurance.  The actual donor/receipient testing, the transplant itself, and hospital recoveries are 100% covered by my insurance.

The things that are NOT covered by insurance include: Transportation (gas, vehicle maintenance, etc.) to and from UCLA, Lodging (during testing, and transplant/recovery), Food (while out of town at UCLA), and perhaps most importantly, any household bills after the transplant to compensate for my parents assisting me during recovery.  

I hope this clears up any confusion.  Of course, if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail us.

This week went fairly quick without any major problems. Had a visitor on Wednesday (Buster) who also took me to lunch at Applebees.  It's always nice to have friends stop by to help pass the time.

Most everyone I've spoken to has seen my article in the paper.  Hopefully  we'll get a great turnout at the fundraiser.