"When my foot is slipping..."

After spending all day in the Clinical Holding Unit, we are now in Mark's room on the Transplant floor! Mark completed his final plasmapheresis session this morning. He will have his final infusion sometime soon. Our family arrived in Baltimore this weekend. We were missing Mark Thomas terribly..it was wonderful to spend time with everyone. We celebrated my birthday yesterday at the Inner Harbor and had a great time!

At present, we are starting to feel pretty anxious. A dear EKU friend of mine often claims the promise of Psalm 94:18-19. "When I said,'My foot is slipping, your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." We are holding to this promise as the road we are traveling definitely seems unsteady. Please pray for our God's peace for our entire family! Thanks for your prayers!

Jars of Clay

I have been thinking about how unjust it seems to see a strong man like my husband be weakened by immunosuppression. I was reading 2 Corinthians this morning...absolutely loving the scripture about "jars of clay." The image of a jar of clay seems so appropriate at this moment for our family. Like a jar of clay, "we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Yet, within our jar of clay, we have a "treasure" of the light of knowledge of the glory of the Lord. And as verse 16 says, "We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal." Regardless of what happens next week with the transplant, I am praying that our family will have the courage to focus on the "unseen." It is so difficult to maintain an eternal perspective when the one you love is facing such a painful affliction. Whatever the future holds, may we trust in God and be inwardly renewed each day.

Familiar, Frightening, but not Forgotten

Mark is currently completing his second infusion at the Hopkins Infusion Center. This is our second day of treatments. With the pheresis, infusions, and oral anti rejection medications, Mark has officially started the process of becoming immunosuppressed.

Last night, we managed to literally wrap Mark's chest in plastic wrap to cover the catheter placement site so that he could shower. Looking at the catheter tunneled into Mark's chest and all of the medicine bottles we are transporting to and from the hospital brings back so many memories of our transplant journey. It is amazing how the mind works. We suppress...or at least attempt to conceal...the memories associated with Mark's failed transplants. Despite the fact that Mark "hooks up" to his dialysis machine each night, seeing him "hooked up" to all of the medical equipment (IV, infusion, pheresis machine) brings back a mix of emotions. Despite the fact Mark takes several daily medications as a part of his dialysis care plan, seeing him consume medications he hasn't used since our last attempt at transplantation creates not only concern, but a painful awareness of what we are facing. The road we are walking is familiar and frightening.

It is amazing to think that this time next week we should have some knowledge of the outcome of Mark’s transplant. Blood analysis of the functioning of the transplanted kidney should be processed by next Wednesday. A week from today could be one of the happiest or most devastating days in our life. Most of the time, when anticipating the arrival of a specific date, we can predict if the day should yield happiness or sadness. Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations are days in which we expect joy. On the other hand, I anticipate fear and sadness on the day when Mark Thomas begins Kindergarten next Fall! Facing a situation that could result in conflicting sentiments is paradoxical. Do we anxiously await next week and count down the moments to the time when Mark’s health is restored? Or do we savor the moments in which the hope for a successful transplant remains our reality?

My brother- in -law texted us scriptures yesterday. Isaiah 41:10 states, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Today, I remain thankful that our God not only holds the future, but holds and sustains us in the face of all our uncertainties. Our transplant journey may be familiar and frightening, but we can rest in the fact that we are never forgotten!

Plasmapheresis Session #1 Complete/ Infusion #1 Underway

Mark completed his first pheresis session this morning (a procedure that removes the plasma or watery part of the blood that carries the antibodies that may trigger an immune response that leads to rejection of transplanted organs). He is now at the Infusion Center where he is being given an IV medication to help combat a virus that may contribute to rejection. Mark has been struggling with nausea which is a common side effect. He appears to be resting well now.

Late last night, Mark and I braved the city as we ventured out to purchase a power cord for my computer. My computer was getting no power...making it very difficult for me to work! Despite the fact that he felt poorly and his placement site was tender, Mark was eager to help. I have always been impressed with my husband's selfless spirit. Even in a difficult situation, he thinks of others first. I am so blessed to be his wife!

Thanks for the continued prayers. I am thankful we can find rest and comfort in the peace that our God provides.

Transplant Journey #3

Our journey to Mark's third transplant began yesterday as we traveled to Baltimore. Packing for 5 weeks was a challenge! Not only did we pack clothes, but we also packed dialysis supplies, medication, Mark Thomas' toys, and tons of books and lecture materials (I will be teaching my courses using an online format while we are in Baltimore). We are very pleased with the town home we are renting in Baltimore. The town house is unbelievably nice...a perfect place to recover from surgery! We hope to post pictures at some point during our stay. I am impressed with the home itself...love the modern decor and artsy feel...Mark is impressed by the fact he can walk to Camden Yards!

We are now at Hopkins for Mark's first blood draw. In addition, Mark is having a "Davol catheter" placed in his neck for the plasmapheresis treatments he will complete this week. The procedure to place the catheter is quite uncomfortable. We are both anxious to have this behind us. Please keep Mark in your prayers!

