Gage’s kidney is working great. We’re happy as can be about that so let me get that straight first so Grandma doesn’t worry.

It’s his blood pressure. It’s still high. It’s completely normal for BP to be high when you take an adult kidney and put it into a child and the body is flooded with fluids. But it’s supposed to come down and should have by now. All day they’ve tried to bring it down with his usual BP med and another one through his IV. Although it did make a small difference, it was not significant or for very long.

They had cut down on the fluids by half. Didn’t work. Tried the IV meds, didn’t work for long. So now they are going to try a drip IV med (can’t remember the name, sorry you nurses in the family!) that was ordered before shift change, which just happened.

The real anxiety comes from the fact that if the BP is a problem for any length tomorrow, we’ll be invited, in a loving voice from the docs, to stay in the ICU for at least another day. I’m bummed about that. I will know more hopefully during morning rounds by the nephrologist on duty.

I’m hopeful but not counting on it. And really, this is a good problem to have. The gently used kidney is working. Working very well inside my little boy.