The First day of Spring! It's been 21 days since Derek's Kidney Transplant. I'm happy to say he's doing really good! He had his check up today at UCSF, he needs to work on his medication balance because his blood pressure & potassium tend to be on the high side. He's lost weight about 10-12 pounds...and they (UCSF) put my worries at rest saying it's alright, because he's releasing all his toxins by Peeing once again. Who would think that this small little organ would make all the difference in our well being? Well Of course Derek loves the fact that he's slim & petite, it makes him "feel pretty" and he hopes to stay that way forever! LOL
Other than that...Derek is recovering quite well-Thank God!
Derek spent Tuesday with Frankie and Ryan in Monterey/Carmel. As usual they had a wonderful time together at the Aquarium and Eating.
Frankie is also doing exceptionally well in his recovery...but doesn't He deserve to???
He's "Frankie!"-I love em! These young men are truly exceptional people...with great hearts, lots of humor, laughter, and love. I'm so proud of them and love them all!
A special Thanks to Amy and Ryan for being there for both of them every step of the way, you two are very special people in all our lives.
Thanks to Everyone that has donated and Continue to Support the Fundraising, it has been a Huge Sense Of Relief to Both these young men!
God Bless You All!
Mother Nancy
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thank You Frankie!
Dear Frankie,
It’s so hard to find the right words for someone like you. From day ONE, you had always had my back. You’re most likely the only one in this world that gets me and understands me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel like we were meant to meet each other in our life time, and we did in the best way! We became best of friends and now in a creepy way we are blood brothers.
The time you put aside to get the ball rolling for all this to happen as I was in deep depression and not wanting to deal with anything. You pushed, and pushed. Without that I don’t think any of this would have came about. I love you for the extra pushing and the time you put into this happening.
Now we can go on our long trips to WHEREVER! And WHATEVER days!!! And as many days as we want to!!!! No More DIALYSIS!
I thank you so much. You are one in a million! You gave me hope when I didn’t think there was any...
Love you always!
My best friend, my brother,
Derek Lee Lubag
It’s so hard to find the right words for someone like you. From day ONE, you had always had my back. You’re most likely the only one in this world that gets me and understands me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel like we were meant to meet each other in our life time, and we did in the best way! We became best of friends and now in a creepy way we are blood brothers.
The time you put aside to get the ball rolling for all this to happen as I was in deep depression and not wanting to deal with anything. You pushed, and pushed. Without that I don’t think any of this would have came about. I love you for the extra pushing and the time you put into this happening.
Now we can go on our long trips to WHEREVER! And WHATEVER days!!! And as many days as we want to!!!! No More DIALYSIS!
I thank you so much. You are one in a million! You gave me hope when I didn’t think there was any...
Love you always!
My best friend, my brother,
Derek Lee Lubag
Monday, March 10, 2008
Now That I'm HOME!
Wow what a week of Up's and Down's! It has been so crazy the amount of medication drugs it takes to keep a little organ (kidney) in your body running. This week I have felt so much but yet so little. In away I feel like I have a new life ahead, but I can’t stop thinking of the “What If's"? As for the moment the kidney is working at a 100%. Which is great in everyway. There is still a lot on my plate to keep it going at that rate. I’m still on 4 different anti rejection pills, in 6 months if all is still going good there will only be 2 pills. All my medication altogether is 16 prescriptions, which I have to take 3 times a day @12 pills each dose.
As for the kidney to Fail again there is a 38% chance it could.
As for Rejection the chance is always there. That’s why I have to get regular labs done 2 to 3 times a month, if not more.
I have so many of you to Thank! From all my friends, my family, people I don’t even know that where so kind to send in their donation’s. The help we had with the fundraiser. Amy and her part to keep you all informed when I was down in the hospital. Everyone that pulled together and prayed, sent their well wishes, cards, flowers, mail, texts, calls, my space, email cards, and their Love. The one's that kept me up at night laughing.
The Great Ass staff at UCSF. I can never ever thank you all enough! Now, I have a million thank you cards to write. :) Love all who loved me, Derek Lee Lubag
As for the kidney to Fail again there is a 38% chance it could.
As for Rejection the chance is always there. That’s why I have to get regular labs done 2 to 3 times a month, if not more.
I have so many of you to Thank! From all my friends, my family, people I don’t even know that where so kind to send in their donation’s. The help we had with the fundraiser. Amy and her part to keep you all informed when I was down in the hospital. Everyone that pulled together and prayed, sent their well wishes, cards, flowers, mail, texts, calls, my space, email cards, and their Love. The one's that kept me up at night laughing.