Prayers Answered: Third Transplant scheduled!!!

We found out this week that Mark matched the potential donor!!! The Transplant Team has scheduled Mark's third kidney transplant for January 31, 2012!!! Rather than participating in a "paired exchange" in which my mother (i.e. Donor 1) would donate to a person in need of a kidney (i.e. Recipient 1) and Mark (i.e. Recipient 2) would receive a kidney from an individual (i.e. Donor 2) donating on behalf of mom's recipient as we had thought, Mark will be a participant in a "chained transplant." Chained transplants involve more than 2 donors and 2 recipients. In other words, several transplants occur in a "chain-like" or "domino effect." Chained transplants can occur across medical facilities and networks. Mark will actually be receiving a kidney from a donor in Georgia who was listed in a different "network" or "database." Mark's donor is donating as her loved one recently received a kidney from a different donor in the "chain". My mom will donate her kidney to expand the "chain" by giving to another patient in need. Although Mom's kidney won't be given to Mark, her gift enables Mark to participate in the chained transplant. As we have mentioned in prior posts, transplantation from a cadaver isn't really an option for Mark. Given Mark's history of rejecting kidneys, Mark needs plasmapheresis treatments prior to a kidney being placed in his body to decrease the likelihood of rejection. These treatments are scheduled the week prior to transplant and require the placement of a "deep line." The treatments take several hours as your blood is pumped out and cleansed of the antibodies found in plasma (i.e. the watery part of blood) that trigger immune response (i.e. rejection). Because of the time constraints of receiving a kidney from a cadaver (i.e. the kidney must be transplanted usually within 24 hours) and Mark's need for the treatments, Mark has to receive a kidney from a living donor. As we have also mentioned, Mark does not match any of the people (his Mom, his cousin-Jamaica, my brother, my Mom, my Mom's friend) who have wanted to donate to him. Thus, our only opportunity for a transplant is through a paired or chained transplant. My Mom's selflessness in donating to someone she does not know and probably will never meet is providing Mark with an opportunity to have his health restored.

This week has been filled with feelings of excitement, joy, thankfulness, fear, and anxiety. The prospect of receiving a successful transplant is amazing. The joy that would come from seeing Mark's health restored and seeing him enjoy the freedom from no longer relying on dialysis to sustain his life is almost unimaginable. At the same time we are hopeful, we are fearful. In many ways, we have compartmentalized and suppressed all of the bad memories surrounding our transplant experiences. The fears and anxieties we possess about the transplant are almost uncountable. As we approach the third transplant, those fears are becoming less of a memory and more of a reality. At the same time we are hopeful and fearful, we are thankful. It is amazing to think that the woman who gave me life is now giving part of herself to give life to my husband. The gratitude we have for my Mom's willingness to help Mark is almost indescribable. How amazing it is to think about how God has worked to join Mom, Mark, and all of the other donors and recipients across several medical facilities over several months in the same chained transplant. Reflecting upon the fact that God joined mine and Mark's hearts in love before we ever realized the impact my mother would on his health is also amazing. God's ability to work so intricately and powerfully across time and circumstances with so many people is truly unfathomable.

1 John 3:1-"How great is the love our Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God"-has a new meaning to our
family. Once again, we are amazed how our God can use the most difficult of situations to allow us to know and understand His love in new
and deeper ways. As always, please lift our family and the other families in the chain in your prayers! We will update the blog as we learn more about the transplant!

Potential Match Identified...testing to follow

On Friday, we received a phone call from Hopkins. Mark's nurse stated that a search of their database identified a potential match for Mark and my mother. This means that my mom appears to "match" a person in need of a kidney and that Mark appears to "match" the person's loved one who is donating on their behalf. The next step is to send blood/tissue samples to Baltimore for testing. It will take about 2 weeks to analyze the sample once received. This could potentially be incredibly great news (i.e. both pairs match-Mom and the person in need of a kidney-Mark and other Donor)! However, we are cautiously optimistic as we could find out that one or both pairs did not "match."

As I was painting Mark Thomas' room this afternoon, I listened to Chris Tomlin's "I will rise" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa8w7mGug0c&noredirect=1). The words of the first verse of the song are so applicable to our lives at this moment. Despite how crazy our life seems right now as we wait to hear back from Hopkins, I have peace about our future. As the song expresses, often times our hearts and flesh fail. It is often a struggle to keep a positive perspective and not to be overwhelmed by "not knowing" if and when Mark's health will be restored. Regardless of whether the pairs match or ultimately whether or not a third transplant happens and is successful, I rest in the fact that the "victory is won" and I can always rely upon the "Anchor for my soul" that my God has become.

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an Anchor for my soul
I can say, "It is Well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He has risen from the dead
And I will rise
when He calls my name
No more sorrow
No more pain!

We will post more information as we learn more. Please continue to pray for our family. We are also requesting prayer for the other patient and family involved in the testing. Thanks!