"Just a Donor"

Today was a long but good day. Derrek and Chris quickly wrapped up their tests by mid morning and then they each met with their surgeon, a resident and a nephrologist. Derrek's meeting with his surgeon, Dr. Vick was quite interesting. First of all, we didn't know who "Dr. Vick" was, he was just on the schedule they gave Derrek this morning. In the waiting room, here's what we saw:

It was a little unnerving for Derrek since we had no idea why we were here. Then, the lady at the reception desk had Derrek sign in and when going over his appointment she said, "oh you're just a donor?" So, after all these weeks of feeling kind of special, he was officially downgraded. The meeting with Dr. Vick went well too. First of all, he let us know that he is Derrek's surgeon. He is extremely confident and is quite certain everything should be fairly simple in the morning. We asked how long the surgery would take and he said, "Maybe two hours. I can do it in 45 minutes but we have to wait on them". "Them" means Chris's team of doctors. Some may say he's cocky and it would be true. But he's a really nice guy. Easy to talk to and approachable. He definitely made us feel at ease.

We had an hour or so to hit up the nearby Taco Cabana (where there was some fantastic people watching). When we returned to the hospital, we got a tour so we know where to park, where to check-in in the morning, where we'll wait, and where the guys will be. They'll go in together and be in pre-op together until Derrek goes in.

After the grand tour, Chris & Wanda went to "class" to learn about the medications he'll be taking and how to take care of himself after surgery. He learned he'd be saying good-bye to sushi and grapefruit and rare steaks forever. At least as long as he's on the anti-rejection meds and they prepare him to do that the rest of his life. He's not worried about it but it was new information.

Derrek and I met with a nurse from the transplant center (the one filling in for our beloved Tina). She answered alot more questions for us and went over what Derrek should expect after surgery and discharge procedures. He'll probably get out of the hospital on Saturday. There's a chance he could leave on Friday but we'll just have to see. I don't have the details on Chris yet but, those will come.

Derrek and I also found out he'll probably be sharing a room with someone else (we're going to work on that tomorrow morning) so I won't be able to stay with him tomorrow night! The most devastating news, however, is that Blake may not get to come to Derrek's room. There are too many patients on anti-rejection medications making them extremely susceptible to infection so kids under 12 (I'm sure Ashley will pass) are not allowed on the floor. We're hoping if we can secure a private room, we'll have a better chance at letting him in for a few minutes. Mike and Patsy are planning on bringing the kids to see him Thursday after school. If they don't let him up, we'll wheel Derrek to him. This surgery has been such a topic of conversation everywhere we go and we want Blake to see him okay on the other side of it since he's heard so much about it.

We were free to leave the hospital after those meetings and we went to get our new snazzy rooms. Chris & Wanda hung out in their room and Derrek and I ran some errands. A minister from our church met us back at the hotel to pray with the four of us. I won't go into details of what was shared but those few minutes in prayer with those four people will go down as one of the most significant spiritual experiences of my life. I'll never forget it.

So now we've had dinner and showers and we're going to bed for a few hours. Tomorrow will be a tough day but just the beginning for Chris and his new life with Wanda and her children. Please send up your prayers for a speedy recovery and that Chris's body accepts that kidney.

(P.S. That kidney may be a guest on the Whatever Chronicles sometime this week. I'm just sayin'.)