Unconditional Love

Just an update on the Transplant Listing, Joe has almost completed all his appointments. He has a few more in January and if all goes well the doctors from the transplant team will go over all his results. Then we will know soon if he will be listed or just end up destination with this LVAD.

We received the packet on the heart transplant information and the emotions are on full overload. This is truly a test of our strength and togetherness. I, of course have several issues and I am concerned about all we have to do and not do. We were all ready to move forward and get this under way, but now we are really apprehensive about the whole transplant in general.

Any transplant patient has to be very cautious for the rest of their lives. The list was overwhelming. I know him being alive is the ultimate goal but in order to stay alive we have a lot to learn. We have a lot to think about and we have a lot of decisions to make along the way. Joe will literally have to change his lifestyle drastically and I’m not sure he is ready for all that is coming our way.

We have been praying, researching and going over every little thing that we can. This is not as easy a decision as we thought. The medications alone that Joe will be on the rest of his life are enough to question why. The risks they come with are something we never expected. They can cause all kinds of problems, but in order for his body to keep a transplanted heart alive he must takes these meds for the rest of his life.

Joe will be under a microscope for the rest of his life. He will have CT scans, X-rays, biopsies, bloodwork, appointments by several doctors of all different practices, diabetes testing, rejection testing and screening for health issues that could arise from the meds. Although we are used to all the medical stuff now our life is going change even more if we decide to go ahead with the transplant.

I talked to a friend whose husband had four organs transplanted and she said it was worth saving his life but the change of lifestyle has taken a toll somewhat. The meds caused a lot of issues, he rejected a few times, the doctors corrected the rejection with meds and hospital stays. Any little germ, virus, spore or bacteria could start the process of rejection. Joe will have to avoid all of these things for the rest of his life. His new health issue will Immune suppressed and he will be susceptible to everything. His body will not be able to fight off any of this because the meds destroy his whole immune system.

Are we ready for all this? I truly don’t know. So here I sit day by day, researching, reading and preparing. It’s not a cut and dry decision. It’s not an easy decision. What’s going to be will be and I hope we are strong enough to endure what’s ahead. Praying for answers is the only choice that seems right at this moment. It’s in God’s hands.

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