It's Official!

Today has been on my radar for a while now. I knew that today was the day that the Transplant Candidate Review Committee was meeting about my case. Based on all my medical testing and current kidney functioning, they had to determine if I was suitable for the kidney transplant list. This afternoon I got the call that I was accepted. As of tomorrow, I will officially be on the kidney transplant waiting list.

When I was at my appointment a couple weeks ago, I was told that if I was accepted on the list, I might have to be put on inactive status. Insurance won’t cover a transplant until kidney function is 20% or below. As of April I was at 22%. Part of me was glad that maybe I’d have to wait. On the other hand, after going through this process, I wasn’t sure I wanted to wait for what was inevitable. Was it better to have my kidney function maintain its current level or drop so I could get on that list and get the ball rolling? Well, I didn’t have to think too hard about it. At my last appointment they took more blood. My nurse coordinator called me last week to say that my functioning had dropped to 20%, so I just made the cut-off.

My hope is to have a living donor, but being on the list is the next best thing. It can take years to get the call, but one never knows when that match will be found. I just hope I can avoid dialysis before I’m able to get a new kidney. For someone who likes to have control and be able to plan, this is all out of my hands. All I can do is wait...