Dru’s Kidney Journey

First cup of coffee since my transplant! Mmmmmmm…. My love language!

Things are still progressing really well! I am up and moving more and more. Interestingly, I’ve really no pain today - not even the tenderness on my skin from my clothes rubbing my staples. 🙌🏻 (celebrate the small victories!). I get the rest of my staples and my stint out tomorrow (Monday) morning. It’s going to be a long day (as all my Mondays and Thursdays are), but a good day! My mom is here this week to take care of me. This gives Eric a break and change of scenery. He’s has been a ROCKSTAR!!!! I don’t know what I would do without him! In fact, today he do a catering at 5:30 am, which meant he was at work by 4:15 am… which meant he woke up like at 3:00 am! THEN he went to church and played in both services. THEN he came home to a backed up plumbing line - so he tried to snake it and we tried industrial strength drain cleaner - to no avail! So now we gotta call the plumber. 🤦🏼‍♀️ He is just the best! I can’t be anywhere near that stuff because of my current immune system. I love him so much!

Well, we are 3 weeks (tomorrow) out from surgery! All my labs are looking great! Doctors are very pleased with my progress and numbers! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Sugars are still running high; however, today they started out LOWER than they’ve EVER been post-transplant at 158! Continued prayers that they stabilize where they need to be.

My right calf has been hurting really bad. I think I over did it when walking this past weekend. Doctor looked at it on Monday and doesn’t think I have any blood clots. So, I’m resting it as much as possible and taking Tylenol.

I should get the remainder of my staples out in a week. The surgeon was very pleased last week when he removed most of them. He kept some in to continue to help stabilize the incision as it continues to heal.

My BP has been running on the lower end. So we are adjusting meds and continuing to watch it. Today it was spot on even with the med change!

I get a little stir crazy being inside the house all the time but I do get out to go to my doctors’ appointments twice a week. And we make Walmarts runs sometimes (I stay in the car…).

Thank you for all the prayers and support! We wouldn’t be here without the Lord and you guys praying all the time! God is SO good!

We are bustin’ outta here!!!

I got moved to a regular room last night around 1:00 am. But they kept coming in and testing things and taking blood work… 🤦🏼‍♀️ so, I didn’t sleep well. Haha! One step closer to going home! Hopefully, I’ll be discharged later today or Monday.

I got to move to the chair today! Dr came in and took me off of my fluid drips and all I am doing is drinking water to hydrate my new kidney! 🙌🏻 God is so good!

Ashley (my donor) is doing well, too! She is in the process of being discharged this morning!

Thank you for all the prayers and keep them coming!

Dru is OUT OF SURGERY!!!

Doctor said everything went well!! Praise God!!

Eric should be able to see her in about an hour, but other than him, no visitors.

This is Dia, Dru’s sister.

Everything went perfectly with Dru’s awesome donor and she is now in recovery! We just got a call and everything is going great with Dru so far!

We are on the eve of my transplant… wow.
Can’t believe it’s here! I’m a little anxious because it’s a major surgery and there are a lot of things that will take place tomorrow. BUT, I am not worried. Does that make sense? I have seen and get God through this entire journey and I know He has put all the details together and I am resting in that. What a great God we have! I can’t begin to express how overwhelmed I am seeing all the posts, comments, texts and calls from people on a DAILY basis who say they are praying for Eric and me. We feel them! And keep them coming! Thank you to all that have given towards our fundraiser! That has been overwhelming, too! I will be out for quite some time, and while my job (First Baptist Church Broken Arrow) has been GREAT with helping figure out a work schedule from home, I am not getting all my hours as before. So, if you feel led to give, the information is below in the photo.
Lastly, I am so overwhelmed with the gracious and giving heart of my living donor hero, Ashley McLeod Conklin! She AND her family are real heroes (don’t let them tell you otherwise). It has been a joy getting to know her and continuing to get to know and her family. They are truly a blessing in my life!!
Here is to finishing up today and getting ready for tomorrow!

Covid test was NEGATIVE! One step closer to transplant day!

Getting my Covid test done! Then it’s quaratenine time! 3 Days to transplant!

So, yesterday (4/11/23), I had a FULL day of doctors’ appointments, labs, x-rays, etc… all things that make up pre-admission testing. BUT, the BEST thing was I GOT TO MEET MY DONOR HERO! I found out who she was on Saturday (with her permission, of course!). But I was struggling with if I should friend her on FB or what. I had in my mind that the ball was in her court. So I started praying for God to do what He does - guide me. I had a bag of goodies that my Bible study group had made for her and I had it with me yesterday, just in case I “ran” into her. I knew that her pre-admission testing was also yesterday. It wasn’t until my LAST appointment that I SAW HER! You see, I found out Saturday that I know her family! Her mom and one of her sisters is in the Singing ChurchWomen of Oklahoma with me and her dad is a member of the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma - where my dad is a member and my PeePaw was too until his passing. It is such a SMALL world! Also, her son is a member of the Oklahoma Student Worship Choir, which I helped out with. I was able to hug her neck and tell her in person how much she is a blessing in my life! Please continue to pray for her, her family, our medical staff and recovery. Ashley, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being obedient to the Lord stirring in your heart to donate you kidney. I pray He blesses you BEYOND what you can ever think or imagine! You are a HERO in my book!

