Journey: Where Do We Go From Here?

please read Journey: The Beginning  for the first part of this story.

Lucas is in kidney failure. The team of doctor's that have been taking care of Lucas for the past 17 years have determined that it is now time to start the process of finding a donor.

The best donor would be a parent however that isn't always possible so at this time my cousin, Kevin and I have decided that we would like to be tested to see if one of us would be a suitable donor for Lucas.

I spoke with Beth, Lucas's transplant coordinator yesterday. She will be sending me the kit that I will need to take with me to the local hospital to get bloodwork done. After the blood work is done they will know my blood type relatively soon however it will be a few weeks before they will know about the antibodies and chromosomes. So I am thinking we will know where I stand as a possible donor before Easter.

I found it funny yesterday when Beth was going through the screening process because she asked if my husband was ok with this. I thought how incredibly rude it would be for someone to say "hey I'll donate" but then to find out that their family would be against it.

Yes my husband and my kids are fine with this decision. We discussed it. I was asked by my boss "What if one of your kids would need your kidney later?" What if they never would? I have 3 healthy, happy children. I would give them any body part of mine that they needed when they needed it. I have no reason to believe that my children would ever need my kidney. Lucas needs a kidney now. I could not live with myself holding onto a kidney that I do not need just for a what if. Seriously! My husband, children and I are completely 100% on board. Austin even asked if he could be tested. He can not be because you have to be 18 to donate. 

So here we are at the hurry up and wait stage...one of them.


I have thought about all of this alot this week. What if I am not compatable? Who next? What will we do? How much time? Typical questions really for any situation.  My heart and mind came to ease yesterday when I was talking with Beth. As I have mentioned several times before my Dad has passed away. Shortly after he passed away I noticed that we would have these three red cardinals that would hang out in our backyard. I began to think of them as a symbol of my Dad, Grandma and my Dad's Dad. All three have passed away many years between each others passing but possibly all together again.  So, yesterday as I was talking to Beth and I was walking back and forth through my kitchen and dining room I looked out my sliding door to see three red cardinals out in my backyard. Two of them remained in my yard until after the phone call ended while the other one went on to my neighbor's yard with a 4th cardinal.  So at that moment I said "We Got This!" Dad and Grandma are with us even at the very early beginning stages.