exciting, anxious times

[llywela]

My cousin Gavin had a kidney transplant last night.

Gavin was born with only one kidney, and it was withered and had to be removed almost immediately. His parents - my Mum's stepbrother and his wife, Rob and Ann - were told he probably wouldn't live more than a few months. He is now 29 years old. He had two transplants as a child. One failed almost immediately. The other lasted almost five years. He called it Fred, and was devastated when it failed, when he was 12. Those few short years were the closest he ever came to having a normal life. He refused to go back on the transplant register for years afterward, because you can only ever have three of the same transplants, so this third one is It. It's the last chance. So he didn't want to go back on the list for the longest time because if he had this third transplant and it didn't work, he would never have another chance, and he didn't want to lose that hope. And he has some kind of weird blood type, or antibodies or something, so that no one in the family was a good enough match.

This new kidney now isn't a perfect match. But the consultants and specialists all agreed that it is the closest match they are ever going to find. I don't want to think about who it came from. I can't think about who it came from. It is too soon to say if the transplant will hold, so desperately hoping that is does is the priority right now.

No one ever thought Gavin would live as long as he has. He's the sweetest guy you could ever hope to meet, and I really wish I got to see more of him. The years and years of dialysis have taken an enormous physical toll on him. He never grew taller than five foot. He has had countless infections and blockages and surgeries from minor to major - his arms are a patchwork of scars, and swellings that never go down. In the last few years he's been finding it harder and harder to walk more than a couple of hundred yards at a time, and has to use a wheelchair quite often. He struggled to get through school, and has never been able to work, because of being tied to dialysis three times a week. If this operation works, if the transplant is a success, it will make the most enormous difference to his life - he will get to actually have a life. If it is a success.

Please keep Gavin in your thoughts in the next few days and weeks.

Comments

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

My heart and fervent good wishes go out to you, Gavin and his family. All the very best of luck for the coming few weeks. He sounds like quite the one to defy the odds, so here's to more of the same for you all. Hugs.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. He's a real fighter, so hopefully that will be in his favour.

[saberivojo.livejournal.com]

I worked in a dialysis facility for several years, I know first hand how hard this is for Gavin and your family.

Well, Gavin seems to be a fighter and that is always good. He has the support of his family, again, another good thing.

He and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

He's a survivor all right. He's done so well to get this far. I just hope it works out - he deserves this chance, he really does, and it would be awful to have it taken away again.

[welshdreamer.livejournal.com]

Poor old Gavin, he's certainly been through the wars. I shall be thinking about him.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[wildcard-sej.livejournal.com]

Goodness, poor lad - it must have been really frustrating growing up knowing the difference a transplant could have made, but not being willing to risk his last chance failing. At the same time, waiting means that there have been medical improvements in the meantime which must have improved his chances considerably. Hope all goes well. *hugs*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

waiting means that there have been medical improvements in the meantime which must have improved his chances considerably.
Yep, that was a big part of why he wanted to wait - he's always hoped, all these years, that there would be improvements in medical science that would improve his chances. Here's hoping that's the case! If anyone deserves good fortune, it's him.

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

I will. I really hope it will be a success.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey. Positive vibes can't hurt!

[babelmira.livejournal.com]

I'll light a candle

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It means a lot.

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

Sending positive thoughts. *crosses fingers and toes*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated, thank you. Latest update says the kidney started working the moment it went in and is still functioning now, almost 24 hours later, but it is still really early days.

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Hon, you can be sure he will be. I'll be sending your cousin, you and your family good vibes and healing thoughts. Your cousin is, indeed, a fighter, which made a world of difference.
*hugs*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Things are looking good so far - hopefully they will continue that way.

[siluria]

All the best to your cousin xx

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[lembeau.livejournal.com]

I will. I think he and his family are such courageous people.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you. They've had their ups and downs, but on the whole have been amazing, the way they've coped over the years.

[shaw012145.livejournal.com]

Good luck Gavin. I truly hope it is third time lucky.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you - we're all hoping this time nothing will go wrong.

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Sending many positive thoughts his way *hugs* I hope it is a success.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. :)

[vltavska.livejournal.com]

Thinking of you and your fam!!!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jo!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_carly_/]

Wow, he has certainly been through the mill. Sending lots of positive vibes your way.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's been a really rough road over the years. I just hope the transplant will be a complete success this time.

[daphnis.livejournal.com]

Jo, I will pass your request along to friends and family, among whom are some mighty powerful health-beamers and strength-channelers. I'll do my best, too! He sounds like a truly gutsy guy who deserves a better chance to have a less limited life.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that all is going well so far. I will be thinking of this courageous young man and sending positive vibes over the coming days and weeks. You really do have some very remarkable people in your family! Hope all continues to go well.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Big family = all the more opportunity for drama!

Thank you for your positive thoughts. So far things are looking good - here's hoping they continue that way.

How's the ankle?