Comments on: Would You Be Willing to Sacrifice That? http://www.mikepottersblog.com/2009/02/would-you-be-willing-to-sacrifice-that/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=would-you-be-willing-to-sacrifice-that On life, learning, love, and laughter. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:09:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Matheny http://www.mikepottersblog.com/2009/02/would-you-be-willing-to-sacrifice-that/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Mike Matheny Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:16:00 +0000 http://www.mikepottersblog.com/?p=29#comment-87 What I have is a mild case of FMD (fibromuscular displasia), you can google the exact definition, but its basically a weaking of the (in my case) renal artery vein leading from the heart to my right kidney. My surgeon said it was the persistence of Dr. Ollin the head of radiology at Mt. Sinai that they discovered it. I guess he's the worlds renowned leader in the disease. The good news is that I have no symptons (which is high blood pressure). So there is nothing to treat, but if there was, they do a procedure where they "blow up" the vein and this is sucessfull 90% of the time. If that doesn't work they install a stint which is 100% successfull. Plus, I only have a mild case and its only on the right, none on the left. So, only yearly check ups with a regular doctor is recommended. <br/> How it all played out was I had an ultrasound and an MRA (not an MRI), last Tuesday to check inside. Then we were scheduled to meet with the surgeons on Thursday. They had just got the results back from Tuesday's test on Thursday and said they were inconclusive, so I needed to fast and come back for another ultrasound, before the scheduled surgery on Tuesday. I did so on Monday morning, before I picked up mom, dad, and aunt Linda from the airport. The results were still not in at 4 pm, but around 6:30 I got a call from my surgeon and he said the last test was also inconclusive and they wanted to do an angiogram. He said this couldn't happen until maybe Thur., I tried to tell him we were all planning for this week but he said they were all booked up and its best to wait. Then Heidi gets on the phone and uses her gift of persuasion, (please pray with me that her eyes are opened, so it will be used for the Gospel) and convinces him to schedule the angiogram for Tue. and with good results surgery for Wed. or Thur., so at this point we were still hopefull. Only 4% of the population has FMD and its more common in middle aged women. So, dad and I went to the city Tue. and had the test around 1pm and we were told the results around 3:30. A huge let down after starting this whole procedure actually at the end of November with blood tests and such. Plus, I knew Howie had been upstairs in his room since Sunday afternoon coming off his medicines and being stabilized ready for the surgery. Now he's hoping to get out today or Saturday becuase they have to re-introduce all his medications and get him stabalized. So he's by far the one that has gone thru the worst. Howie has been a great father-in-law the last 9 years and is an extremely loving, giving and caring person who has had very bad health problems. He only has one (his other 2 stopped working completely) funtioning kidney (which is at 11%) and that's his sisters that she donated 15 years ago.<br/> Meanwhile, Heidi spoke to my surgeon about her donation again. She had previously been ruled out because she had gestational diabetes with our last child. I guess they've already spoken to her genecologist and it was a very mild case so thats what were hoping for know. <br/> As I had been thinking (due to everyone telling me, that I was doing something very special) the surgeon I first met on Thursday re-iterated. Then proceded to tell me that they have some people that come in and don't know anyone who needs a kidney but still would like to donate!! This brought me back to earth pretty quick. Who would be wiling to sacrifice for a complete stranger? This leads me to scripture which says while we were yet sinners, he sacrificed for us. I think we all make sacrifices for our families (children especially,if you have them), but how many us can honestly say we sacrifce for complete strangers. I know I could defintely do more.<br/><br/>Thank you for your concerns and prayers,<br/><br/>Mike What I have is a mild case of FMD (fibromuscular displasia), you can google the exact definition, but its basically a weaking of the (in my case) renal artery vein leading from the heart to my right kidney. My surgeon said it was the persistence of Dr. Ollin the head of radiology at Mt. Sinai that they discovered it. I guess he’s the worlds renowned leader in the disease. The good news is that I have no symptons (which is high blood pressure). So there is nothing to treat, but if there was, they do a procedure where they “blow up” the vein and this is sucessfull 90% of the time. If that doesn’t work they install a stint which is 100% successfull. Plus, I only have a mild case and its only on the right, none on the left. So, only yearly check ups with a regular doctor is recommended.
How it all played out was I had an ultrasound and an MRA (not an MRI), last Tuesday to check inside. Then we were scheduled to meet with the surgeons on Thursday. They had just got the results back from Tuesday’s test on Thursday and said they were inconclusive, so I needed to fast and come back for another ultrasound, before the scheduled surgery on Tuesday. I did so on Monday morning, before I picked up mom, dad, and aunt Linda from the airport. The results were still not in at 4 pm, but around 6:30 I got a call from my surgeon and he said the last test was also inconclusive and they wanted to do an angiogram. He said this couldn’t happen until maybe Thur., I tried to tell him we were all planning for this week but he said they were all booked up and its best to wait. Then Heidi gets on the phone and uses her gift of persuasion, (please pray with me that her eyes are opened, so it will be used for the Gospel) and convinces him to schedule the angiogram for Tue. and with good results surgery for Wed. or Thur., so at this point we were still hopefull. Only 4% of the population has FMD and its more common in middle aged women. So, dad and I went to the city Tue. and had the test around 1pm and we were told the results around 3:30. A huge let down after starting this whole procedure actually at the end of November with blood tests and such. Plus, I knew Howie had been upstairs in his room since Sunday afternoon coming off his medicines and being stabilized ready for the surgery. Now he’s hoping to get out today or Saturday becuase they have to re-introduce all his medications and get him stabalized. So he’s by far the one that has gone thru the worst. Howie has been a great father-in-law the last 9 years and is an extremely loving, giving and caring person who has had very bad health problems. He only has one (his other 2 stopped working completely) funtioning kidney (which is at 11%) and that’s his sisters that she donated 15 years ago.
Meanwhile, Heidi spoke to my surgeon about her donation again. She had previously been ruled out because she had gestational diabetes with our last child. I guess they’ve already spoken to her genecologist and it was a very mild case so thats what were hoping for know.
As I had been thinking (due to everyone telling me, that I was doing something very special) the surgeon I first met on Thursday re-iterated. Then proceded to tell me that they have some people that come in and don’t know anyone who needs a kidney but still would like to donate!! This brought me back to earth pretty quick. Who would be wiling to sacrifice for a complete stranger? This leads me to scripture which says while we were yet sinners, he sacrificed for us. I think we all make sacrifices for our families (children especially,if you have them), but how many us can honestly say we sacrifce for complete strangers. I know I could defintely do more.

