This morning I got a call from the Transplant Coordinator. As usual, she seemed in a rush and spoke to me much like she would if she was leaving me voicemail. Apparently, she was just calling to let me know that my second 24-Hour collection was fine.
That's good to know. Now the only thing standing between me and surgery is my girl exam and pap smear next Monday. This would be the perfect point for me to find out I have a lump in my breast or cervical cancer or something.
Assuming, my girl parts are all clear... we'll be ready to go with the surgery on the 25th of October. I got a letter from the Abdominal Organ Transplant office yesterday with the details:
Dear Amanda:
This letter will outline the events leading up to your kidney donation on 10/25/06 at 9:15 AM. You will be admitted the day of surgery; report to the Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU), on the third floor of the hospital at 6:00 AM.
- Arrive at Tenetcare on 10/19/06 at Noon for preadmission testing; labs including a final crossmatch, Chest X-Ray, and EKG.
- Transplant Clinic Visit at the Doctors Office Building (DOB) is scheduled for 10/19/06 at 2:00 PM. Register by the Pharmacy on the first floor of the DOB, the go to Room 108 to be seen by the transplant surgery team.
- The day before surgery, 10/24/06, you will require a bowel preparation. Ask for a prescription for Go Litely while you are at the clinic.
- After Midnight prior to your surgery have nothing to eat or drink.
- Before arriving at the hospital the morning of surgery, shampoo your hair and shower using antibacterial liquid soap such as Dial. Be sure to scrub your abdomen, chest and back well. After showering, do not use any deodorants, lotions, perfumes, or powders.
- On 10/25/06 bring the following items with you: insurance card and medications. Do NOT bring valuables such as money, credit cards, jewelry, etc.
If you have any questions, please call the office....
Up until this point, this surgery has been so unreal to me. But when someone starts telling you to shampoo and shower with Dial antibacterial liquid soap... you know you're in trouble.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Part Twenty Two: Big To Do
Checklist of Things to Do
1.Order Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
2.Make appointment for Exam and Pap Smear
3.Tell Part-Time Boss about Potential Kidney Donation
A week or so ago, I was lamenting about the stress of having to tell my part-time employer about the kidney donation and time needed off work. My older brother remarked that Organ Donation was shown to be one of the hardest things to approach your boss about... second only to asking your boss for a raise.
I sensed a bit of sarcasm in my brother's voice at the time and laughed at his little statistic. But really, I'm starting to think that it could totally be true.
Part of it is just me and part of it is just the situation.
I've always been bad about telling people things potentially unnerving things... especially when I wait too long to do it.
And then you add that to the fact that I applied for this job after I was more than halfway through the donor evaluation process. I already knew there was a good chance that I could be donating. But I didn't mention it to my boss because I didn't want it to affect his decision for hiring me. And now that this donation is becoming more and more of a reality, I am starting to feel dishonest for keeping it from him.
Either way, I've gotta tell him soon. Although I'm just working part time, he is giving me more and more responsibility. With the upcoming holiday season, I don't want to leave him in a bind.
I think today is going to be the day, kids. Stay tuned for an update.
UPDATE
I did it! I did it! I did it!
I was trying to work up the courage to call my boss and staring blankly at the computer screen. I went to a kidney donor website and read some experiences from living donors. Those things are always so encouraging. I like to read how much better off the recipients are after the transplant and how the donors always say that it was totally worth it. After scanning a few pages of these I remembered how much I really want to do this for my dad. I picked up the phone... dialed the store number... and got the ANSWERING MACHINE! *grumble*
My boss called back a few minutes later and I gave him the news.
It's funny how sometimes you don't realize how much something is weighing on you until you get it off your chest.
As one probably could have expected, my boss was incredibly understanding. After listening to me rambling on about the surgery, he began by commending me for doing this for my dad. He told me that it shouldn't be a problem, that I've been doing an incredible job in the short time that I've been there, and that he is more than willing to work with me on this if I am willing to stay on.
I'm glad to get that over with... It was really one of the last big hurdles for me. Now we can begin our countdown to D-Day with everybody on board!
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A week or so ago, I was lamenting about the stress of having to tell my part-time employer about the kidney donation and time needed off work. My older brother remarked that Organ Donation was shown to be one of the hardest things to approach your boss about... second only to asking your boss for a raise.
I sensed a bit of sarcasm in my brother's voice at the time and laughed at his little statistic. But really, I'm starting to think that it could totally be true.
Part of it is just me and part of it is just the situation.
I've always been bad about telling people things potentially unnerving things... especially when I wait too long to do it.
And then you add that to the fact that I applied for this job after I was more than halfway through the donor evaluation process. I already knew there was a good chance that I could be donating. But I didn't mention it to my boss because I didn't want it to affect his decision for hiring me. And now that this donation is becoming more and more of a reality, I am starting to feel dishonest for keeping it from him.
Either way, I've gotta tell him soon. Although I'm just working part time, he is giving me more and more responsibility. With the upcoming holiday season, I don't want to leave him in a bind.
I think today is going to be the day, kids. Stay tuned for an update.
UPDATE
I did it! I did it! I did it!
I was trying to work up the courage to call my boss and staring blankly at the computer screen. I went to a kidney donor website and read some experiences from living donors. Those things are always so encouraging. I like to read how much better off the recipients are after the transplant and how the donors always say that it was totally worth it. After scanning a few pages of these I remembered how much I really want to do this for my dad. I picked up the phone... dialed the store number... and got the ANSWERING MACHINE! *grumble*
My boss called back a few minutes later and I gave him the news.
It's funny how sometimes you don't realize how much something is weighing on you until you get it off your chest.
As one probably could have expected, my boss was incredibly understanding. After listening to me rambling on about the surgery, he began by commending me for doing this for my dad. He told me that it shouldn't be a problem, that I've been doing an incredible job in the short time that I've been there, and that he is more than willing to work with me on this if I am willing to stay on.
I'm glad to get that over with... It was really one of the last big hurdles for me. Now we can begin our countdown to D-Day with everybody on board!
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