Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

I have updated the GoFundMe with the most recent information - we have taken a hit with the surgery applying to our insurance deductible since it took place in January, and the hospital is billing us for several thousand dollars, and already threatening legal action. Please share this post, we would certainly appreciate more prayers as we continue on this journey!

Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey, organized by Amy Bronander Wadsworth My name is Amy Wadsworth, and I have been on dialysis now for 2 1/2 years. Ch… Amy Bronander Wadsworth needs your support for Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

Just sharing this again in case someone wanted to help us with expenses now that I have had the transplant - we racked up quite a few bills while Hubby was off work, plus having extra expenses for equipment and things I needed, I also still have an Amazon wishlist up with things that could either help me or entertain me during this tin=me when I am supposed to be taking it easy! If you have a moment, please share this post with your friends as well. We so appreciate the prayers sent up on our behalf during this time!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2927ZK6D3KFQ1?ref_=wl_share

Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey, organized by Amy Bronander Wadsworth My name is Amy Wadsworth, and I have been on dialysis now for 2 1/2 years. Ch… Amy Bronander Wadsworth needs your support for Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

I just realized earlier today that I had not updated this page since December, and there is news to share! I had shared about the surgery I was going to have to place a graft in my arm, which was scheduled in January. I had been praying that I would find a kidney donor before that date, so I wouldn't have to go through the surgery, but that didn't happen. Approximately two weeks after that surgery (I was still healing!) I got the call! Late on Friday, January 28, UT Hospital called to say they had a kidney for me!!! Everything worked out, so at 8 am on January 19, 2022, I was wheeled into surgery to receive this amazing gift of life! It is working amazingly, and I am so thankful that God has blessed me, and that He had me wait for the perfect match that would work so well!

Requesting some shares again!!! In light of the surgery scheduled in January that I really had been hoping to avoid, we are praying with the goal of asking the Lord to provide a transplant before that time arrives!!! Please share this post so we can add more prayers to the many that are already being sent up on my behalf! I am also sharing the links again in case anyone is interested in my Amazon Wishlist or the GoFundMe page - sharing this post will help spread the word about these as well! The wishlist just contains some items that night help me through the surgical and recovery process of the transplant. https://gofund.me/7aeed290
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2927ZK6D3KFQ1...

Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey, organized by Amy Bronander Wadsworth My name is Amy Wadsworth, and I have been on dialysis now for 2 1/2 years. Ch… Amy Bronander Wadsworth needs your support for Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

I had a super early appointment this morning at UT. Let me give you a bit of background on this: I have had three previous dialysis accesses that all ended up failing. The first two in my arms each had multiple procedures done to try to get them to work, and by the time they tried putting a graft in my leg and it never even started working, I was done!!! I didn't want any more procedures, I was over it. When we met with the transplant surgeon a few weeks ago, we found out he is also the vascular(access) surgeon, and he wanted to look to see if there was a place for an access in one of my arms. So that was the appointment I had this morning. I was hoping and praying so hard that he wouldn't find anything, and that if he did, it would be in my left arm, and not in my dominant arm. And... of course, he found a spot in my right arm. He is going to add a loop graft above the graft I already have, and they said it is a different kind of graft that *should* work better. I really don't want to do this, but I feel trapped since he is also the transplant surgeon, so I guess I'll be having surgery. It is scheduled for January 7, so let's all pray that maybe they find me a kidney and I won't have to go through all of this again!

We've been waiting all week to find out if I am still active on the transplant list but we never got a call. We finally called them and found out that I am!!!!!! Keep praying, we still have a long way to go on this journey!

Sharing a couple of updates, and asking everyone who can see this post, please share it! We need to get the word out that I am in need of a kidney, and a live donor kidney provides the best outcome possible! Now, on to the updates: yesterday, November 6 was the 3 year anniversary of my starting dialysis, and it has made me a bit emotional. Dialysis is hard, and in these three years, I have watched my overall health and strength decline pretty drastically. When we first began the transplant process, we were told that I would likely have a kidney within 18 months, but now we have been told 3-5 years, and it feels pretty impossible that I can do this for two more years, or maybe even more! This is yet another reason that a live donor could be so important in helping me get back to living again! This upcoming Thursday we have another appointment at the transplant center to neet with the whole team before they make a decision if I will remain active on the list. I can't help but feel nervous, and just praying everything comes back okay so we can relax for another year. I am also including the links to our GoFundMe account, and my Amazon Wishlist, ib case anyone is interested in helping us through the process - the Wishlist contains items that would help me through the healing time (which can be weeks to months) when I will be mostly restricted to staying home.https://gofund.me/7aeed290
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2927ZK6D3KFQ1?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR3BexJ9tmDHB9VytF3tj8cya641asHuC9wsJUn70bPYpYfxF5aERxVWup0

Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey, organized by Amy Bronander Wadsworth My name is Amy Wadsworth, and I have been on dialysis now for 2 1/2 years. Ch… Amy Bronander Wadsworth needs your support for Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

Last Tuesday was my testing day to update my annual transplant account, and I just got my first call back regarding the results. My cholesterol is too high. I don't know yet if this is going to affect a possible transplant, they said they will be calling me for another appointment soon. I did also get a call from my sweet cardiologist, as they sent the info to her, and she is increasing the statin I already take, so hopefully, that will be corrected soon.

