Greetings All,
Well.....Danna is expecting/preparing to leave the hospital tomorrow!!!!! She looks so good. She had a rough start this morning. She was visited in dialysis by Dr. Shield and Dr. Doering and she immediately asked when she could leave. Dr. Shield told her she had to be able to eat more, so she could tolerate oral pain medication. Up until that point, she would take one bite of something and have horrible cramping. When she returned after dialysis her lunch was in her room and she ate with a purpose. Needless to say, she began her oral pain medication about an hour later and was disconnected from all IV's and oxygen. Wow...to walk with out all the "stuff" was really good. She continued to have a great afternoon, being visited by friends Micha, Karie, and MacKenzie. Miss Allie has been staying with Karie and family and came to Wichita with them today. They are staying the night and will go home tomorrow. Micha asked Danna how she felt and she said "I think I am going to live today". It was so good to hear her say those words. Danna hopes that she will be dismissed by noon. Dylan competed in an Odyssey of the Minds competition in Liberal today and his team placed first. We will keep you posted on the developments tomorrow. Again, thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers. They are a link to normal life.
God Bless,
Deanna
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Greetings Family and Friends,
I just read all of your posts to Danna and she so enjoyed them. She is finally able to give a little laugh, without being in extreme pain. Today has been a quiet day. In Danna's words "nothing happened today". I am hoping she is over the hump and every day she will start feeling better. She started the day off by being told she was going to have dialysis, then that was changed two different times. She ended up not having dialysis today, but will go tomorrow. Danna's comment to all the confusion was "there are to many doctors". If I can count correctly, there were five different doctors in to evaluate her all before noon today!!! Danna did ask when she could go home to the apartment and Dr. Shield thought Sunday or Monday.....YEA!!!! She was on one of her many walks this morning, walking by a set of elevators and she said "if I could move quicker, so they couldn't catch me, we would be on one of those". I am thinking the nurses better keep an eye on her tomorrow, she may be quick enough by then. She has been able to walk with better ease. She is extremely sore today, because of all the movement. Danna was also released this morning to start eating again. She has not eaten, since Sunday afternoon. Her stomach is having a hard time adjusting to food intake, but we are hoping that will subside within the next couple of days. Thank you to Phyllis, Melva, and Dorthy for sitting with Danna today. It helps all of us, so much. Mom returned to Wichita after taking the kids home yesterday. She will be able to spend the weekend with Danna, then return home on Sunday evening. The kids will stay with her all week and next weekend. Also, thank you to Kari and Terri for helping with Dylan and Allie. Danna is thankful to not have to worry about the kids and focus on her recovery.
God Bless,
Deanna
I just read all of your posts to Danna and she so enjoyed them. She is finally able to give a little laugh, without being in extreme pain. Today has been a quiet day. In Danna's words "nothing happened today". I am hoping she is over the hump and every day she will start feeling better. She started the day off by being told she was going to have dialysis, then that was changed two different times. She ended up not having dialysis today, but will go tomorrow. Danna's comment to all the confusion was "there are to many doctors". If I can count correctly, there were five different doctors in to evaluate her all before noon today!!! Danna did ask when she could go home to the apartment and Dr. Shield thought Sunday or Monday.....YEA!!!! She was on one of her many walks this morning, walking by a set of elevators and she said "if I could move quicker, so they couldn't catch me, we would be on one of those". I am thinking the nurses better keep an eye on her tomorrow, she may be quick enough by then. She has been able to walk with better ease. She is extremely sore today, because of all the movement. Danna was also released this morning to start eating again. She has not eaten, since Sunday afternoon. Her stomach is having a hard time adjusting to food intake, but we are hoping that will subside within the next couple of days. Thank you to Phyllis, Melva, and Dorthy for sitting with Danna today. It helps all of us, so much. Mom returned to Wichita after taking the kids home yesterday. She will be able to spend the weekend with Danna, then return home on Sunday evening. The kids will stay with her all week and next weekend. Also, thank you to Kari and Terri for helping with Dylan and Allie. Danna is thankful to not have to worry about the kids and focus on her recovery.