Thank you for your concerns and prayers,

Mike

]]> By: Mike Potter http://www.mikepottersblog.com/2009/02/would-you-be-willing-to-sacrifice-that/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Mike Potter Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:01:00 +0000 http://www.mikepottersblog.com/?p=29#comment-85 UPDATE: Here's an email I just received from Michael's wife, Heidi, just a few minutes ago:<br/><br/><i> I don't even know where to begin. Mike has this disease in his arteries so the transplant will not be happening. Mike can not be a donor. His condition will need to be watched very closely for the rest of his life. As far as my dad he will be in the hospital for another 3-5 days. He is I think hanging in. I have no words to describe how my dad & Mike are feeling at this time. All I know is that Mike is devastated & very upset. I know things happen for a reason but it doesn't make things ANY easier. </i><br/><br/>I will NOT be going to Connecticut this weekend after all. Please pray for Michael and Heidi. Please also pray for Howie as this leaves him very sick with failing kidneys. UPDATE: Here’s an email I just received from Michael’s wife, Heidi, just a few minutes ago:

I don't even know where to begin. Mike has this disease in his arteries so the transplant will not be happening. Mike can not be a donor. His condition will need to be watched very closely for the rest of his life. As far as my dad he will be in the hospital for another 3-5 days. He is I think hanging in. I have no words to describe how my dad & Mike are feeling at this time. All I know is that Mike is devastated & very upset. I know things happen for a reason but it doesn't make things ANY easier.

I will NOT be going to Connecticut this weekend after all. Please pray for Michael and Heidi. Please also pray for Howie as this leaves him very sick with failing kidneys.

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