Update Update, Read All About It!

Hello hello and Happy-Almost-Friday, everyone.

You will notice I did not post an update yesterday - my apologies to anyone who was looking for their daily Wenche-Sue fix and had to go without! I have lots of update this evening to go around ;-)

Wenche - Two days ago I heard from Team Linneboe that Paul and Wenche went for a walk in the park in beautiful weather, had a visitor, talked on the phone and then fell asleep for two hours! Apart from getting tired - using the hair dryer is major work - all is well.

Then today I had the pleasure of receiving a photo from our favourite donor couple with the following note:

Here is a picture of Wenche after a walk with Charlie on a "good" day. Unfortunately there have been a number of "not so good" days! We are taking them one day at a time. 

Cheers, Paul

Super duper trooper Wenche! with Charlie

Sue - Tonight Bron and I went for dinner at Sue's place and had our first meal together in almost two weeks, along with resident nurse Gaynor and Sue's friend Michelle from Ottawa. We ate some lovely food that Cath Fry delivered to Sue's earlier in the week. Thanks Cath - delicious! 

Sue had her first clinic visit on Wednesday, which went well, but was very tiring and she slept the whole day after returning later that morning. She and Gaynor have been out on some short walks (to the coffee shop and back one day, then across the street to High Park on another, and up to the fourth floor at Sue's! Quite a feat for even the most fit among us). Gaynor has been happy getting her fair share of runs up and down the stairs at Sue's place as well. 

Gaynor will be wrapping up her nursing/housekeeping duties on Sunday and Bron and I will move in for a night or two. Then, sister-in-law Lyn arrives on Tuesday for about 10 days. We look forward to her arrival.

In the meantime, keep well and warm, faithful followers, until our next update. If you have any words you'd like to pass along to Sue or Wenche, please post your comments on the blog (below where it says Comments) or send a message directly to me which I can send along to the girls.

Peaceful sunrise over Lake Huron, Ontario

Back at Home: Day Two

Update from Wenche - "The Donor"
She, Paul and Nina arrived home in Ottawa safe and sound - and a bit tired. Wenche was going to send along a photo today but didn't have the energy. She passed along the following anyway:

A big hug and thank you to all of you for the special wishes and words of encouragement - it is so much appreciated. The fantastic team of specialists and surgeons at St. Michael's Hospital made it possible for me to make this donation so that Sue may get back the health she has been without for so long - for this I am grateful. 

So - remember to sign your donor cards - it will make a difference in someone's life.

Wenche X0X0

Update from Sue - "The Recipient"

Desia, Greg, Bron and newcomer Gaynor (Caregiver Extraordinaire of the moment) were all gathered at Sue's this afternoon. Sue is continuing to do great, and Bron remarked the eternal swelling in her legs has pretty much disappeared, amazingly enough. 

Just a short update for tonight but we will continue to keep everyone in the loop.

Stay warm and dry everyone!

Welcome Home: One big leg of the journey complete

Bron and I returned home this afternoon to the good news that Sue is now at home and cozying up in her own bed! Desia and Greg transported her there late this morning. She is very tired but self-medicating now. Her readings are all good, central line is out, and her first clinic appointment is booked for Wednesday of this week.

Wenche, Paul and Nina left Toronto just before Sue returned home and are now safely on their way back to Ottawa by car. 

Thank you all for following along with us on this incredible journey. We will continue to post updates on the blog to keep you all in the loop with how our patients are carving out in the coming days, weeks and months ahead. Keep the comments coming!

Morning Update!

Morning all,

I snapped the below photo last night when we were visiting our remaining patient in the hospital:

She looks like her regular old self again. Less than one week after the kidney transplant.

Thanks Wenche,
We owe you the world!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone :-)

Update Update!

Good evening all,

Bron and I were in to see Sue this evening, followed by a nice dinner at The Senator (although Sue did not join us :-) ). Her creatinine levels are lower still today, down to 94! And she was up and about for several walks throughout the day. She chatted on the phone with her sister Judy this afternoon and Cath Fry was by for a visit. 

Wenche is now at Sue's place, taking it easy. Bron and I will stop by there tomorrow on our way to Waterloo to wish her well before she makes the trek back to Ottawa on Monday with Paul and her daughter Nina, who is driving down to pick them up and take them all back by car (a better idea than flying at this point). Wenche continues to feel a little bit better each day, although she still has some nausea. 

We are thankful that with this week coming to a close, we have to two very healthy and happy women in our lives, to inspire us and serve as examples of the power of friendship.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Update from Sue

Good evening friends, family and followers,

Some incredibly uplifting news to share with you all tonight that Greg passed along to me this morning: Sue's creatinine levels are the lowest they've maybe ever been, at 104! Her level prior to the surgery was 462; a 'normal' person's level is about 90. What tremendous news to keep spirits high.

Wenche was officially released today and promptly left the hospital I imagine right at the stroke of 11:00am when patients must check-out by. She moved on to her 'home away from home' at Sue's place to continue to recover - with Paul as her nurse - until they return to Ottawa on or about Monday of next week. We wish Wenche all the best as she recovers in a cozy bed she is used to in the comfort of Sue's home. 

We hope the good news of Wenche's and Sue's continued journey towards wellness inspires you all. We know it inspires us.

Keep well!

Update from the Kidney Floor

Good evening family and friends,

My update for the evening is directly from Sue herself, as I was not into the hospital tonight for a visit:

"Had an excellent day - they took me off the morphine, the heart monitor, the insulin and I had three long walks. Wenche started off the day not at all well - still a lot of nausea. But by this afternoon she had perked right back up and may be able to leave the hospital tomorrow.