I have been slacking on updates lately. but I have been struggling with some illness. and not much else worth sharing has come up. Tomorrow, I have to go to the hospital to repeat some of the annual testing.

I know I'm always posting and looking for a kidney for myself, but this little guy needs a kidney probably even more than I do! I can't imagine having my child have to wait for one - let's spread his story so a match can be found!!

'Save our son' | Tennessee 2-year-old needs life-saving kidney donation SEYMOUR, Tenn. — A 2-year-old boy in Seymour is waiting for his perfect match. After defying all odds at birth, he is now in desperate need of a kidney donor. Finley Hickman is small but mighty. From the very beginning, his parents, Eric and Alyssa Hickman, knew he was a fighter.

Someone asked me a while back about things I might need for after my transplant, and I wasn't sure what response to give! So I did some thinking, and I added some items to my Amazon wishlist, and I thought I would share it here, in case anybody wants to help. I have some personal care items, some household cleaning products, some books, and some craft materials. There are also other random clothing and household items I left on there, so just be aware there are more expensive items I am certainly not expecting anyone to purchase. Don't feel obligated to purchase anything, I am just sharing in case anyone wants the info!!! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2927ZK6D3KFQ1?ref_=wl_share

Check out my list on Amazon

I need to ask for some serious prayers regarding my dialysis treatments - there have been some issues for about 2 months now that are steadily becoming more serious, with no resolution yet. I have been gaining more and more fluid weight, my blood pressure is very high and not responding to medications, and the general side effects from dialysis are becoming worse. My kidney function has decreased pretty significantly in the past two months, and many of my labs are not looking good. I talked to my kidney doctor today, and thought we had a good plan in place to remove additional fluid, which would bring down my blood pressure, but we were again unsuccessful. I really need your prayers that these issues will be resolved, as all of these factors being uncontrolled could result in my being removed from the transplant list, not to mention the fact that I am just feeling crummy right now! Please also feel free to share this post to get the word out to as many people as possible for prayers!

I plan to keep sharing this info weekly - my health is definitely declining after over 2 1/2 years on dialysis, I'm starting to have trouble with my blood pressure, and side effects from dialysis are increasing. Please help me spread the word to find a Living Donor. Please, please share and ask your friends to share as well! The more people that see it, the greater chance we have of finding just the right person!
https://gofund.me/f278adce

Honestly, I don't like doing this, but I've had several people now tell me I should start one, so I decided to go ahead. If you would like to share, it would be appreciated!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/amys-kidney-transplant-journey?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey, organized by Amy Bronander Wadsworth My name is Amy Wadsworth, and I have been on dialysis now for 2 1/2 years. Ch… Amy Bronander Wadsworth needs your support for Amy's Kidney Transplant Journey

Could you all please share the Living Donor information again? Trying to keep this information going so more people might see it and consider donating!!! The contact is: Ashley Dennis, the Living Donor Coordinator at (865) 305-5340

If you are interested in possibly being a Living Kidney Donor, your first step will be to contact the Living Donor Program. You will first be asked a series of questions regarding your own health to determine if they will proceed with testing. If testing proceeds, you can complete the testing in your locality, and UT will help make all the arrangements, and they will cover the cost of all the testing - it will not be billed to you or your insurance. My blood type is A+, which means I can receive a kidney from an A+, A-, O+, or O- blood type, but there is also a Paired Exchange program, where a donor kidney could be given to another patient on my behalf, and then I would be matched with another donor with a compatible blood type. If you decide to contact UT to talk about donation, I will not be notified until or if the decision to donate is made. If you go through testing and then decide not to donate, I will never have to know. This is a huge decision, and I never want anyone to feel they are being pressured to donate. If you have questions for me, feel free to contact me on this page or my personal account, or contact Ashley Dennis, the Living Donor Coordinator at (865) 305-5340. She will answer any questions you have, get you any information you need, and help you start the process, if that is what you decide to do. Just let her know that you are interested in donating for Amy Wadsworth when you call!

Hubby had this put on the back of our car this week! Feel free to share to help us spread the word!!!

