Movement in the Transplant Process

I just got off the phone with one of the transplant coordinators from UCLA. Finally, someone who took the time to explain the process to me. Thank God!

Suzanne said that all four of us are now medically cleared. Now what has to happen is that Bob's blood needs to be cross-matched with Janet's and mine needs to be cross-matched with Maria's. It's already been established that Maria and I are a go, but the problem may be with Bob and his antibodies from a previous transplant.

If the cross-matching goes well, Janet and Maria will meet with the surgeons for their clearance. If the surgeons say "yes," then it's a matter of scheduling and final blood tests and chest x-rays. Suzanne said that she's now scheduling living donations in mid-September, and ours is complicated by a paired donation. She is trying to get things done before Janet must return to work in the fall, but she's not making any promises.

Suzanne told me that Maria and I are only blood-compatible, not tissue-compatible. There are six points of tissue compatibility, and we do not have one of the six in common. Suzanne said this is no longer considered a factor in the viability of the organ or in the patient's long-term survivability. She also seemed to say that it has little to do with the amount of immune suppressants I will have to take post-op.

I remain optimistic. It's a miracle that I would move in next to a woman who wants to be my donor. And it's a miracle how we got hooked up with Bob and Maria. It sure seems as if the universe has orchestrated things thus far. I'm sure that all will go smoothly and we'll get the transplants done this summer.

I just need to get over this cold! After three full weeks, I'm still congested and coughing. Still having to sit up every night to sleep.