"Please thank everyone for their wonderful love and messages. Would not be doing so well without them.

"Busy place here. One new transplant patient overnight and another just arrived - both cadaver kidneys. Great medical team.

"Am doing so well. It is so exciting to feel  life pumping back into me."

Not only are Sue and Wenche grateful for your best wishes but so are their families, including me. Thank you, everyone! It really takes a village, and we wouldn't be where we are without you!

Love,

Bron & Kathryn

on behalf of Wenche's and Sue's family

The Day After Surgery

Good evening family and friends,

A passage from Uncle Mike in Cape Town to start off this post:

"Hubert Humphrey said, 'The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love' and there is plenty of that around both Sue and Wenche." This couldn't be more true!

I still can't get over that my mother-in-law was sitting up in her bed today chatting on her cell phone (almost all day long!) to all her friends, and asking me about my day, and going on a short walk in the hospital hallway. Bron took a short walk with Wenche in the hallway today as well. She was experiencing a lot of nausea. She was being examined by her nurse when I arrived at 5:30pm, and was fast asleep when we left the hospital at 7:00pm. Sue had a chat with her family today in Cape Town to get them all up to speed on Wenche's and her progress and was very sleepy when we left tonight. Desia came stopped by for a visit today and Cath Fry as well.

We continue to wish them well on their journey and look forward to what tomorrow brings :-)

Until then,
Bron & Kathryn

Kidney donation and transplant: Success!

Good evening all,

Sorry to keep you all waiting for the good news of the day! 

Wenche's surgery kicked off at 7:45am this morning. It took a bit longer than the 3-4 hours that the doctor had suggested it might take, but she was back in recovery by 2:00pm. Sue went into surgery at around noon or 1:00pm and was back in recovery by 5:30pm. So all in all everything went very much according to plan. Paul stayed at the hospital all day and Bron arrived after work at 4:30pm. Bron first saw Wenche, who was in good spirits and talking. Sue's eyes lit up when she awoke and saw Bron. When I arrived both girls were in great spirits as well (already asking questions and cracking jokes, I was surprised to see!) and Bron was feeding Sue ice chips (of which she wanted lots and lots, although she needs to keep liquids to a minimum.)

They are going to try and get Wenche walking tomorrow; she already wants to go home, which the doctors are happy to hear. We all left the hospital at around 8:00pm this evening (Paul, Bron, Desia, Greg and I) and we left the girls to rest with their new plush lambs that Desia brought them. Sue named hers "Hope." Sue is in the ICU on the kidney floor and Wenche is three doors down from her. The girls should be able to see and speak to each other and hang out and watch TV sooner than we know.  

Thanks again to everyone for their good wishes and phone calls and texts. Sue and Wenche's good friend Trudy Sturton sent along the following:

"I got up bright and early at 5am this morning with thoughts of the importance of the day ahead. Sue and Wenche, I will think of you often during the day, also Paul, your families and the many friends who will be following this blog. What a glorious gift Wenche and what a glorious celebration of friendship. Kathryn this is a great way of keeping us informed. Thanks."

Please leave your comments as always. The girls will love to read them!

Room Update

Wenche now has a bed! She is sharing with three elderly roommates, just five doors down from Sue.

Admission Day

Good evening everyone,

Bright and early this morning at 9am Bron and I escorted Sue, Wenche and Paul to St. Michael's Hospital well in advance of their 10am prescribed arrival time. Only to have to wait around for several more hours. Sue was admitted mid-morning but poor Wenche was told there was not a bed for her just yet. (I have yet to find out if she has a bed to sleep in at St. Michael's tonight! Will update on this when I know..) Either way, both surgeries are still scheduled to happen tomorrow, now in the afternoon. 

Sue got all set up in her room late this morning; sharing a room with a young man (much to her pleasure) with a window seat (bed) to boot. She then went through a variety of procedures and exams with her nurse, and she and Wenche later had tandem chest X-rays. Sue and Wenche chatted with a doctor to go over some basics just before I left them at the hospital (with Paul and Bron) at 4:30pm. I am looking forward to another update from Bron when he arrives home this evening, and certainly lots of exciting news tomorrow!

Sue wanted me to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their uplifting phone calls, texts, e-mails and cards that she and Wenche and Paul have been receiving over the past several days - they start their journey buoyed and uplifted by the good karma. Thank you all!

We welcome everyone to add their comments to the blog, and if you have any questions please e-mail me directly or ask in the comments section if you are unsure how the blog works. 

Thanks for following and stay tuned for more updates tonight/tomorrow. Take care everyone.

Happy Campers at the hospital this afternoon (Sue, Paul, Wenche, Bron)

Words of encouragement

Good morning everyone,

A friend and co-worker of Sue's sent along the following this morning:

When the world say says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." 
--Author unknown

Let these be words of encouragement to us all. If you'd like to pass along any personal words of encouragement for Sue or Wenche, please feel free to comment below.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day.

And so it begins!

Good morning family, friends and followers,

We have created this blog to keep you updated on Sue and Wenche as they embark on their kidney transplantation journey. We hope our updates will answer all of your questions about their daily progress. To follow us most easily, please sign up for e-mailed updates from this blog sent directly to your inbox.

Come along with us for the ride as Sue and Wenche face the journey of a lifetime!

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.  --Leo Buscaglia