Update on my health Beware: pix included

[28bringinthewood]

Here is an update on my health... as some of you know, I am in kidney failure. On Tuesday I had surgery. They did an AV fistula... they went in and moved a vein in my upper arm from the bottom (underneath arm) to the top (where the bicep is), then rerouted an artery to force blood into my vein. The rush of blood from the artery will force the vein to grow and get thicker. In a few months this vein will be "mature" for dialysis. Sooo... in about 3 months I will be starting dialysis.
Also, I go back to Dallas on April 11-13 to finish up testing to see if Baylor is going to accept me into the transplant program. Everything is very expensive (WITH insurance), so we have been doing fund raisers. So far we have done a bake sale that turned out very well. We will be doing another at the end of April... then we will do a hotdog and coke sale at Walmart on Memorial day weekend. We are also planning a brisket dinner with auction and silent auction this summer sometime. If anyone has any other fundraising ideas, I would like to hear them.

Thought I would add pix of my arm. I had to remove the dressing to change it so I snapped a couple of pix.
Beware... they aren't pretty!

http://i99.***BLOCKED***/albums/l307/28bringinthewood/03-29-07arm2.jpg

http://i99.***BLOCKED***/albums/l307/28bringinthewood/03-29-07arm.jpg

 

[Achozen]

looks painful.

 

[Hostile]

Most importantly how are you feeling? I don't think the pics look bad at all.

 

[28bringinthewood]

It does hurt pretty badly.... Lotatab helps tho

I am feeling okay... pretty weak lately, that is why we need to go ahead and prepare for dialysis.
The cut goes all the way up to my armpit and kinda curves in.... whew it is very sensitive at the top!
I have no feeling in the underside of my forearm. The Dr. said sometimes the nerves can get a little shocked and do that... he also said then again.... I may never have feeling there again... gosh, I hope the feeling comes back!
I was teasing the doctor, telling him.... "why couldn't you have cut the nerve that supplies feeling to the top area around my bicep... that way I wouldn't have to feel the freaking pain of being stuck with those huge needles in dialysis 3 times a week!!" He said he didn't think about that.... dang it I told him he needed to be more on the ball!!

 

[Signals]

Most importantly how are you feeling? I don't think the pics look bad at all.

I don't think they look too bad either. I'm sure it feels worse than it looks.

If anyone has any other fundraising ideas, I would like to hear them.

How about a kidney bean cook off? Sorry I couldn't resist.

Seriously, maybe Hostile could talk to Reality and organize a CBZ ebay auction supported by donations from the Zone members.

 

[28bringinthewood]

LOL Kidney bean cookoff... Maybe I could serve kidney beans with my brisket dinner!!

Hummm... ebay auction... don't know how to do that... maybe someone could inform me.

Thanks for the laugh Starkist... I needed it! :laugh2:

 

[Signals]

LOL Kidney bean cookoff... Maybe I could serve kidney beans with my brisket dinner!!

Hummm... ebay auction... don't know how to do that... maybe someone could inform me.

Thanks for the laugh Starkist... I needed it! :laugh2:

Laughter is good for the soul.

I'm glad I could help you help you spit up on your shirt. Please don't bust a vain laughing.

To answer the ebay question.

Someone with some clout would have to speak to Reality the CBZ forum founder and persuade him to pin an official thread in one of the main forums annoucing the auction and requesting donations from zone members.

I'd be willing to bet that as busy as CBZ is that there are thousands of dollars worth of stuff in the zone members closets and garages that they would be glad to part with for a good cause.

Here is how I think it could work.

An official ebay account would be set up by someone approved by Reality, perhaps a current moderator who would be commited to the cause. A PayPal account set up in the name of 2 to 3 CBZ administrator/ mods for accountability.

Then, zone members who are willing to contribute items from their garage and closet surplus would have to be willing to submit shipping information and be willing to deal with the accountability aspect of making an ebay sale.

The accountability factor will weed out those with desire but no commitment. But thats OK.

Then a collection of merchandise would be posted on ebay, people would buy, and your financial burden would be reduced.

Cash donations could also sent to your CBZ PayPal account by those with a bank account and no stuff to sell.

I know that sounds simplistic, but those who read this thread who are ebay savy and detail minded will fill in the gaps.

If this doesnt pan out here then go to another forum. There are people with compassion, stuff and money all over the globe.

It doesn't take much to help someone and the process could be automated. You could create your own web site but then your face the prospect of getting traffic to your site. Here at CBZ ther are about 2000 members that visit every 24 hours. One day a member might be broke from bills another day blessed with something to give and willing to give.

 

[28bringinthewood]

WOW! That would be AWESOME!!!! I have been talking to people, trying to find someone to help me make a website.

These days, it is so hard for people to help out people long distance (understandably) because so many people are taken advantage of....so I would understand if noone here would want to help... but if someone would like to help, then it would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[lane]

i'm sorry to hear about your condition... your occupation speaks volumes about your character. i wish you only the best.

my father in law is battling lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma kidney cancer right now......... and it does not look good.

i will keep you in my thoughts.........lane.

 

[Signals]

WOW! That would be AWESOME!!!! I have been talking to people, trying to find someone to help me make a website.

These days, it is so hard for people to help out people long distance (understandably) because so many people are taken advantage of....so I would understand if noone here would want to help... but if someone would like to help, then it would be greatly appreciated!!!

One of the most important things is to have your story before the eyes of people with power and influence.

At CBZ you have that.

Ask the people who have the ability to help. There is a good chance they will.

 

[28bringinthewood]

Okay, Will do! Thanks for the help!!

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Hope everything works out for you. Best wishes to you and your family and for a speedy recovery.

:starspin

 

[28bringinthewood]

Thanks for the well wishes!

 

[superpunk]

Additional well-wishes here.

I have quite a few friends who have to deal with diabetes, and one actually underwent a kidney transplant (among a HUGE amount of other things). It's a tough road to hoe.

Any surgery blows, though. What with the head trauma and all, I can relate to those damn staples.

 

[Big Dakota]

Get well.

 

[Zaxor]

They looked like they did a very clean job...though it might look gruesome to some...I hope this works and I wish you a speedy recovery

 

[28bringinthewood]

Well... went to the doctor today, and my fistula is not working. The doctor said it must have clotted. So, therefore, this surgery was a complete failure. He also told me to tell the transplant team in Dallas that I am not a good prospect for dialysis, so we need to get me a kidney ASAP. Hahahah... that would be nice!

StarKist... where are you... I need another laugh!

 

[Signals]

Well... went to the doctor today, and my fistula is not working. The doctor said it must have clotted. So, therefore, this surgery was a complete failure. He also told me to tell the transplant team in Dallas that I am not a good prospect for dialysis, so we need to get me a kidney ASAP. Hahahah... that would be nice!

StarKist... where are you... I need another laugh!

Well, I'm looking through my surgery comedy manual right how and I don't see any jokes related to kidneys, however I called the auto parts store on your behalf and they suggested that if you can't find a kidney try installing a fuel filter for a 1993 Honda Accord.

 

[28bringinthewood]

LOL I'll ask my transplant team if they think that will work!

 

[gollum]

http://i99.***BLOCKED***/albums/l307/28bringinthewood/03-29-07arm.jpg[/QUOTE]

Why are you wearing a bra?