Update - Surgery is a go!

The call came in this afternoon from the hospital - all the blood work was fine and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Yaya and Yoyo will be checking in to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. (it's an early bedtime for all of us!)

Yoyo's surgery starts at 7:00, Yaya's at 10:00. The surgery will last until about 1:00, and then they'll be in recovery for several hours. I'll post details as they come in!

Surgery Prep is done!

Today Yaya and Yoyo went to give blood for the last round of tests before surgery. It was only blood work; the other tests (like the EKG) from the last attempt were all still valid so it cut down on the work for today. They're free of the hospital for the rest of the day!

And in other good news, the Head of Transplants will be doing the surgery for them. He was out of town during the previous attempt but he's available this time. The Lord works in mysterious ways, right? We definitely feel God is looking out for us!

Heading back to Charleston!

Letter from Yaya:

We are getting ready to depart for MUSC this afternoon for round 2 of our surgery!!!

 

Sooo much to pack...

 

God - with me

Prayers & special intentions - with me -      

    I can feel them!!!!

St Benedict (patron Saint of Kidneys) - with me

St Lucy (patron Saint of eyes) - with me

Yoyo (patron Saint of my happiness) - with me

Pictures of the 7 grandkids - with me -

    hard copy and also engraved in my heart!!!

food/snacks - check

crafts/things to do - check

suitcase - check

computer - check

 

Man, I am so glad we have a van!!!!!

 

Tomorrow will be another round of last minute checks just like before - everyone pray especially hard that there are no mix-ups this time!

 

I'm driving down tomorrow afternoon, picking up Deborah Tipton along the way. Pely is driving down on Wednesday and will join us at the hospital.

 

I kindly ask that you email Yaya instead of calling her - she won't admit it but her voice is near gone!

Surgery rescheduled!

Message from Yaya:

We got a call from MUSC about 5 minutes ago..

Joe does not have Hepatitis C!!  Thank God!!

 

Surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st.

 

Sara (the coordinator for transplants) called Joe to tell him.  He asked if the surgery could be done instead on Wednesday the 14th, and she said another transplant was scheduled for then, and that they preferred not to do it then...  so it looks like the 21st will be the day!! 

 

...email, because my voice is still hoarse.

 

Joe left this morning to Tennessee. Coming back tomorrow.

 

Love to all,

Marta

Update on second blood test

From Yaya:

Just wanted to let you all know, I did not get the call from MUSC today, even though I left 2 messages reminding them that we were anxious to get the results for Joe's blood test.

 

I am writing you, as my throat is getting a little sore, so I do not want to talk on the phone.

 

If she calls tomorrow, I will let you know.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Marta

An "awww" moment...

From Yaya:

Yoyo and I went to the bank and the guy says "Sir, how are you?"

Yoyo answered "Let's just say I would be happier if I had one less kidney!!"

 

Is that too cute or what???

More blood work...

Yoyo gave more blood on Wednesday. He got a call that afternoon that the test came back negative (which is good) and that second, different test would be done the next day. The next day they found out that particular test is only run on Tuesdays. No, we don't know why. So on Tuesday they'll run another test. If it comes back negative, then the surgery will be rescheduled for either the 14th or the 21st of August.

We'll do everything all over again - Yaya, Yoyo, and their caregivers will drive to Charleston that Monday, run last minute tests and training on Tuesday, and surgery on Wednesday.