Hi Friends, I hope you are all well and having a beautiful week. As we all know, Bo's health journey has been ongoing, and he's been doing extremely well over the past several years, following his Dr.'s advice and taking personal holistic measures to stay as well as he can and to stretch out the life of his kidneys.
Since his initial diagnosis a little 8 years ago, we have known the time would come for a kidney transplant, and after his most recent tests he is beginning to prepare for this next step. In short, it needs to happen soon.
Our goal is to keep him from having to be on dialysis. Not only is it a grueling process, both physically and emotionally, it's simply not as effective as a kidney transplant would be. We want him to be healthy and happy for many years for his number one priority, Goldie.
1. What if I want to be a donor but I'm not a blood match? You still can be! There's a pretty amazing program called "paired donation" This exists because sometimes a person will have a friend or family member who is willing and healthy enough to donate their kidney, but they're not a match. The paired donor system pairs them with a person in the exact same situation. You get to save 2 lives instead of 1! It's really spectacular and so cool. A paired donorship oftentimes is even faster and more ideal for the kidney recipient (Bo) because they may not have to wait as long, giving them more longevity, happiness and a better quality of life sooner.
https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/program/kidney-transplant-living-donor
2. What will Bo feel like after the transplant? In short and ideally, amazing! He should feel like he did before he got sick and that would be the greatest blessing anyone could ever give to him and to his family.
3. Who pays for it? Bo's insurance covers all medical procedures
4. What if I am a blood match and I want to donate straight to Bo? You can get started with the process asap. We'll help you navigate it. All the info is on the website if you would like to read more about this amazing gift and process.
5. Where will Bo's surgery take place? His Dr is located in Nashville at Vanderbilt. It's an amazing facility with some of the most talented and trusted Drs. in the country. We're lucky we are so close to it.
6. How does a donor feel after the transplant? Donors typically take around 4-6 weeks to recuperate after the surgery. After that period of immense selflessness, they report feeling no different and donors can live a perfectly normal life with one kidney. Bo's site lists more details about what the process is like for the donor and different things to take into account during the process.
7. What about the kidney waiting list he is on now? Bo has been on "the list" for about 5.5 years now. The process is long and while certainly not without hope, to find a living donor would mean several things: 1. A living kidney match lasts much longer, giving Bo the chance to only do this once. 2. His test numbers reflect it would be ideal to perform a kidney transplant soon, as he is beginning to prepare for dialysis, so the current timing is optimal for his health as opposed to continuing to wait for a deceased donor to emerge as a possibility
8. How can I feel supported if I end up being a donor or want to explore being a donor? The VUMC Kidney Transplant Program has a monthly support group for pre and post-transplant patients and caregivers. This is an opportunity to offer and receive support from other patients sharing in the unique journey of kidney transplant. They have these available via zoom too so you can take part no matter where you live.
As people who love Bo, we thank you for taking the time to read through this and we ask humbly to please consider sharing if you do not feel being a donor is right for you. Our prayers, his self care and hard work have gotten him far, but now we need the extra push.
Is there a number I can call if I just want to talk to a real person and ask questions? Yes, there is. Just use the “call now” option below or on our “ways to help” drop down menu.
Thank so much,