Flying High!

     Sawyer's labs and check up at CHKD went very well today. His new (44 year old) kidney is functioning very well!  As Karen's mom would say, "Karen is strong like bull!"  So,  no wimpy kidney for our boy.  He is blessed with a great high-performing kidney!

 

     Sawyer's other stats are looking good too.  His blood pressure has come down to normal levels since increasing his BP med dosage.   His liver stats (GGT level) continue to improve (Big Relief!) and  his anti-rejection drugs are starting to level out.

     The not so good news … Sawyer is in the 10th percentile for height and the 90th for weight, which means he is too short and obese.  The kidney failure is a big factor in his height.  Hopefully, he will begin to catch up now that he has kidney function.  Doritos and steroids have contributed to his weight gain.  It is a crazy cycle as the steroids make him incessantly "hungry" and crave the worst foods.  I'm hoping our insurance will cover the costs of the P-90X prescription.

    The great struggle continues to be the steroids.  We are grateful that this issue is not life threatening.  At least not for him.  He threatens ours occasionally, but we can hold him down and out run him because he's little and over weight (please, no emails.  I'm just joking … sort'a.)

     We have to laugh a little because  the steroids do make us all miserable.  Not only do they contribute to Sawyer's weight gain, they also continue to make him volatile and violent.  He is starting to limp again and there are a bunch of other side effects.  His doctor reduced his steroid dosage again today and she intends to continue reducing the dosage as aggressively as possible.  

     We are told that the first 6 months after transplant are critical and to expect a lot of "ups and downs".  We just passed week 7 since transplant surgery and we are experiencing a lot of "ups" . God's mercy and provision have been showered on us in abundance.  We are grateful!