The Great Ass staff at UCSF. I can never ever thank you all enough! Now, I have a million thank you cards to write. :) Love all who loved me, Derek Lee Lubag
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Time to Recover
Frankie Here-
I am home and couldn't be happier! It has been a long week, one of the longest in my life. I heard from Derek today and he is on his way home, TONIGHT! I am so excited for him, I was only there 3 1/2 days and I was desperate to get OUT and get some fresh air. I am sure he is beside himself with the prospect of getting fresh air and resting quietly at home.
Mother Anita and Ryan (my cat Indie too!) have been taking great care of me. We go on walks and mini outings (laundry on Thursday was the big event of the day), take a nap and watch some Planet Earth. I have no pain at all, I just tire very quickly and am slowly regaining the use of my abdominal muscles. It is just so nice to be home and relaxed. I am so lucky to have such an understanding employer, Tiffany&Co. really cares and is allowing me all the time I need and will have my job for me when I am able to return. I could not ask for a better situation to be in in order to help my friend Derek!
Thank You again everyone who reads this... and I have to thank Amy for all the updates she has been posting while Derek and I heal.
Time for a Nap!
Frankie
I am home and couldn't be happier! It has been a long week, one of the longest in my life. I heard from Derek today and he is on his way home, TONIGHT! I am so excited for him, I was only there 3 1/2 days and I was desperate to get OUT and get some fresh air. I am sure he is beside himself with the prospect of getting fresh air and resting quietly at home.
Mother Anita and Ryan (my cat Indie too!) have been taking great care of me. We go on walks and mini outings (laundry on Thursday was the big event of the day), take a nap and watch some Planet Earth. I have no pain at all, I just tire very quickly and am slowly regaining the use of my abdominal muscles. It is just so nice to be home and relaxed. I am so lucky to have such an understanding employer, Tiffany&Co. really cares and is allowing me all the time I need and will have my job for me when I am able to return. I could not ask for a better situation to be in in order to help my friend Derek!
Thank You again everyone who reads this... and I have to thank Amy for all the updates she has been posting while Derek and I heal.
Time for a Nap!
Frankie
Friday, March 7, 2008
Good News!!!!
I just got a text from Derek - the meds are working!!
No more signs of rejection!
He should be home Sunday.
Thank You, Thank You for all the prayers!!!!
No more signs of rejection!
He should be home Sunday.
Thank You, Thank You for all the prayers!!!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
It's not the news we wanted...
It's not what we wanted to hear, but at least now we know. At this point the anti-rejection drugs that Derek is on are not working as well as they'd hoped and his body is starting to reject the kidney BUT - not all hope is lost.
They will start Derek on a new medication tonight and we will all have to think positive and hope for the best that it means the kidney takes. Derek has at least another week ahead of him in the hospital as a result of this set back.
Please keep him in your prayers.
They will start Derek on a new medication tonight and we will all have to think positive and hope for the best that it means the kidney takes. Derek has at least another week ahead of him in the hospital as a result of this set back.
Please keep him in your prayers.
Surgery Day Photos
I didn't take a ton, but you can view pictures from the day of surgery here - http://theprofessionalfriends.smugmug.com/gallery/4456782_bjZKw#262062211
You'll see Frankie and Derek didn't take long to get their sense of humor back after surgery....
Still waiting...
We're still waiting for good news on Derek.
He had a biopsy this morning and they are running labs on all his urine from yesterday.
As soon as they get the tests back they will know what the next step is.
At this point things aren't progressing as fast as they'd like. The three possibilities are - rejection of the kidney, rejection of one or more of the meds OR an imbalance in the meds.
Derek will be getting his results this evening and as soon as I know I will pass the information along.
He had a biopsy this morning and they are running labs on all his urine from yesterday.
As soon as they get the tests back they will know what the next step is.
At this point things aren't progressing as fast as they'd like. The three possibilities are - rejection of the kidney, rejection of one or more of the meds OR an imbalance in the meds.
Derek will be getting his results this evening and as soon as I know I will pass the information along.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Almost everyone is home...
Frankie was discharged today. At this point he's just got pain at the incision site and he's feeling pretty good otherwise. As I type he's in the car on his way home to Pacific Grove. He's been absolutely craving fresh air and sunlight, so hopefully the chance to take a little walk along the beach will help give him a push in the right direction toward complete healing.