Now, for today… Eric and I meet my surgeon! Then it’s officially “go” time! Well, I still have to get a Covid test Monday… THEN it’s go time for quarantine until surgery - April 20th!

My sweet friend, Michelle Lynn McAfee has put together a prayer group to pray the day before, the day of, and the day after my surgery. They are in 15 minute slots. I know there a SO MANY already praying, but here is another opportunity to pray specifically and intentionally. Please share!

All you need to do is pick your time slot (or slots) and make sure to press save.

Pray 4 Dru | PlanHero

Well, I had my last FULL day in the office this past Wednesday. I’ll work part of the day this coming Wednesday.

My transplant is becoming more real. I got a text to start my pre-check in process - so, that’s done. I’ve confirmed a few of the doctor’s visits foe Tuesday. That’s when we meet with my entire transplant team to go over final details of pre/post-op care. It will be here before you know it!


Eric and I appreciate all the prayers! But if you feel lead to help with any out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages from me being out of the hospital for so long, etc. you can donate the following ways:

CashApp: $DruEsau
Venmo:

Or mail a check, cash, etc.:
Dru Esau
C/o Plaster & Wald Consulting Company
P.O. Box 245
Mustang, OK 73064

Any amount helps! Thank you!! ♥️

So I am going to be in the hospital for several days when I receive my kidney… any suggestions on what to put in my ”go-bag”? Books, games, movies, etc.
Thanks in advance!

Well… today starts kidney transplant month! In 19 days I’ll have a NEW KIDNEY! This has been a long journey and it’s far from being over! I am starting to distance myself from people so I don’t get sick. Please understand that this is hard for me to do, but it’s necessary. Please continue to pray that I stay healthy and my precious donor stays healthy.

We have started a fundraiser to help pay for some out-of-pocket expenses we’ve already encountered. I have good insurance but even then it doesn’t pay for everything. You don’t realize the number of times I have to travel back and forth to the doctor’s office (now and after the transplant.) We certainly covet all the prayers, but if you feel led to donate monetarily you can send a check or cash to the address in the flyer or through Venmo, Cash App and Zelle. Search for Dru Esau.

Thank you I advance.

As you know, I’ve been on this kidney journey since the end of November 2020. Even through this whole process, I’ve seen God’s hand move mightily and faithfully. on April 20th, I’ll undergo a transplant surgery for my new kidney! God has provided a LIVING donor who not only is selfless by giving me their kidney, but they are roughly my age! Which is what the surgeon said would be the BEST option! Look at God providing! Eric and I know that He will continue to provide; however, we have come across some out-of-pocket expenses and they will continue to come (especially when I am not able to work). We certainly covet your prayers, but if you feel led to give monetarily please read the flyer information. Also, we will not do a meal train when I am home from the hospital. There are too many risk factors with food contamination (I’ll have no immune system). If you would like to donate towards groceries, you can give below or by a gift card to Walmart or local grocery store (Aldi, Reasors, Target, etc.). Thank you all for walking with us in this journey! God is good and the prayers of His people are powerful! ♥️

*****CORRECTION******
The zip code should be 73064

I have a CONFIRMED surgery date!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Thursday, April 20th I will have my kidney transplant at St. John in Tulsa. Please pray that I remain healthy and don’t get sick!

I had some encouraging news last night! One of my living donors who is in the process of being tested as a match for me is roughly my age! That’s awesome! My transplant surgeon said the ideal living donor is someone my age! (It’s the small things, y’all!). However, that person is needing additional testing. Please pray for this peraon and that the additional testing is nothing to be concerned with.

If you would like to test to be a match please call the number below or send an email! ALL expenses are paid by my insurance.

Please share this information with everyone you know!

918-744-2925
918-744-2925
[email protected]

You could save a life! Thank you in advance!

This page is to help keep everyone informed of my journey with kidney disease and searching for a kidney donor. Here is my story:

In Novemver 2020, I was hospitalized with Covid, had a miscarriage and diagnosed with kidney disease. In January 2021, my kidney function was down to 50% and has declined over the course of a year and a half to 12%, where it is currently. After rigorous testing and blood work, I was placed on the kidney transplant list at the end of July 2022. Now, we are waiting and praying for a kidney donor - preferably a living donor (they have a longer life expectancy).

Eric and I know God’s timing is perfect and we appreciate your prayers. However, we ask that you might consider being a donor. My blood type is one of the blood types that has a wider range of accepting other blood types. But even if you don’t have a blood type I can accept, you can still donate. There is a “sharing” program with the transplant center that allows you to donate to someone else in need, who then can donate to me.

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to the phone number and email below (or ask me)…

918-744-2925
918-744-2925
[email protected]