Journal Entry 4: On to San Diego?

In January 2010, Kay decided to donate a kidney and began a life-changing journey. She chronicled her experience in detailed journals, which she is now sharing here.

Jan. 29, 2010

After passing all the local tests, I was told that I would need a two-day trip to San Diego to 1) meet with a nephrologist-donor advocate, 2) meet a social worker counselor, 3) have a stress test ("adenosine myoview"), 4) have blood drawn for tissue typing and 5) get a chest X-ray, echocardiogram and an EKG. This is definitely a bigger deal than the local tests, so the ante has been raised. I had been working extra hard in exercise class to be as fit as possible, with extra emphasis on heart rate and endurance.

It was by now late November, and we decided to schedule the trip for early December. However, on Dec. 4, while putting up the Christmas lights on my roof, my ladder slipped and I fell about seven feet. Major pain in my leg, hip, etc. Yikes, I thought, this is not good. The next day I went to immediate care and was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in my fibula and a chip somewhere on the same leg. I was told to get to an orthopedist ASAP.

No way I could get onto a treadmill for a stress test in mid-December. So I called Toni and told her the bad news and postponed the trip and tests until mid-January, If I was OK by then. This was assuming the leg would heal in time to impress on the machine that I was in great shape.

The orthopedist told me to lose the brace and the ace bandage, to use a cane, be cautious, but to be as active as possible. I liked his attitude a LOT. I was on my own to heal myself!

For More Information
To learn more about Sharp's transplant services or to find a Sharp-affiliated physician, search for San Diego doctors or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about transplant, visit Transplantation in Adult Health or read the Transplant News archive.