hi everyone
Will try to get this update in, but its still a bit tricky typing at the weird angle my laptop is at.
So things went really good with the surgery. The kidney was a bit larger than normal which they said was a good thing. Also they said the kidney worked almost as well as a 'living donor' kidney. This is when someone who is alive donates a kidney, preventing the kidney from 'dying' with the body. Living kidneys have the highest success rate, and often last the longest (kidney transplants are not permanent).
Also, my creatine levels were 22 when i went in for surgery, after a week and a half they are down to normal, healthy levels, about 1.5. Creatine helps determine how well a kidney is functioning. So, 1.5 down from 22 in such a short time is really good.
As a result i am not officially off of dialysis. Off of the restrictive diet i had to be on and can eat normal again.
I'm feeling a lot better, both physically and mentally even.
So thank you all for the prayers, they definitely helped.
I was actually able to spend Christmas with my family, eat dinner, play games and have fun. I've seen them a few times since being released, and been able to have fun and enjoy myself. I even made it to a movie. (By the way, funny movie + recent surgery/staples = bad idea, hahaha).
Where that leaves me now, though, and where continued prayers would be appreciated..
-I'm on a lot of meds right now, and something is causing some problems with my stomach. Some of the meds will taper off over the next few weeks, but since i'm not sure which one is the guilty party, i don't know if it will be one i will come off of or not.
-Currently i'm taking 2 trips a week for blood tests and doctor visits to make sure meds are balanced and to ensure there is no sign of rejection from the kidney. This will go for about 2 months, and then will start slowing down. Right now i can't drive, but the drive there is confusing and the drive back is worse. I know i will have to learn it eventually, and that has me a bit nervous since i am really not familiar at all with the city i drive to, or the freeways here.
-I haven't had much pain from the procedure, but do still have some discomfort and a little difficulty getting around, so please prayer to get past that quickly.
-I also have about 4-6 inches of staples to be removed in 2 weeks. I have the tube surgically implanted in my abdomen (for when i was doing dialysis) that needs to come out around the same time. I think that will require a couple staples to close up. And some kind of stent is still inside me, not sure how they plan on getting that out.
-My meds make me at higher risk for infections as well.
Sorry for not updating sooner. As i said, its a bit uncomfortable to try to type much still, and Marcella, my updater has been both sick and busy and hasn't been able to update for me. But thanks again to all who commented, prayed and sent messages.
YOU stay strong, focused on Him, and, songs like this hopefully make you feel with Him kjowing, He who is strong enough 