No news to report yet - we are waiting and praying! I've been thinking a lot about what life might be like after transplant, and thinking about all the things I am looking forward to, so I figured would share a few of my thoughts with you! Obviously, I am looking forward to feeling better, and maybe even having some more energy, and most of all, being free from dialysis and the side effects that come with it. But there are so many more things that will change, some of them little and sort of insignificant, but exciting to think about! Like traveling - one of the very first things I want to do is just get up and go somewhere without worrying about getting back for dialysis. I'm excited thinking about getting rid of this catheter in my chest so I can take a shower again! I'm excited to get rid of some of these dietary restrictions, and limitations on how much fluid I can drink. I can't wait to get the hugest cup I can find, fill it with ice water, and drink the entire thing! I am still just feeling so very thankful that we have reached this point where I can think about these what-ifs and know that they will be reality someday!

I have been asked about the Living Donor Program information, so I wanted to share some details with all of you. If you are interested in possibly being a Living Kidney Donor, your first step will be to contact the Living Donor Program. You will first be asked a series of questions regarding your own health to determine if they will proceed with testing. If testing proceeds, you can complete the testing in your locality, and UT will help make all the arrangements, and they will cover the cost of all the testing - it will not be billed to you or your insurance. My blood type is A+, which means I can receive a kidney from an A+, A-, O+, or O- blood type, but there is also a Paired Exchange program, where a donor kidney could be given to another patient on my behalf, and then I would be matched with another donor with a compatible blood type. If you decide to contact UT to talk about donation, I will not be notified until or if the decision to donate is made. If you go through testing and then decide not to donate, I will never have to know. This is a huge decision, and I never want anyone to feel they are being pressured to donate. If you have questions for me, feel free to contact me on this page or my personal account, or contact Ashley Dennis, the Living Donor Coordinator at (865) 305-5340. She will answer any questions you have, get you any information you need, and help you start the process, if that is what you decide to do. Just let her know that you are interested in donating for Amy Wadsworth when you call!

Today is Donor Remembrance Day. The donation and transplant community is coming together today to honor and celebrate the donor heroes who have given the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. We are sharing forget-me-not flowers to symbolize that donors and their legacy of generosity will always be remembered. also honors donor families and serves a reminder that they are always a part of the Donate Life community.

So now that we know the transplant is a go, we are seriously considering some fund-raising activities/events. We do have excellent health insurance that pays a good portion of my medical expenses, but there will be some out-of-pocket costs that will be connected with the transplant process, including the fact that my husband will be taking time off work to be my caretaker when I have the surgery, and his time will be unpaid, and this time could stretch to quite a few weeks. Also, we will be responsible for paying for the first round of anti-rejection drugs when I get released from the hospital, and that could end up being several thousand dollars. What I would love to do is a yard sale type of event, as we actually have quite a few things in our own house that we could sell, and I am also working on some furniture flipping that I would be able to sell also. I have no idea how to go about something like this, so if any of my friends have suggestions for me, I would be very grateful for any advice!

Got the call first thing this morning - the transplant team has reached out to my cardiologist to verify that I can, indeed, stop the blood thinner that I have been on since receiving my heart stents in September. The cardiologist had stated she wanted me to take it for a minimum of 3 months, and that I could stop if they were willing to list me for transplant. I actually already had a scheduled follow-up appointment with my cardiologist today, so we will ask her to send that info, and the nurse told me that if she does confirm this, I WILL BE LISTED FOR A TRANSPLANT!!!!! This was the best possible news, and I truly believe God sent me a miracle, thanks to the many, many prayers that were prayed on my behalf! Thank you to everyone who helped us pray, and continued prayers as we wait would be so appreciated. The average wait time for a kidney from the waiting list is 3-5 years, and they count the time I have been on dialysis, so I am 2 1/2 years in already! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the prayers and support, you probably cannot even imagine the relief I felt today!!!!!

We are asking all of our friends for a really big favor! If you attend church, and if your church takes prayer requests on Sunday, can you ask your church to pray for the Kidney Transplant Committee as they meet to make a decision on Monday? We are, of course, praying for a favorable decision, but most of all, we want the Lord's will to be done, and His name to be glorified in everything that will happen! We covet your prayers, and we treasure each and every one that has already prayed or promised to pray for us!

We made it home from Knoxville after a very long day of testing, appointments, and lots of waiting! I am feeling extremely mixed emotions tonight though. Our meeting with the transplant surgeon was a bit surprising, as she outlined several different reasons why she seemed to feel I am a very poor candidate for a transplant. I am hoping that perhaps she was just presenting us with the worst-case scenario, but I have to admit, I cried most of the way home. The 'good' news is that my case will be presented to the committee on Monday, but the doctor we spoke to today will be part of the committee. But one way or another, we should know something by Tuesday of next week at the latest. Prayers are again definitely appreciated over the next week as we wait for the committee's decision. Now I am off to paint and DIY some things, since that's what I do with my nervous energy!