David and Samm's Kidney Donor Search Adventure

So, I'm happy to be able to post this today.

Today I was supposed to have my native kidneys removed (bilateral nephrectomy) but due to my artery being nicked, while they were placing a catheter in my neck, it was obviously not done.

So, like I said, I'm glad to be able to post this.

Now having them removed doesn't seem so important or crucial. My condition will determine if/when I try this again.

If you have a moment, think good, warm and wonderful thoughts for David Sellers today. He is undergoing a bilateral nephrectomy (removal of original kidneys). Please keep us in your thoughts. Thank you! We will keep you posted!

This is our story.

DEVCOM Soldier Center employee donates kidney to someone she never met NATICK, Mass. – Sometimes perfect strangers make a perfect match. A Facebook flyer led Amelia Lipton – a budget analyst in the G-8 at the U.S. Army Comb...

2.5 months post transplant. I'm finally feeling like I'm looking better.

I just received the following link, related to another ADPKD project, I had the pleasure of working on. For the first time I can now see the improvement in my appearance pre and post kidney transplant.

https://www.sharefamilyhealth.com/davids-story/

Hear David's ADPKD story Get to know families affected by autosomal polycystic kidney disease. David, who was adopted, learned about ADPKD when he met his biological grandmother.

I was reminded by Amelia Elizabeth that we are 8 weeks from the transplant day. Things have been so crazy I kinda lost track. Thanks Amelia!!

Guess where I am??

This is a picture of my Angel

https://youtu.be/PIch3jFX0ZQ

04/17/2021:

Today was a mixed day. The good: my oldest daughter came to see me and she was very helpful as I started vomiting as a result of a sleepy digestive system. I walked to see Amelia and she returned the favor and met Lisa.

The Bad: since my system was sleeping they had to place a tube down my noise into my stomach. What a totally miserable feeling. I was able to tolerate it for almost 3 hours and then could not stand it any more. It was causing me to continue to vomit which was causing more issues. I finally pulled the tube out on my own. Yes I was one of those patients.

It was not until after I pulled it the tube that the doctor told me they typically leave the tube in fire 1 - 2 days. Had he told me that before I would have opted for anything else. So yes, the typical smile on my face was no where to be seen and I became one of those patients.

We'll try something else tomorrow. I could not handle 2 consecutive nights off no sleep.

Today was also a good day. I sat in a chair for a total of 3 hours and walked the length of hallway and back. All of these milestones were only possible thanks to Amelia Elizabeth

Yesterday was the day and when I received the call just before 9pm, the doctor told me that both David and his wonderful donor, Amelia, were doing fine and resting. Thank goodness for those that GIVE. Thank goodness for those that SUPPORT however they can. Thank goodness for those that SPREAD LOVE. Continued blessings to you all and thank you for your prayers, well wishes and love.

Yesterday was a disappointment, but we do understand why it was not the day for us.

We have gotten as far as being shaved, unexpected, having an IV line put in place and being starved for a good party of the day. But who among us would want a doctors tired hands working on not just one patient, but two.

So, the next scheduled date will be there date.

Thank you all for your love, concern and we'll wishes.

Lipton/Sellers

Transplant Day for David Sellers! Up and getting ready to go to the hospital. Thank you all for your love, prayers, blessings, support and kindness during our journey! Stay tuned for updates later today!

You never know what effect you may have on someone’s life...got a good, positive idea? Do it. Even if it’s as simple as telling someone that you love them, or that they look nice or that you thought of them...do it. You just never know...

I missed the first airing of this broadcast and almost missed this one. I found the video on YouTube and wanted to share...

https://youtu.be/wqeDFOh-Nrw

Gift of Hope 17 people will die today, and every day, in this country while on the waiting list for an organ. Behind the numbers are real people with real lives. We explo...

Hi Everyone,

This has been a journey. Having been on dialysis for the past 2.5 years and while it has gone as well as expected, it is difficult knowing your life is directly dependent on a machine.

