Saturday - new weekly update

This is a picture of some of the 'get well soon' cards my Dad and I have received. Everyone has been so kind thinking of us.

I have decided to update my blog every Saturday now that I am home from the hospital. If anything interesting happens, I will do a post in between. I hope you will keep checking on my blog each week.

Dad and I are recovering at home. My Dad has got a cold already! Hopefully it will get better soon.

I have been going to the hospital every day to have my bloods checked and my blood pressure and weight too. Of course, the day we came out of hospital, I suddenly started to feel a lot of pain that night. In the morning, it was still hurting a lot and I thought I may have an infection. At the hospital I had to have an ultrasound scan as the Dr thought maybe it was the stent that was causing it. Everything looked fine on the scan and, as usually happens, as soon as I got to the hospital I started to feel better and the pain disappeared. They think it was the stent that moved a bit and caused some irritation. Typical! (The stent is a small tube that has been inserted into my ureter and bladder whilst my bladder gets used to the kidney, this will be removed about 6 weeks after the transplant - another anaethestic to look forward to!).

Apart from that everything is good so far. Being at home is great but boring in some ways. I am resting quite a bit. I have also started to eat loads! Trust me, I mean loads! The steroids I am taking are making me feel hungry all the time. I still have pain by my new kidney but it is gradually getting better, I can turn on my right side now rather than just lying on my back.

Introducing Tyler - the newest member of the family! This is my brother's cat. He is so cute, especially when he sleeps.

I'll have another post soon.

Q

Friday 1.50pm

The pain is a bit better today. I am off the morphine and have had my neck line taken off. It hurt because there were three stitches holding it in that had to be removed. The nurses were very kind though.

I have slept quite a bit this morning. Mrs M from school is coming to see me this afternoon and also Julie.

I have to drink now - 250ml an hour at least. I have not eaten much but I know I have to start. I haven't got out of bed yet today but have to soon because I have to be weighed. I am not looking forward to that.

My Dad is doing well. He had an infection which hurt alot but the antibiotics seem to be working. He has been out of bed this morning and is cheerful. He says he feels nearly back to normal.

Q

I'm back

Hello everyone. This is the blog note my uncle Jude wrote out at 7.35pm shortly after I got back to my room from theatre. Don't worry Mum has checked it with me!

Just woke up, feeling a lot of pain. Mum, G'ma, my Aunt and my fab uncle Jude were waiting for me. I am very happy as I just found out I have no canula's on my left hand and that hand is completely free. I have lots of canulas in my right hand. I think canulas are one of the worst things about being in hospital, especially when they need flushing. Something new should be invented!

I have a button to press when I need more morphine. Unfortunately they have fixed it that the maximum I can press it is once every 10 minutes. This stops me from overdosing. That stops my fun!

Feeling very sleepy with 7/10 pain. The nurses said the first question I asked was about how my Dad was. Fine apparently and wathching the France match. My Mum just told me they cut my hair whilst I was in theater! Ha Ha!

My bro also decided to join in the fun today - he was sent to A&E at the RFH by the GP because of his symptons - very bad cough and other stuff - he was seen by the tropical disease doctors. They were very good and he has had all possible samples taken. Any way he has been sent home with antibiotics.

My Dad is doing well. He is quite sleepy too. My mum took a photo of him for me from his hospital bed.

Tomorrow I will be able to tell more.

Week before the big day

This is my last week before the op. What have I got to look forward to? Well - this week I have to do exams - french, math and RE! What fun! The french is part of my GCSE coursework - yea! I also have to do a speech for english which I am surprisingly looking forward to. It is about the hospital and what makes it so great. In fact, I will try to upload my slides to this site so you can join in. Yeaaahhhahh. That also counts towards my english GCSE. I'm trying to keep up with everything but its kinda hard.

School have been great, they are treating me with lots of care and kindness. Big thanks to Mrs M, Mrs G, Mrs B and Mr W and of course, the infirmary. Everyone really. Also good luck to Sister H who is retiring - what will you do without us to keep you busy?

Tuesday is my last hospital appointment before the big day - this is when they do a last cross match between me and my Dad. They do this by taking blood samples. This is done at GOSH. After this appointment my Dad is going to the RFH (where he is having his op) to find out more about the ward and to do a pre-admission. This means he gets to go in later on the 16th but I have to arrive at midday. I'll tell you more about that in a later blog.