So, I know I've been MIA lately. Sorry. The past week has been rough. I won't go into all of the gory details, but let's just say I had one heck of a stomach bug. Thanks to my new friend Phenergan, I was finally able to keep fluids and small amounts of food down by Thursday. Now, nine pounds lighter and significantly weaker, I'm just trying to build my strength back up.
In other news, I need all of you wonderful people to do me a favor, ok? I need you all to send up prayers and positive thoughts for my family. My dad's kidney function has dropped pretty low and he's going to need a transplant soon. My step-mom is being tested to see if she's a match. If so, hopefully things will happen pretty quickly and Daddy can be on his way to feeling better by early summer.
I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here, but there's a genetic disease that is pretty prevalent in our family called polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. My grandad had it, and my dad, aunt and cousin Jen all have it. They tell you to stay active and keep your blood pressure under control, but beyond that, there isn't much you can do. (Daddy, AJ, Jen... feel free to comment and tell me if I'm wrong about any of this. Y'all know better than I do.)
I really want to be tested so I can donate if Michelle isn't a match, but I've been told that the hospital won't even consider me because I've yet to be tested for PKD. (There's a 50 percent chance the the child of a PKD parent also carries the disease.) Obviously, if I have it, my kidney wouldn't be of any use to Daddy. Apparently it can lie dormant until your mid-thirties, so even if I'm tested now and the results are negative, I wouldn't be eligible to donate because of the chance of a false-negative test result. It's really frustrating to know that there's nothing I can do to help.
Anyway, if you want to read more about PKD, click here.
I know that things will be okay. My family is strong and faithful, and I know many people are praying for us. This isn't the first tough time we've been through. A little over a year ago, our prayer's were answered when my Aunt Jenny received a healthy kidney from a young man at her church. To read more about that, click here.
The more people we have praying for us, the better shot we'll have - so please, keep Daddy in your thoughts and prayers.
18 comments:
Heather, I will certainly pray for your Daddy and other family members. Let me know how everything goes, and if there's anything else I can do for y'all.
I hate that y'all are goin through all of this! I will definitely pray for your Daddy! Glad you're feeing better! Stomach bugs SUCK!
Prayers sent your way for your dad and family!
Thanks to all Heather's readers for keeping our family in your prayers. We'll take all we can get!
Oh Heather -- what a rough week you've had. As much as I want to lose weight, a stomach bug like you described is NOT the way to go about it. I'm glad you are feeling a bit better.
And I'm keeping your father in my prayers. I hope you can find a good donor soon.
I'm thinking of you and I hope life gets a little easier and less stressful for you soon.
Heather, I am glad you are feeling better and weight loss is always great, no? No, it isn't - Look after yourself, treasure!
I hope strongly for your dad that things work out for him, and that a donor is found very soon. You are brave and beautiful. Hang on in there, we are waiting in your shadows, here for you in Blogland, if not physically x
You are most certainly in my prayers, my friend!
Adding "Heather's daddy" to my prayers. If you need anything at all...
I'll definately add you to my prayers. Good luck to ya Daddy! Get stronger soon luv!
Sounds like a tough time :( I hope they find a match for your dad soon x
You're in my thoughts now more than ever ~ good luck with everything, yourself getting over that nasty little bug and your father!
Sweetness, you know you have all my positive thoughts. I heard about something on the radio the other day - a 'pay it forward' sort of system for kidney transplants... it sounded pretty interesting. I was thinking of you and wrote down the info. I'll rummage through my purse (you remember what it looks like) and find it.
Hope you're feeling a lot better. Tell your mom I wasn't sick (she asked, as you'd been so miserable and she thought I might have gotten it, too)... it probably hit you in the plane. It's so easy to get sick after a flight with all that nasty recirculated air.
Take care... XO
I've been thinking about y'all a lot lately and will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
~Meredith
I was wondering where you went. I'm so sorry to hear that things have been tough for you. Good thoughts, vibes, and prayers out to you from me.
Prayers and good luck to you and your father.
You have my prayers for you and your family! I am familiar with this disease. I have a cousin who has this in his family!
To all. Thank you for your prayers and concern. We are trusting the Lord to take care of us through this as he has every other "test" we've faced through the years. Please continue to support Heather. She is such a special person and the news was really difficult for her.
Daddy
Yes Heather...My Prayers are there always for your Dad and family ...and everything will be alright....Dont worry...
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