When 33% is NOT a failing grade!!

Last month I walked into a doctors office for a standard check-up. I walked out being told to prepare a kidney donors list because my kidneys were functioning just above 20% and if they fell to below 20% I would need a transplant immediately.

Yesterday I walked into a doctors office and met with a team who is now following my kidneys on a month to month basis. When I met with the doctor he was smiling. I wasn’t smiling back. This was serious. 

Then he told me something strange had happened. My kidneys were now functioning at 33%. I began to smile.

When I was in school 33% was a failing grade. I would not take that test home to mom and dad because I valued my life if you know what I mean!!! Well, today I am blessed to be able to tell you my kidneys are now testing at 33% and I tell you this because literally I value my life!!!

Although 33% isn’t great (compared to the average population), in reality given my kidney function a month ago this is GREAT news. Practically this means no transplant for a few years. In all probability around 5 years. This will give us time. Our potential donors will not be able to go through specific testing at this time, BUT when the time comes we have been assured that the process will happen immediately and quickly.

By the way, when my doctor heard I had over 30 potential donors that wanted to be tested for lack of a better phrase he “FREAKED OUT!!!!” "That just doesn’t happen he said!!" I told him that I was blessed. He agreed.

I’ll keep writing this blog. I have loved talking with you!! It will continue to be raw truth and observations about health, life and whatever God brings to my mind to write about. I will do my best to post every Monday so please come back every week and share right back at me.

I’m keepin today’s blog short. My excuse is that "it’s not Monday." I just thought you might want to know what God did this past month because I know just diet and exercise doesn’t raise kidney function that much.

Please write back with any questions, encouragement etc.

2 Samuel 22:50

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations,

And I will sing praises to Your name.

Love,

Ed

I Don't Want To Talk To You

I Don’t Want To Talk To You

WARNING: Remember this blog is unfiltered raw emotion.

When I was 30 something I met a cousin at another cousins wedding. His first question: “How’s your diabetes?” His second question: “What medications are you taking?” The conversation about my health went on for what seemed like 30 minutes before I made up a VERY lame excuse to leave. Later I found out from Laurie that I had hurt his feelings by leaving. At the time I didn’t care that his feelings had been hurt. It was my feelings that I was worried about.

You see I knew he meant well and I know that people mean well today. Simply put, I have been moved to tears by the number of people who have shown how much they care about me in the past month based on emails, Facebook messages and conversations. At the same time I have to tell you that at times I let myself get frustrated (like I did at that wedding) when I perceive that my bad health seems to follow and define me.

Diabetes @ 13
Epilepsy @ 15
Skin Graft surgery
Eye surgery
Hand surgery
Kidney Transplant to come
Just to name a few!!!

It is so easy to allow health conditions define you. For example once I was introduced to a man named Bill and this is how the introduction went: "Pastor Ed meet Bill. He’s a cancer survivor." What do I say to Bill next? "Nice to meet you cancer survivor?"

The main reason I did not write you last week is that I didn't want my kidney disease defining me.

Please don’t take this personally but I didn’t want to talk to you last week. I needed to talk to you!!! But I didn’t want to. That may seem hard to understand. But for those of you who get it... well you get it. For those of you who don’t get it, please accept my apologies. I would just rather be known as Ed and not Ed with the kidney problems.

The balance is a curse and a blessing because the more people that know about the kidney problems the more prayer support and potential donors I have.

Last week I didn’t sleep much at all. I let worry and depression take root for a few days. I allowed myself to define myself by my kidneys. How ironic is that??!!! I was so tired of waiting for the next Doctors appointment because I wanted to get moving forward with the potential transplant. Well tomorrow is the day of that appointment so I will write another instalment this week. I treasure your prayers!!

Potential Donors Stay Tuned: You should hear from me soon about steps to get tested for kidney compatibility!!! All of you are such a gift from God!!!

Honestly: I really do want to talk to ALL OFYOU!!! Thank you for understanding when I need to be silent too. For as the psalmist says...

Psalm 62:5

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Well that's about it for this lot of spaghetti. Hope a little bit of it stuck to your wall.
I take blessings from you all.

Please write back with any questions, encouragement etc. You are the best!!!

(YES, that is Mickey and Minnie Mouse at a church event here in Winnipeg)

Ed