God Bless,
Deanna
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Greetings All,
Wow, what a big day Danna has had. She is doing well and progressing with her recovery. Last night it was finally determined that her epidural was no longer working, so now she is on a PCA pump for pain management. She slept well from midnight to 3am and 3:30-5am. At 5am the nurse came in to check on her because her heart rate jumped high, as well as her temperature. After lab tests, xray, and multiple evaluations it has been initially determined that all issues are due to the surgery and her body adapting to dialysis. We will have blood cultures back tomorrow to assist with final determination. She left the room this morning at 9:45am for xray, then went to dialysis from 10:30am-1:30pm, and then returned to the room around 2pm. She has also been walking and sitting up most of the afternoon and evening. Mom went home this afternoon with Dylan and Allie. Dylan has an Odyssey of the Minds competition on Saturday that he had to be back for. Mom will come back to Wichita sometime this weekend. Phyllis and Dorthy stayed with Danna this afternoon and I went back to the apartment for a nap and shower. Danna is settling down for the evening and we are hoping things are calm and quiet. She will have a full day of recuperation tomorrow and will not do dialysis again until Saturday we are thinking. I have been reading to her your comments and well wishes. She has enjoyed them. Thanks so much for everything!!! Please continue to keep her in your prayers for healing and a speedy recuperation.
God Bless,
Deanna
Wow, what a big day Danna has had. She is doing well and progressing with her recovery. Last night it was finally determined that her epidural was no longer working, so now she is on a PCA pump for pain management. She slept well from midnight to 3am and 3:30-5am. At 5am the nurse came in to check on her because her heart rate jumped high, as well as her temperature. After lab tests, xray, and multiple evaluations it has been initially determined that all issues are due to the surgery and her body adapting to dialysis. We will have blood cultures back tomorrow to assist with final determination. She left the room this morning at 9:45am for xray, then went to dialysis from 10:30am-1:30pm, and then returned to the room around 2pm. She has also been walking and sitting up most of the afternoon and evening. Mom went home this afternoon with Dylan and Allie. Dylan has an Odyssey of the Minds competition on Saturday that he had to be back for. Mom will come back to Wichita sometime this weekend. Phyllis and Dorthy stayed with Danna this afternoon and I went back to the apartment for a nap and shower. Danna is settling down for the evening and we are hoping things are calm and quiet. She will have a full day of recuperation tomorrow and will not do dialysis again until Saturday we are thinking. I have been reading to her your comments and well wishes. She has enjoyed them. Thanks so much for everything!!! Please continue to keep her in your prayers for healing and a speedy recuperation.
God Bless,
Deanna
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Greetings,
Danna has been moved to the 6th floor!!! She is out of SICU and we are so relieved. Danna was moved into her new room at about 5pm this afternoon. She has a roommate, so we have to be good "roomies" so I can stay the night with her. Danna got up and walked today and is experiencing a higher pain level, so we are praying for her to be armed with God's shield of love to carry her pain. We are hoping to go home sometime this weekend to the apartment. The recovery mountain seems a bit steep, but we are trying to focus on the result of a healthier life when this part of the journey is complete.
In God's Love,
Deanna
Danna has been moved to the 6th floor!!! She is out of SICU and we are so relieved. Danna was moved into her new room at about 5pm this afternoon. She has a roommate, so we have to be good "roomies" so I can stay the night with her. Danna got up and walked today and is experiencing a higher pain level, so we are praying for her to be armed with God's shield of love to carry her pain. We are hoping to go home sometime this weekend to the apartment. The recovery mountain seems a bit steep, but we are trying to focus on the result of a healthier life when this part of the journey is complete.
In God's Love,
Deanna
Good Morning,
Today is a beautiful day in Kansas! Danna had a good night in ICU. Her blood pressure was stable most of the night, as well as her pain management. She had her second dialysis treatment this morning from 8:35am to 11:35am. She may have another round of dialysis as early as tomorrow determined by her blood results, or she may not have another round until Friday morning. She is doing well on dialysis for the most part. Her three issues, while doing dialysis, are her blood pressure drops, she gets very cold, and she gets very sleepy. We are hoping she will be moved to the 6th floor sometime this afternoon. We have been asked for the apartment address a couple of times, so we thought it might be best to list it here:
1157 South Webb Road, Apt. 2112
Wichita, Kansas 67207
We are only able to visit Danna in the ICU four times a day in 30 minute increments and only two at a time. They let us bend the rules a little last night, while mom and I took Dylan and Allie in to see Danna for the first time. I think they were relieved to lay their eyes on their mom to see she was alright. The next time for a visit will be at 1:00pm, so they are anxiously awaiting to visit her today. They have been troopers!! Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, while they are adapting to life without mom. Mom and I are definitely going to have to brush up on our "texting" skills - Danna is so good at that.
