Mighty Little Kidney

It is 9am, the day after the surgery. The waiting and nervousness are now over. Erica and Lee are both feeling very sore, but are in good spirits as always. It was a LONG day yesterday, starting around 5 am when we all (Lee, Erica, Geoff, Lee's Mom & Step-father, his aunt Carol & uncle Roy, great friend Mary, and myself) headed to the hospital to begin a scary but amazing day.

Most of the early morning was preparation for Lee an Erica to go in to surgery. The two were put in rooms side by side, and there was a lot of knocking on the wall between and nervous laughter. All the family came in to give their best wishes; lots of tears and many hugs, before Erica was rolled away first to begin the procedure. Lee and I waited patiently and impatiently, for the doctors to come back and say they were ready for him. It was very difficult to say good-bye, knowing that they were about to cut open the love of my life, and we would be waiting hours and hours to see each other again. The nurses and doctors promised to keep us updated as often as possible, but it was still a very scary time for us all.

We got word first from Erica's doctors, that they removed the kidney and so far everything was going really well. Now, to transfer that kidney to Lee, hoping it would happen quick and smooth, and start working right away. Erica pulled through really well; she has been such a trooper through all of this. She seemed so calm when she was ready to go...almost like she just knew that this was meant to be, and everything would work out fine. And it did.

Lee's surgery took much longer to complete, waiting to see that he would accept her kidney, and his body would start showing signs that this organ was meant for him. During the wait, when all of us were strained and stressed, in walks our friend Jenny with a huge bouquet of roses. Thinking they were for Lee, I looked at the card and read, " Tara, I love you. See you when I wake up. Love, Lee." I was so overwhelmed, of course I started crying. Leave it to Lee to be going through a kidney transplant, and still be romantic and thoughtful. It was an emotional day for us all, but we were so relieved when the call came to tell us that he was doing wonderful, and was coming out of recovery where we could finally go see him.

Erica and Lee are now attempting to rest. Geoff and I came in early to the hospital to be with them and they both seem pretty sore and uncomfortable. My sister Bonnie has been taking care of Karen, and she is having fun playing with her cousin Roanan, but last night she was still saying "Dada Dada", so I know she is already missing him.

So much of yesterday feels like a blur. The waiting and the crying, the laughter and support of so many friends and family. It all seems so unreal, that Erica just walked in to our lives, and gave Lee her kidney. There is no doubt in our minds that we were meant to meet her. That this all was meant to be. It is clear that someone has been looking out for us, and we are so grateful and happy that she will be a part of our family forever. It seems like now it will still be a long road to recovery for both of them, but the worst is all behind us. To take a kidney from someone so small, and put it in to a big guy like Lee, it is amazing and exciting to see that it started working almost instantly. One thing is for sure...that is one mighty little kidney.


Tara