Gary's Kidney Transplant Journey

08/29/2026

Wow...it's been a while! I've had nothing to report, no progress toward getting on the transplant list...unttil a few days ago. My biggest issue is 12 cm wide...a cyst on my right kidney. Comparing two scans, TGH saw that it grew that much. TGH asked that I get my urologist to check it out. This was about 4 months ago. My nephrologist looked at the scans and pronounced it benign, but encouraged me to follow TGH's instructions. For those 4 months, during several urologist appointments for both of us, we begged the doctor to check those scans. Finally he go tired of us aggrivating him and he wrote "not approved" and had his PA sign it. I talked to my transplant coordinator and asked if she could refer me to a unrologist affiliated with TGH. She gave me a name, I called and got an appointment for a week later. I went to Riverview to his office, he immediately looked at the scans and set me up for an MRI on Sept.11. Jeez, what a struggle! Thanks for putting up with a long post...Laters!

01/28/2026

This (long) post has been a long time coming...sorry about that. We have been busy with church activities, grandkids, and doctor appointments. As of right now, I don't have to have a heart cath as they first thought after my visit to Tampa General the day after Christmas. I'm on the borderline, whatever that is, so they aren't going that route. So, to continue my qualification for a transplant, I'm be getting at CT of my chest, a stress test, and an echocardiogram. I'll be heading back to TGH in the near future to get those done. In the meanwhile, I have my nephrology doctor appointment next week...my renal test numbers for my bloodwork last week are pretty steady from the ones done a few months ago. I still feel dialysis is in my near future, so we will see about that. My blood type is A+ or A positive, so if y'all know anyone willing to share a spare, that's what it has to match. More later! God bless!

10/19/2025

Thanks for all the shares and follows! You are helping get the word out to those that may become a living kidney donor! This week gets interesting with a visit to DaVita for a Peritoneal Dialysis class. I'm not there yet, but sound like soon. Process is to get scheduled for peritoneal catheter surgery, two weeks to recover and heal, then the home machine will be sent. Like I said, not there yet, but coming soon!

10/01/2025

Even if you can't donate, spread the word! Maybe something great will happen!

10/01/2025