Happy March,

Sorry for the delay for those who are following this blog.

I will from now on update this at the first of each month at the least.

Recovery from the transplant is going well, I still go back to Grand Rapids once every two weeks, sometimes every week recently. My creatinine has a record low of 1.7 last week. The trouble is my white blood cell count is currently at 1. (white blood cell count at 1 means I have no immune system, I am very high risk to catch a cold or virus, and if I do it will knock me out big time, hospitalize type stuff. The average cold someone gets that takes them out for a day or three will hospitalize me for a week to 10 days and could be worse.) They have changed some meds recently trying to combat that. I'm close to putting the mask back on. Mainly I have been told not to frequent crowds. So when at the ski lodge I go in and out if I need to go in for some reason. At church I come in late (when people are already seated) go to the front and after I wait until they file out and then sneak out behind the alter! I have just started back to church last week.

The Doctor asked me a few weeks ago is he was letting me ski yet, I said, No. And then he asked me a few questions about my body and he then walked away to go do his rounds at the hospital. So later with the other Nephrologist, I asked him the same question and he said I can get on my ski's to teach and coach or just move around the hill to watch Lili, but NO FAST SKIING! So that is where I am at ski wise.

As far as work they have asked me not to work construction until I get cleared probably this summer.

Kelli has been working a lot, I have been busy keeping up with Lili's ski schedule. Between running her to training or to races it has been busy. Kelli has work with her day job, plus she is coaching for Leelanau ski club and helping at the race dept. at Crystal Mt.

Besides Lili racing every weekend, she went to age class championships in Marquette two weeks ago and raced against kids from 6 or so states around the midwest. She did respectably. Some top ten finishes, with an overall average of 12th out of 60 kids. There were 9 races. 3 big G, 3 GS and 3 Slalom. She now has qualified for the Junior Olympics to be held in Winterpark, Colorado, which without working the last 4 months really is not in our budget. Oh well.

So that is my excuse for not keeping up on my blog.

Weather is great in Mi. right now, Welcome spring type weather.

See you next entry.

God Bless,

Bruce

01/13/2010

A little back step this week, Creatinine went up to 2 from 1.8, although hemoglobin went up like it is supposed to! Dr. is not happy with the creatinine increase, so I received an assignment and will re test Friday. Pray and cross fingers for improvement.

Lili is still skiing fast, Kelli is still working hard, and I make a great house husband.

Thank you to all who are bringing food, You do not know how much that has and is helping. It is truly appreciated.

Thanks to all,

God Bless,

Bruce

1-11-2010

Remember me?

Just to give a little update on my recovery. We have been pretty busy with Kelli working long hours to try to support us and myself running Lili around to her different events.

I personally feel real good, probably too good! I need to hold myself down to not do too much. I feel like I can do anything and I know I shouldn't.

As you know from the last entry my Creatinine has gone down substantially, As of the 28th it was 2.3 and Monday the 4th we did another blood test and the Creatinine was down to 1.8, which the Dr.'s were a little surprised about, they expect it to go down but this is a little faster than expected. it is all good. The Hemoglobin is at 10.1, and we still want that to go up.

Lately I have been suffering from Gout and having trouble walking at certain times This surprises the Nephrologists do to the fact they thought that gout would be gone with the new kidney. Oh well! its always something.

We did receive note from the donor family, We feel for them and would ask everyone put them in your prayers for the loss of there husband, father, grandfather. We will one day meet these people. That is my thought.

I have another blood draw tomorrow, I'll get the results out sooner this time...really!

God Bless

Bruce

12-28-2009

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

My next goal is to learn how to put a picture on this thing!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and remembered why we have Christmas. Thank he who created us.... Gale!!!

Anyway, onward and upward. Life has been busy, Kelli has been working long hours helping Boyne Mountain Snow Sports Academy through the Holidays. She leaves home at 0630 and returns at 1900 hrs. I fuel the car make lunches and breakfast and send her on her way. I am the house husband, and I have only been in trouble for forgetting to have the laundry done, once! Oh well. Lili has been going with her Mom this week, Lili is doing Boyne Mountains Christmas Camp.

