Below is an email I sent out to my workmates:
I have been home now since Monday. I still feel very saw and very tired, but otherwise very happy that everything worked.
The night before the operation was horrendous. The ward was extremely hot causing me to clock watch throughout the night until 8.30am when they called me down to theatre. I thought I would fall to pieces at this point, but was surprised at how composed I was. This is mainly down to how fantastic the care is – the transplant co-ordinator is always there to talk and the nurses are hard working and very supportive.
After the operation I had wires coming from everywhere, but as the days went on the doctors removed them one by one. There was a slight scare on the first night when my blood pressure dropped to a very low level, but as soon as my fluids were increased everything seemed to level out. When our visitors arrived at 2 o clock on Saturday they were all shocked by how sick I looked compared to my Dad, who was sat upright in bed with a big smile on his face.
That soon changed. As soon as Sunday came around my dad’s euphoria was replaced by shear pain; his epidural type treatment had warn off. I on the other hand continued to press my morphine button, and by 11am I was sat in the chair next to my bed. On Monday morning I had my Catheter out, allowing me to walk freely around the ward. I was then kicked out on Monday evening as long as someone was arranged to care for me for the next two weeks at least.
My care has been fantastic! I have both my Mum and Kim running around for my every need. I feel like a little boy again! Yesterday Kim and I took a brief walk down to my GP to have my bandages changed, as well as have further blood tests. Apparently the poison in my blood is high, but this is normal as my body takes a bit of time to adjust to one kidney.
I am so pleased that so far this has gone so well. I was out of hospital in three days, and my dad’s creatinine levels (poison in his blood) have dropped from 1100 when we first arrived to 150 within two days (the normal amount is in double figures). All of his wires have been removed also, and we hope he will be discharged by the weekend.
All I need to sort out now is my sleep! For some reason I can’t sleep longer than two hours before waking up. This is due to two things: I have to drink 3 litres of water a day, and I have a lot of air trapped in my body after the operation. This means that the toilet has become my greatest ally!
I would like to thank you all for your kind words, as well as your support. I have had a lot of visitors since returning from hospital, and many of your cards take pride of place in the hallway.
#1 by Quartzgryph on July 3rd, 2009
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Your photos. You have another kidney in your elbow? Eew.
#2 by Chaya Lipschutz on July 5th, 2009
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Dear Matt,
Hi, congrats! I too had donated a kidney – to a stranger and have a project to help others who are in need of a kidney. My brother donated a kidney as well – to someone on my list of people in need of a kidney. So, I make kidney matches, but it’s not easy to get people to donate a kidney. I don’t get paid or charge a fee.
Matt – so much more difficult to donate a kidney in England, to a stranger. And if it’s a friend, you need to prove it. Why don’t they let total stranger donate kidneys like in the good old USA??? So many more lives can be saved in England if they would allow this.
I know of a 40 year old man with kids in the UK in England. He needs a kidney and if he doesn’t have family members, he should be able to get a kidney from a stranger. Why not? There was an article written about him in a UK newspaper – I don’t know if anything will come out of it, but if a stranger responds, why not?
Anyhow – G-d bless you for what you did!
All the best,
Chaya Lipschutz
#3 by Nancy Murrell on July 5th, 2009
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Congrats! I just donated, too. I think the hospital food was the worst of it, and yes, the toilet and I have grown quite close. Activia yogurt, if they have it there, is also your friend. Good job, sir. Your family must be so proud and grateful.