I did not know how to ask anyone if they would consider donating a kidney to me. So I would publish information about my condition, symptoms and the cause, which is Polycystic Kidney Disease, and what my future would look/lead to. Samm took it upon herself to design a flyer and asked friends to list, post or leave copies in places they frequented.

THANK YOU BABY

This past summer I found out a friend of Samm's had a friend who was interested in learning more about the process of donating after seeing one of the flyers at her yoga studio. I'll call her Angel for now. I shared with her the information for my transplant team and her summer started with a series of appointments.

Angel joined on-line groups of former donors to learn the pros and cons associated with donation while undergoing the required tests and discussing it with her family.

Fast forward to December 18th, when Angel was informed that she had been approved for the donation. She promptly called me to let me know, while the hospital was trying to call to inform me at the same time. Once I heard from here there was no need for me to call the hospital back as I knew why they were calling.

So I am so happy to be able to post our transplant has been scheduled to take place sometime in March of 2021.

Prior to publishing the name of my Angel, I'll confirm this would be ok with her.

I wish all readers of this post continued strength, good health, and best wishes for the 2021 calendar year.

David and Samm's Kidney Donor Search Adventure updated their business hours.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/national-kidney-foundation_how-your-kidneys-work-activity-6704507055904030720-yxU9

National Kidney Foundation posted on LinkedIn Your kidneys perform many complex and vital jobs that keep the rest of the body in balance. How well do you know your kidneys?...

This is so promising for the next generation:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20190912/Promising-new-drug-being-developed-for-polycystic-kidney-disease.aspx

Promising new drug being developed for polycystic kidney disease Researchers have developed a potential new drug for the treatment of Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) – a deadly genetic condition affecting the kidneys that leads to formation of swellings or cysts within the kidney that cause it to fail.

2 years into the dialysis journey. While my good days out number the bad ones, I am still not where I once was. This is to be expected and I have no right to complain. My creatinine is now in the 7.4, I have lost almost 40+ pounds and energy fluctuates from low to OK. I continue to do what I am supposed to while waiting.

We are experiencing unprecedented time, with the virus, the loss of friends, family and loved ones, employment, sense of self/value. Not to mention the political and racial tensions that no longer promise a better tomorrow.

I wish for better days for all that read this.

Trying something new. Gonna pass out some cobbled together flyers and see if we can find us a donor in 2020!! (Doesn’t the cartoon look just like him?) 🤣

https://youtu.be/n1_srNUJkjE

Symptoms of Kidney Disease In this video nephrologist Danuta Trzebinska, MD at UC San Diego Health (https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/nephrology) discusses the symptoms associated wi...

A good video discussing PKD:
https://thebalancingact.com/behind-the-mystery-special-a-look-rare-genetic-disorders/

Behind the Mystery Special: A Look at Two Rare Diseases - The Balancing Act On the latest episode of Behind the Mystery, The Balancing Act is learning about two rare diseases: Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease andBlastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm.

This is why I, and others with CKD or ESRD, continue to fight!

My Polycystic Kidneys ☹️

Found the following videos about PKD:
https://youtu.be/Oyy7OByCu1I

This one is longer but very informative:
https://youtu.be/f9FLQWydl2Q

Living with Polycystic Kidney Disease Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD is disease that affects millions of people a year and currently has no cure or treatment. Subscribe to KCRA on YouTube now ...

Some of my new swag

So, evidently I passed out last Sunday night just after hooking up to my machine. Samm found me lying on the floor and she thought I was kidding around since she likes to "pass out" to see what my response will be. At first I was concerned but after a while I've learned to "step over her" and keep moving.

So you can understand why she may have reacted to my passing out with a laugh and yelling at me to "cut it out!". Once she felt my clammy forehead and saw my eyes rolled back in the back of my head she stopped laughing.

So, lesson learned by:
Samm - Pass out a little less often.
David - Make sure to eat and drink plenty of fluids through out the day.

No issues since than and blood levels are OK.... YAH!