In His Love,
Deanna
Today is a beautiful day in Kansas! Danna had a good night in ICU. Her blood pressure was stable most of the night, as well as her pain management. She had her second dialysis treatment this morning from 8:35am to 11:35am. She may have another round of dialysis as early as tomorrow determined by her blood results, or she may not have another round until Friday morning. She is doing well on dialysis for the most part. Her three issues, while doing dialysis, are her blood pressure drops, she gets very cold, and she gets very sleepy. We are hoping she will be moved to the 6th floor sometime this afternoon. We have been asked for the apartment address a couple of times, so we thought it might be best to list it here:
1157 South Webb Road, Apt. 2112
Wichita, Kansas 67207
We are only able to visit Danna in the ICU four times a day in 30 minute increments and only two at a time. They let us bend the rules a little last night, while mom and I took Dylan and Allie in to see Danna for the first time. I think they were relieved to lay their eyes on their mom to see she was alright. The next time for a visit will be at 1:00pm, so they are anxiously awaiting to visit her today. They have been troopers!! Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, while they are adapting to life without mom. Mom and I are definitely going to have to brush up on our "texting" skills - Danna is so good at that.
In His Love,
Deanna
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Post Surgery Update
Greetings,
We want to let you all know that our plans changed a little, since the last update. Danna's blood pressure was not staying where the surgeons would like to see it after surgery, so she is in the Surgical ICU unit until things stabilize. Her body is trying to adjust to life without the kidneys. Kidneys assist your body with the regulation of your blood pressure. Her blood is also acidic, due to today's surgery and her disease. She did receive her first dialysis, which they are hoping will level out her blood pressure and adjust the acid levels. She will receive dialysis for the next three days. She has also been on a breathing machine to assist with the blood pressure issue, however that was going to be removed once dialysis was over. Her oxygen levels came up to where the doctors wanted to see them....yea! If all continues to progress, we are hopeful she will be moved to a room on the transplant floor sometime tomorrow. Please continue to keep her in your prayers for continued healing.
God Bless,
Deanna
We want to let you all know that our plans changed a little, since the last update. Danna's blood pressure was not staying where the surgeons would like to see it after surgery, so she is in the Surgical ICU unit until things stabilize. Her body is trying to adjust to life without the kidneys. Kidneys assist your body with the regulation of your blood pressure. Her blood is also acidic, due to today's surgery and her disease. She did receive her first dialysis, which they are hoping will level out her blood pressure and adjust the acid levels. She will receive dialysis for the next three days. She has also been on a breathing machine to assist with the blood pressure issue, however that was going to be removed once dialysis was over. Her oxygen levels came up to where the doctors wanted to see them....yea! If all continues to progress, we are hopeful she will be moved to a room on the transplant floor sometime tomorrow. Please continue to keep her in your prayers for continued healing.
God Bless,
Deanna
Surgery Update
Greetings,
We just received a visit from Danna's surgeon, Dr. Shields, and the surgery is completed. Things look good!!!! We are so relieved!!!!! Dr. Shield said between the two kidneys they weighted approximately 9 pounds. Both of them were removed without issues. She did well throughout the procedure and he was very pleased with what he saw. He said there were minimal cysts on the other organs, just a couple of small ones on her liver. What a relief for her recovery process. She will be taken directly up to the transplant floor (6th) after recovery. Dr. Shield said she would be up and walking this evening with possibly having her first dialysis treatment tonight or first thing in the morning. Dr. Shield also said that her urethra was in good shape and was located in great position that it will cut her transplant surgery down by an hour. It is still estimated she will be in the hospital for 5-7 days, determined by her pain level, bowel status, and food intake. I will blog again tonight after we are settled in her room. Again, thank your for your continued prayers and support. We are so thankful for a great God, who provides for all of our needs. He has continued to provide a shield of peace and calm for all of us.
God Bless,
Deanna Stika
We just received a visit from Danna's surgeon, Dr. Shields, and the surgery is completed. Things look good!!!! We are so relieved!!!!! Dr. Shield said between the two kidneys they weighted approximately 9 pounds. Both of them were removed without issues. She did well throughout the procedure and he was very pleased with what he saw. He said there were minimal cysts on the other organs, just a couple of small ones on her liver. What a relief for her recovery process. She will be taken directly up to the transplant floor (6th) after recovery. Dr. Shield said she would be up and walking this evening with possibly having her first dialysis treatment tonight or first thing in the morning. Dr. Shield also said that her urethra was in good shape and was located in great position that it will cut her transplant surgery down by an hour. It is still estimated she will be in the hospital for 5-7 days, determined by her pain level, bowel status, and food intake. I will blog again tonight after we are settled in her room. Again, thank your for your continued prayers and support. We are so thankful for a great God, who provides for all of our needs. He has continued to provide a shield of peace and calm for all of us.
