Since we have the approval to get a kidney transplant at Hopkins, they have started the ball rolling rather quickly.  I was surprised to get the phone call on Tuesday asking us to come in the next day for an all day kidney transplant evaluation.

So early Wednesday morning, we trekked down to Hopkins again for the day.  We met with the social worker, dietician, surgeon, coordinator, and the nephrologist.  While they are hopeful that his liver is recovering well, they would like to have a liver biopsy performed to ensure its health.  In addition, Brent needs to have a stress test and a colonoscopy before a transplant. 

Brent's brother, Craig, has been worked up as a potential kidney donor, however, at this meeting they informed us that he is not a great match and our goal is to find a better match. 

So we are now in the process of praying for our next steps.  On the morning of the meetings I read the following verses.  I kept them with me throughout the day, reading them in between the meetings:

 Summon your power, O God, show us your strength. (Psalm 68:25)   He strengthens me with power through his Spirit in my inner being. (Ephesians 3:16)  Your strength will equal your days (Deutoronomy 33:25). 

It has been a long time since I have posted.  Brent has in general been feeling great.  He started back to work full time in early July and feels well, but our schedule is a bit exhausting.  He is doing home dialysis on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays.  It takes about 4 hours each time.  On the days he works, Brent comes home around 6 and immediately hooks up to dialysis until bedtime. 

Brent's liver blood work has come back -- previously three different values were elevated.  One has come down significantly, and the other two are stable.  We are switching to a new gastroenterolgist, Dr. Hamilton, who is the head of liver transplantation at Hopkins.  We think he will probably do a liver biopsy to diagnose the reason for the elevated blood work.

We have not gotten anymore bloodwork back from Iowa to assess the cause of the HUS.  The HUS still is in remission and Brent' red blood counts are higher than they have been in years, which has attributed to him feeling so great.  Hopefully we will get those results back soon.

The insurance once again denied our appeal to do a transplant at Hopkins.  However, Hopkins has told us that they will accept the 70% that our insurance will pay, and the 20% that Medicare will pay and waive the rest of the fee after we pay our deductible.  This allows us to do a transplant at Hopkins (when we get to that stage) and not have to switch to new doctors and a new facility.  This is a huge praise.

We are continuing to turn to the Lord for our strength and joy each day and have found many things to be thankful for.  I read a book this summer called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp that I have loved and it has kept my perspective looking at all that God has given us.  I really recommend reading it.   As always, we are so thankful for you and your prayers and your love for our family.