Life on dialysis

First I want to give everyone an update on how Jason has been doing with the dialysis. We have had many people reach out to him via the Facebook page, and that has really helped to lift him up. Although Jason is a very positive person and has managed to keep his spirits up as of late, this is a challenge he shouldn't have to face alone. His energy is usually drained and his muscles have atrophied, so even something as simple as climbing stairs is a major hurdle. Thanks to his wife and family and all of you, he doesn't have to deal with this alone. Here was the message he sent to me yesterday:

Had a rough week at dialysis and cramping in both legs. Tuesday was the hardest, even though it was a non-dialysis day. [I am] trying to stay positive. The positive of the week were the monetary donations and well-wishes. Having two potential donors contact Mayo is so heartwarming.

When I was sitting with the Costells in Starbucks two weeks ago, learning the details of Jason's kidney disease, as well as his and Maribel's story, I was touched by how lovingly they communicated and interacted with each other. Even though they have not been married even a year, they seem to have a love that two people can only attain after years of ups and downs; deep and rich, like a fine wine. As Jason described to me his struggles with dialysis and being sick, silent tears welled up in Maribel's eyes.

I asked them if they felt like they were soul mates. They both looked at me as if it was something they hadn't even yet considered, and then said, "Yes, I think that is the perfect way to describe us."

Maribel explained the impact that dialysis has had on their family. She said it is hard to see him hooked up to a machine. Maribel also detailed what a great stepdad Jason is.

He and daughter Natalya (6) especially have a great relationship, but Jason's illness has been hardest on her. She has a hard time understanding why her favorite playmate isn't able to interact with her the way he used to. Natalya has many times asked Jason if he can just skip dialysis that day, because she knows how tired he feels after. Once getting Jason home on his dialysis days,

Maribel says that she usually takes her girls out of the house for a while to allow Jason to rest.

Initially, Jason had hoped to work part time, but that quickly went out the window when the side effects of dialysis became too overwhelming.  

Despite all of these mountains to climb, they hold on to their optimism and love for each other. They take life one day at a time, and handle each new trial as it arises. For now, they are praying that one of these potential donors is a match.

If you would like to help Jason cover the cost of his dialysis, I have set up a GoFundMe page for the Costells. You can donate by clicking here.

If you have type O blood and would like to learn more about how you may be a donor, click here.

Again, thank you for your support.

 

How to find out if you're a match to become a living kidney donor

When Jason does find a donor, both he and his donor will receive their operations at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Jason wants to express that he has the utmost confidence in the doctors at this hospital. He received his last transplant at UMC in Tucson, but made the decision to go through Mayo this time around for various reasons.

He would like to iterate to anyone who may be apprehensive about traveling to Phoenix for appointments, testing, and the surgery itself, that the time spent in the waiting room for him at UMC was equivalent to how long it would take to drive to Mayo.

Any potential donors will be reimbursed for any mileage accrued to and from appointments, and all costs related to the surgery itself will be covered by Jason's insurance (with the exception of meals).

The testing process can be kept anonymous, and Mayo does not inform him how far along anyone is in this testing process.

Below I have copied information that the Mayo Clinic Arizona provides about their Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program.

What is living kidney donation?
A friend or family member who generously volunteers to donate a kidney to a patient who is on the UNOS transplant list and who meets the following criteria:

• End-stage renal disease

What are the qualifications for being a living kidney donor?

• Donor age 18 or older
• Blood-type compatible (In Jason's case, this would be anyone with O-type blood)
• No major medical problems
• No active or chronic infections
• No active alcohol or drug use
• Acceptable BMI (Body Mass Index)
• Compatible donor anatomy

What you can expect:

• Donor safety (and the safety of all our patients) is our number one priority at Mayo Clinic
• Complete confidentiality
• Care and concern from the medical team and living donor advocate

The surgery and recovery:

• The kidney is removed using the laparoscopic approach, involving several small abdominal incisions
• Normal, minimal discomfort (managed with pain meds)
• Average hospitalization is 1-2 days
• One-to-two week stay in the Phoenix area after surgery for follow-up appointments
• Four weeks of low impact activity with estimated return to work in four to six weeks, depending on job requirements

Reliable websites for more information on donation:

• www.kidney.org
• www.transplantliving.org
• www.mayoclinic.org
• www.mayclinic.com
• www.livingdonors.com

If I want to be considered as a living kidney donor, what should I do now?

Contact the Living Kidney Donor Team at the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center to complete a preliminary health screening

via telephone: 480.342.1010

via email: SDLKidney@mayo.edu

Source: Mayo Clinic

Kidneys and Conversations

First, I want to welcome everyone who has found their way to this blog. As the title suggests, Jason went into kidney failure (again) in the spring of 2014, just two weeks after marrying the love of his life, Maribel, and becoming a stepfather to her three girls Kayla (15), Bianca (13), and Natalya (6). Before learning that he would be fighting for his life again, Jason and Maribel had dreams of having a child together.

When we met to discuss this page, I fell in love with their story. I think you will, too. This is why I felt that they needed an entire blog devoted to it, and not just a Facebook page with a basic description.

***

Jason and Maribel met in 2012, while both were working at Liberty Mutual in Tucson. Their desks were next to each other, and Jason recalls overhearing Maribel talking about her father, who was (and still is) on dialysis. Thinking that he had the perfect reason to strike up a conversation with a beautiful woman, Jason approached Maribel. Eventually, he asked her out on their first date: Applebee's. On this date, they say that their, "first conversation was about kidneys." Jason told his story, and Maribel told about her father's struggle. Both Jason and Maribel knew almost immediately that they wanted to spend their lives together.

***

That's it for today. Stay tuned for more of their story, as well as more details on Jason's condition, and for detailed information on everything you need to know about becoming a living donor. Thank you for your support!