God Bless,
Deanna Stika
Update From Deanna
Greetings,
I just wanted to let all of you know that we arrived at the hospital this morning at 6:30am to get Danna all registered and prepared for surgery. It is going to be a beautiful day in Kansas. Our mom, Dylan, Allie, Jamie (Danna's Friend), and John were able to give well wishes and big hugs before she was taken to pre-op at 8:20am. She should be in the pre-op area for about an hour, then begin surgery at 9:30am. We will provide updates throughout today as we are provided information. We were able to get a family waiting room with plenty of room. My mom's friends Phyllis Howard and Joe and Dorothy Dunbar are also with us. The surgery will take approximately 5 hours, so we are hopeful she will be settled into a room by early evening. For John and I's Ohio friends, it will be about 65 degrees today!!!! Our continued thanks for all of your prayers and support.
Take Care,
Deanna Stika
I just wanted to let all of you know that we arrived at the hospital this morning at 6:30am to get Danna all registered and prepared for surgery. It is going to be a beautiful day in Kansas. Our mom, Dylan, Allie, Jamie (Danna's Friend), and John were able to give well wishes and big hugs before she was taken to pre-op at 8:20am. She should be in the pre-op area for about an hour, then begin surgery at 9:30am. We will provide updates throughout today as we are provided information. We were able to get a family waiting room with plenty of room. My mom's friends Phyllis Howard and Joe and Dorothy Dunbar are also with us. The surgery will take approximately 5 hours, so we are hopeful she will be settled into a room by early evening. For John and I's Ohio friends, it will be about 65 degrees today!!!! Our continued thanks for all of your prayers and support.
Take Care,
Deanna Stika
Monday, February 23, 2009
It is Monday night and we have all made it into Wichita with no problems. Deanna flew in on Sunday and John picked her up from the airport. The kids had their 6 month dental appointments and all is well. Dylan needs to have a baby tooth pulled and then Allie needs to have a couple of sealents fixed. So, we made another appointment in March, yep that is one more errand mom will have to do. Sorry Mom. Allie was disappointed that her two remaining baby teeth were not loose yet. She is anxiously awaiting getting braces. I don't think she is really wanting them but does not want to have them all of high school. She is thinking that would just the worse thing in life. Little does she know life will go on and she will be fine.
Deanna and I will get up and go to the hospital bright and early in the morning. I need to be there by 6am. Mom, John and the kids will follow a little later. Apartment life takes a little getting used to. We have one bathroom and 6 people and very little hot water. We will have to learn to stagger the showers. Some of my friends at work gave me a little going away party and furnished us with some decorations for the apartment. They gave me a flamingoo yard decoration and also a couple for inside. My cube at work is decorated with flamingos so they did not want me to miss them or work.
Thanks to everyone for all your prayers and concern.
Deanna and I will get up and go to the hospital bright and early in the morning. I need to be there by 6am. Mom, John and the kids will follow a little later. Apartment life takes a little getting used to. We have one bathroom and 6 people and very little hot water. We will have to learn to stagger the showers. Some of my friends at work gave me a little going away party and furnished us with some decorations for the apartment. They gave me a flamingoo yard decoration and also a couple for inside. My cube at work is decorated with flamingos so they did not want me to miss them or work.
Thanks to everyone for all your prayers and concern.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Mom went with me to Wichita on the 10th and Dr. Mandham(new kidney dr.) cleared me for surgery. The first surgery will be on Tuesday Feb. 24th. During that surgery I will have both of my kidneys removed. The actual surgery will be on March 17th. Well, anyway that is the plan as of today.
Deanna's husband John will be working in Kansas City this week so he will just stay and pick Deanna up at the airport on Sunday when she flies in. Her boys are real troopers and will be stayting with three different friends until John gets home on Wednesday night. I know they will be happy to see him. Deanna plans to stay until April 2nd. I know the boys will miss her greatly. Mom my kids and I will arrive on Monday afternoon. My kids have their 6 month dental check ups that morning so we will leave after that appointment. We should be in Wichita around 4pm or so. We will all be staying at our two bedroom apartment. Yes, if you have keep count that will be 6 of us and two beds. Should be interesting. :)
I am the first surgery for the day so it should start sometime around 9:30am or so. The surgery is pretty involved. During this surgery they will also be installing the line in my vein so I will be able to do dialysis until the transplant. I was told the surgery could last up to 5 hours. Since I will otherwise be occuppied I will turn the blogging over to my mom and Deanna for the next few days.