Derek on the other hand - is still in his room at UCSF. He went for an ultrasound this morning. Tomorrow they'll do some labs and a biopsy to make sure everything is going in the right direction. Right now they are still in the process of trying to get all the meds balanced right in order to achieve total success with the transplant. He is doing everything in his power to heal and keep this kidney going strong!
I posted pictures last night from the fundraiser dinner. Thanks again to Noah Andrews Photography for donating the time to come out and shoot the event for us. You can view the pictures by clicking here - http://theprofessionalfriends.smugmug.com/gallery/4446229_LV73h#261344702
I will have pictures from the hospital posted tomorrow.
Derek on the other hand - is still in his room at UCSF. He went for an ultrasound this morning. Tomorrow they'll do some labs and a biopsy to make sure everything is going in the right direction. Right now they are still in the process of trying to get all the meds balanced right in order to achieve total success with the transplant. He is doing everything in his power to heal and keep this kidney going strong!
I posted pictures last night from the fundraiser dinner. Thanks again to Noah Andrews Photography for donating the time to come out and shoot the event for us. You can view the pictures by clicking here - http://theprofessionalfriends.smugmug.com/gallery/4446229_LV73h#261344702
I will have pictures from the hospital posted tomorrow.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Wow...
I can't believe how quickly this weekend has gone by. I'm stuck in the apartment tonight. I'm not feeling well and while I'd rather be with Frankie and Derek, it's not worth risking anyone's health for me to be there. So while I watch the Simpsons, I thought I'd give you all a short update.
Frankie is going home tomorrow already. He should be out around noon tomorrow. I think he'll be so happy to be back in Pacific Grove by the sea and with the butterflies, finally able to get some fresh air. Being at home is sure to speed his recovery.
Derek is tube free. No more control of his pain killers through a drip, no more IV. Solid foods and pain killers only every few hours. So long as everything keeps going the way it's going right now, he should be going home Tuesday.
I'll get some pictures of Frankie and Derek tomorrow before I head home and I'll post them all for you soon.
Also - News 10's Dan Adams did an update on Derek and Frank's story. You can read the update by clicking here - http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=39006
Frankie is going home tomorrow already. He should be out around noon tomorrow. I think he'll be so happy to be back in Pacific Grove by the sea and with the butterflies, finally able to get some fresh air. Being at home is sure to speed his recovery.
Derek is tube free. No more control of his pain killers through a drip, no more IV. Solid foods and pain killers only every few hours. So long as everything keeps going the way it's going right now, he should be going home Tuesday.
I'll get some pictures of Frankie and Derek tomorrow before I head home and I'll post them all for you soon.
Also - News 10's Dan Adams did an update on Derek and Frank's story. You can read the update by clicking here - http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=39006
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Day 2 -
Good Morning!!
Things are progressing so well! Ryan and I went to the hospital last night after we had dinner to see both Frank and Derek and they were doing AMAZING!
Frankie went for his first walk last night around 10pm and he did great. He made it for a great walk then hung out in his room, standing around and sitting in his chair. He's been up and moving again today and although he's a little sore today, he's doing amazing.
I sat with Derek for 20 or 30 minutes last night and he was in a much better frame of mind - which means not making up crazy stories about Frankie being in line for Ice Cream and people bowling in the room next door! His pain wasn't too bad and the kidney is functioning wonderfully! Just having the kidney in for a few hours, you can see the color in his skin improving, he's feeling better and my favorite saying yesterday - YAY FOR PEEPEE!!!!! I never thought I'd be celebrating anyone but a 2 year old going pee!
Things are progressing so well! Ryan and I went to the hospital last night after we had dinner to see both Frank and Derek and they were doing AMAZING!
Frankie went for his first walk last night around 10pm and he did great. He made it for a great walk then hung out in his room, standing around and sitting in his chair. He's been up and moving again today and although he's a little sore today, he's doing amazing.
I sat with Derek for 20 or 30 minutes last night and he was in a much better frame of mind - which means not making up crazy stories about Frankie being in line for Ice Cream and people bowling in the room next door! His pain wasn't too bad and the kidney is functioning wonderfully! Just having the kidney in for a few hours, you can see the color in his skin improving, he's feeling better and my favorite saying yesterday - YAY FOR PEEPEE!!!!! I never thought I'd be celebrating anyone but a 2 year old going pee!
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