What a year(years?) it has been. Today I am starting by bringing anyone interested up to speed on Mark’s newest adventure in Kidneyland.
Last spring I mentioned to Mark that he seemed to be struggling a bit more than usual with fatigue. I had also noticed an increase in edema in his legs and, strangely enough, his chest. Mark takes a bit of time to process information, especially with his health. He has been a lifelong patient and loves to dwell in seasons of normalcy. I brought up concerns a few more times as summer started. Try as he might to shove it down, he realized things were unraveling with his previously donated kidney, and the lab work was confirming.
He went first to his lifelong favorite physician for some advice, then onto the nephrologist. A possible plan of attack was made, focusing mostly on wait and watch for now. He didn’t quite need dialysis or any other major interventions just yet. The discussion of which type of dialysis to use started, and we actually had the luxury of time to think it through! We agreed peritoneal dialysis was the best path forward for him, with the best long term outcome.
Unfortunately, we first needed to address the ventral hernias from his first kidney/pancreas transplant. The incision from his first transplant had started to separate and would make peritoneal dialysis impossible. We were referred to yet another doctor and scheduled the repair. Once we had the first surgery scheduled, we were able to schedule the procedure to insert a catheter for dialysis. Smooth sailing so far. So much different from the first time! We were hopeful this transplant experience was going to move forward without a hitch.
I was so proud of us. Here we were, making moves, scheduling things, being responsible, communicating, getting ready for a new kidney journey, all was well. We were ready for whatever was coming our way.
And then we weren’t.
The air conditioning system where Mark was working stopped working. He started struggling with severe dehydration in the immense heat of July in Georgia.
What had originally been a crawl toward needing treatment became an avalanche. He would need to start dialysis much sooner than expected.
Chaos began to infiltrate the once peaceful, well organized path forward. But we’ve been there before. Everything was still fine, just requiring a bit more effort. Just as we thought we had our hands around the new plan, the proverbial roof caved in.
Mark found out the company he had been managing for over the last 20 years was being sold, with no plan to keep him in his current role.
He received this news on the same day we received the news that he could not wait any longer to start dialysis. Mark had tirelessly devoted himself to this company for so many years, and with very little warning, was losing his means to provide for our family. We were devastated and scared. How were we supposed to survive without his income? How were we going to pay for another kidney transplant? We were going to lose his insurance, and I wasn’t able to add him to mine. There was no way I could pay for cobra and cover 100% of our expenses. I just didn’t make enough.
Kidney failure waits for no man. This was no time to sulk and have a pity party. We had to keep going. We’d figure out the details along the way.
TLDR:
•Mark’s donated kidney failed
•He lost his job
•He needed to have a hernia surgery and to start dialysis
•We were overwhelmed and scared, but ok
Mark's Fourth Kidney 
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