A couple of days after the surgery is over and I am doing better mom will be bringing my kids home with her so they can go back to school(I think three days is enough to miss). Dylan and Allie seem to be quite busy this time of year. Having mom at home with them is a huge relief for me. That way their live's will remain as normal as possible.
I just want to say thanks to everyone for all your continued prays and support for my entire family.
Well my laundry is not doing itself so I better log off and get busy. I will blog with you later. Take care.
Deanna's husband John will be working in Kansas City this week so he will just stay and pick Deanna up at the airport on Sunday when she flies in. Her boys are real troopers and will be stayting with three different friends until John gets home on Wednesday night. I know they will be happy to see him. Deanna plans to stay until April 2nd. I know the boys will miss her greatly. Mom my kids and I will arrive on Monday afternoon. My kids have their 6 month dental check ups that morning so we will leave after that appointment. We should be in Wichita around 4pm or so. We will all be staying at our two bedroom apartment. Yes, if you have keep count that will be 6 of us and two beds. Should be interesting. :)
I am the first surgery for the day so it should start sometime around 9:30am or so. The surgery is pretty involved. During this surgery they will also be installing the line in my vein so I will be able to do dialysis until the transplant. I was told the surgery could last up to 5 hours. Since I will otherwise be occuppied I will turn the blogging over to my mom and Deanna for the next few days.
A couple of days after the surgery is over and I am doing better mom will be bringing my kids home with her so they can go back to school(I think three days is enough to miss). Dylan and Allie seem to be quite busy this time of year. Having mom at home with them is a huge relief for me. That way their live's will remain as normal as possible.
I just want to say thanks to everyone for all your continued prays and support for my entire family.
Well my laundry is not doing itself so I better log off and get busy. I will blog with you later. Take care.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
It was suggested to me that I start a blog page so that everyone can keep informed on the progress of this new adventure in my life. I apoligize now for all the rambling I will probably do. I have never been much for putting my thoughts into words. So here it goes.
As many of you may or may not know I have been working on getting all my testing done for the transplant for the last 9 months or so. I am hoping to start this next phase at the end of this month. I have an appointment in Wichita on Tuesday Feb. 10th. At this appointment I will either get the final go ahead or a new plan to work with.
Believe me, I know this all seems really quick after the passing of my dad, but I know with all my heart this is what he would have wanted me to do. Dad had his transplant 13 years ago this month. In those 13 years he lived his life for every day. He had a wonderfull transplant experience and I expect no less. I know dad will be with both Deanna and I as we go through this and everything will be great.
Deanna has graciously agreed to donate one of her kidneys to me. And after two days of testing and lots of "pee" collections we found out that we were a 5 out of 6 match. This is the next best thing to perfect as siblings can get. Goes to show you don't have to look alike to have deep blood ties. In Dec. I had a Drs. PA ask me if Deanna was going to donate one or two kidneys. I just had to laugh and said "well I think she needs to keep one". I think what made it so funny was she was serious and I am not sure she ever got what she said.
Well we have lots of plans already in the works for how things will happen but I will let you know them after the 10th.
Danna
As many of you may or may not know I have been working on getting all my testing done for the transplant for the last 9 months or so. I am hoping to start this next phase at the end of this month. I have an appointment in Wichita on Tuesday Feb. 10th. At this appointment I will either get the final go ahead or a new plan to work with.
Believe me, I know this all seems really quick after the passing of my dad, but I know with all my heart this is what he would have wanted me to do. Dad had his transplant 13 years ago this month. In those 13 years he lived his life for every day. He had a wonderfull transplant experience and I expect no less. I know dad will be with both Deanna and I as we go through this and everything will be great.
Deanna has graciously agreed to donate one of her kidneys to me. And after two days of testing and lots of "pee" collections we found out that we were a 5 out of 6 match. This is the next best thing to perfect as siblings can get. Goes to show you don't have to look alike to have deep blood ties. In Dec. I had a Drs. PA ask me if Deanna was going to donate one or two kidneys. I just had to laugh and said "well I think she needs to keep one". I think what made it so funny was she was serious and I am not sure she ever got what she said.
Well we have lots of plans already in the works for how things will happen but I will let you know them after the 10th.
Danna
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