9/30/2009

After my cousin's transplant testing yesterday, it appears as though even if he turns out to be a suitable match (which he probably will) surgery will not occur for 3 to 4 weeks. Getting a new kidney is a slow process, and it is not a for sure deal with my cousin and I yet. It is nearly as close to a sure deal as possible, though.

9/29/2009

Before starting my volunteer hours today I am getting some lunch with Mark and Roger.

9/289/2009

This week is another drawn out period of time to experience dialysis three times, but this will hopefully go smoother for I will find an end in sight. My cousin goes down to get worked up for transplant at University hospital in Cincinnati on Tuesday. It is not guaranteed that he will work, but he is a match after initial blood testing. In all likelihood he will be a viable kidney donor as his blood had no adverse reactions when mixed with mine, but he has to find out if he will be healthy enough to give. Sometimes possible donors are not healthy enough to go through with transplantation surgery, but since he is a young man odds are that there will be no problem. I am hoping to get a tentative date set or at least a ballpark estimate of when it will be done. Hopefully it's only a couple of weeks, because going through dialysis really sucks...

9/26/2009

Columbus Grove did win (as expected,) but the score was only 41-14 or so. I did not go to the game so I don't know if it was a fight for Grove or not.

9/26/2009

I'm going to a similar party as I did last week in Findlay today. It is another friend that works with Brian. I am not really sure if there will be a corn hole tournament or not. I am atrocious anyhow. I should be improved however. And the main thing is that I have fun. Whether we have similar games or not is really irrelevant. Competition will present itself one way or the other.

9/25/2009

I spoke to a high school student today that plays football for Columbus Grove, and he said they were going to win tonight 59-0. While I believe Spencerville has a sub par program this year, it would be ludicrous and plain stupid to suggest a blowout like that. Especially since Grove was shutout last week like 43-0. Granted they played a very good Lima Central Catholic team... that will maybe win the conference. Still calling for an upset like that this week is crazy. I will not say who the individual was to save face. Strangely the game is home this week, and I am not going (busy.)

9//24/2009

I just got done watching a new show on ABC called "Flash Forward." Quite an interesting storyline behind that one.

9/24/2009

Today the desire to get a new kidney was great. I can't wait.

9/23/2009

Tonight Dad and I are going to my Godfather's place to get some extra wood to burn in our outdoor furnace this winter, and we just may play some cards.

9/22/2009

One week from today my possible living donor gets worked up for kidney transplant. If they pass I will have a new kidney a couple of weeks later. The only bad thing is that on October 19 all guys in the Schroeder family are scheduled to attend the Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals football game. My recovery time for getting a new kidney is about two weeks in the hospital. I may miss the game, but a new kidney is more important to me than attending some stupid game. I'm sure I could watch it live on television in the hospital. Who Dey!!!

9/21/2009

Well it's Monday. What does that mean other than dialysis? It means that I am one week closer to transplant. True that there is no surgery date yet, but it is virtually inevitable. I cannot wait until that day either. My current situation feels like I have shackles constricting me whenever I eat or drink. Call them dietary regulators, if you will. After transplant I will return to normalcy, or at least as close to regular as I've ever been. LOL!!!

9/20/2009

Yesterday was a huge enjoyment for me. I was not very good at cornhole even though I had a lot of practice, but I will say that I was improved. Lol... I was terrible and still am, but my level of terribleness has decreased significantly. My balance and fine motor skills are nowhere near what they once were. Life in general is much different, but I continue focusing on the positive aspects. Life is way too short to spend time worrying about irrelevent factors.

9/19/2009

Tonight Columbus Grove faces Lima Central Catholic in a NWC high school football contest, in Lima. Normally I would go to that game, but I am going to Findlay to watch the Ohio State vs. Toledo game (which is hosted in Cleveland)and then going to a party afterward. It will likely be an ideal time to work on improving my cornhole skills. The game has a relatively simple concept, but I suck at it. I need practice.

9/18/2009

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from Ashley Herzog, the kidney transplant coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. That is where I am having my procedure done. My cousin sent his blood work in over two weeks ago, but we finally got word that his blood was close enough to mine that he will be able to donate one of his kidneys to me. There are still tests that need done, and Ashley told me that I'll likely have a new kidney in about a month. That instantly makes dialysis not quite so bad. Now I am confident that it will end in the near future. You also know that means only about four weeks remaining of limiting my fluids and following this strict diet. Wooohoooo!

9/15/2009

Today was the third Tuesday of the month, and that meant we had a Knights of Columbus meeting. We played solo which is my favorite card game, and boy I was smoking hot. It turned out that I was the big winner. The even more exciting thing was that my Dad was the biggest loser (money wise.) I have no grudges against Dad. Rather we compete in everything we can.
Ashly has not yet called to verify whether or not my cousin is a viable match for kidney transplant. It takes so long...

9/14/2009

Well today was dialysis, of course. It was a little different than normal, though. I put on a few more pounds than I usually do over the weekend. I am aware that is because of all the good but not diet following food at the St. Rita's employee picnic. But no worries! It is always good to splurge occasionally.

9/13/2009

Yesterday was the St. Rita's employee picnic, and let me tell you the food was great. I had a couple of burgers, having to stay away from the chicken dinners. They put seasoning on the chicken, which includes sodium, to make it taste good. My strict kidney/ renal diet won't allow me to have that. The Buckeyes also narrowly lost against Southern California. Bummer dude. Later today starts the first full schedule of NFL football for this year. Football is exciting to watch, as all sports are, but nothing takes the cake like high school basketball. The conversation inevitably included recollection of basketball when I saw Jason and Rachel at the picnic.

9/9/2009

Hope for a kidney donor match was increased yesterday after I learned that my blood test revealed that I have 0 antibodies. Originally they informed me that, since I had blood transfusions, it would be hard to find me a match due to the different antibodies had with transfusions. I guess that was false, and after 11.5 years hat must have worked its way out of my system.

9/4/2009

Today after dialysis I weighed 177.4 lbs. That is the least I've weighed since eighth grade. I would rather do laundry and dishes after meals by myself rather than sit over four hours in dialysis three days per week, but I have to deal with this crutch, or hurdle if you will, right now. I never was good at hurdles in track and jumping is not my strong suit, but like in basketball I picked up on nuances of the game to figure it out I will figure this out, too. As Kenny Rogers sings, every hands a winner and every hand is a loser, and I can relate most situations back to that.
Tonight I am going to the Grove football game, and while they looked pathetic last week, against Pandora, I still have hope for my hometown Bulldogs to win this week.