Tomorrow I go to GR to see Dr. Boelkins or Legault. To get an update on my kidney function. I hope to have the Creatinine in the ones somewhere.

I have started a new fundraising program to help finance my new kidney. Since the two real Dr.'s have told Dr. Wife and Dr. Mom it is OK for me to tune ski's, I have started a ski tuning for donation benefit. You can go to "www.gtskiclub.org" and find a link to see what it is all about.

We had a great Christmas, I received a kidney, plus some clothes, and I am very thankful to God for the gifts I have received. The dogs got skunks, squirrels and BIG bones to chew!

Lili played Santa handing out gifts and opening stockings. The stockings contained lots of candy and foot and toe warmers, even Adams, I don't think Adam will mind us using his toe warmers due to the fact in the southern climate you don't need them!

Kelli had a very practical Christmas, Santa brought her some Garage organizing material.

So, All good here.

More tomorrow after the Dr.'s visit.

God Bless,

Bruce

12/24/09

For whatever reason that post from the 23rd did not complete, I guess that is what happens when you are on the edge of wifi and you try to send with weak signal, sorry.

Anyway, My two Dr.'s said go ahead from Boelkins and Maunders said if it hurts don't do it! So waxing and tuning is my winter hobby, it only hurts as much as being awake.

Now to the more important stuff.

Creatinine as of Monday is at 2.4. Dr Boelkins is very happy with this and tells me to keep up whatever I'm doing.

Someone who I failed to mention from the party two weeks ago is Scott Young. Scott plowed three or four parking lots around the Yacht Club to allow 500 or so people to come to the benefit dinner. Thanks Scott.

My Christmas present is Life itself, (and of course a kidney) this whole deal gives me a whole new perspective on life. To have good health I have always taken for granted, now I can see what a gift good health is. To those who have it, cherish it, and pray for those who need it.

God Bless and have a very Merry Christmas.

Bruce

12-23-09

Wow, I'm back, I kind of forget to post occasionally!

Last Friday Night Lili played the lead in the King is coming to town at her school Christmas play.

We did not tell Mom and Dad and they were surprised, she did a great job I guess, I was not there due to germs but I expect a video of it shortly.

Lili followed this up with ski races at Boyne Highlands over the weekend with a couple of wins. I actually rode up there with the girls and made my way to the bottom of the hill to watch her, It was nice to be out of the house.

I did have a trip to Grand Rapids this week to see the vascular sergeon who did my gortex graff. He is happy with the current blood flow to my leg that was in question, he will have me back in three months to make sure it keeps flowing.

I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Mom and Dr. Wife, they got on my case because I was waxing Lili's ski's. We I called my Dr.'s, Dr. Boelkins my Nephroligist in GR and My friedn Dr. Maunders who ski's a lot and asked them the question

12/17/2009

Good Morning,

I have been a little out of sorts this week, Not feeling that well, yet good report from the Dr.

On Tuesday Bill White was nice enough to get up at the crack of 0355 hrs and pick me up at 0430 hrs to be at my 7 am appoint with the vampire in Grand Rapids followed by the Dr. at 0815 hrs.

We made it on time despite the snow and icy roads and night blind driver! Just kidding.

My results were as follows:

Creatinine: 3.2 down from 4.6, That is really good news.

Hemoglobin: 10.5 which is also good yet the same as the prior Friday I believe.

Other levels like blood count and things that are above me were good as well. So things are still moving in the right direction. The Kidney is still not fully awake, they say it takes a while, yet it is functioning. Kelli keeps biffing it to wake it up! ya, that feels GREAT!

Slowly but surley I will get the thank you's out to those who contributed so much last Sat. night.

I must mention Scott Porter for his work on the computer, Putting together my attempt at the slide show that I gave him in pieces. Thanks Scott.

Also Kathy Stimac for her offer and completion of creating dessert for 400, That was really good, although I didn't get much, my girls liked it to, Kathy, your Turkey Chili last night was really, really good, thank you, and I know Mike Stimac had a hand in all of this as well, Thanks Mike, Mike take a ski run for me.

That is all for now, I am feeling better today so I may frequent this more.

God Bless,

Bruce