Knowledge is Power

Today we are finally able to catch up on our rest from the travel and the adjustment to the cold weather in Minnesota. As I write this it is 10:45 am and both Tara and Baby Karen are still sleeping. It has been a little depressing because Karen has been really sick with a cold and I cant really go near her. They will call of the procedure if I come down with any type of illness. That would throw a big wrench into everybody's plans. Its really hard to say no when she keeps saying "up dada" over and over again to pick her up.

Yesterday we had our first consultation at the University of Minnesota and we learned tons about this whole ordeal. It sounds like I will be in the hospital for 5 to 7 days depending on if or when my body accepts the new kidney. We learned that in my body some sort of chemical reaction happens where the new kidney sends a message to the old ones basically saying, "this is my house now time to shut you down" and most of the time the old ones do what they are told. The doctors cant say scientifically why that happens but it does, kind of cool. He also told us that a lot of patients dont know how sick they feel until they dont feel sick anymore. He said people feel like superman sometimes within a few hours, I thought that was cool. Everyone always asks me if I feel sick and I say no because I really dont, but maybe after I receive this I will realize that I do. He also explained the risks. Pnuemonia (sp), infection, rejection are all possibilities that could go on as well. So its not perfect but I have my age and my overall health on my side.

We spent last night at a good friends birthday party. We first volunteered our time for a group called Feed My Starving Children. Its a non-profit group that sends food packets to starving children in 55 countries around the world. It felt good to be a giver. I have been looking at myself as a receiver for this week so it felt to do something for someone else. In just a couple hours of work we packaged enough food to feed 50 kids for a month. Seeing the stories of kids in Haiti and Africa that weigh the size of my daughter when they are five years old made me feel like needing a new kidney is a walk in the park.

Today we will relax, and tomorrow will be the start of the madness. Erica and Geoff fly in tomorrow as well as Tara's family from Canada. It will be a party at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis.

Tara and I want to thank everyone for the great messages of good luck and prayers. Like Bob Marley says, "everything is going to be alright".