I want to recap where we’ve been and where we are but man, it’s all moved so fast it’s a little hard. We’ve had a whirlwind couple of days and it’s calmed down a lot, since we’re not waiting for life-saving surgeries to begin and end and we don’t have a news camera filming us (which is actually more exhausting than you might think) but still! It’s tiring.

In no particular order, here are some highlights (and because I am a huge fan of bullets when I don’t want to concentrate on writing a post with an arch – a beginning, middle and end):

• Quinn(lin) is doing remarkably well. Good I think for even a healthy kid that’s been through a tough surgery, but for an already sick kid? Amazing. Her labs reveal that her kidney function is near normal for a kiddo – at 6am she had a creatinine of 0.7 and BUN of 16. Which if you’ve been playing along was creat 3.2/98 BUN. One reason she’s still in the ICU is because – if you can believe this – her BP is a little low. Since birth we’ve been combating the high BP, but here we’re trying to raise it. That is just one thing a kidney helps do. She’s just on liquids today then maybe soup and jello tomorrow. She’s most unhappy she cannot eat, but we made a big deal out of her first “food” – the popsicle. She’s a trooper because she had morphine for pain around 9am and didn’t need again until after 2. She’s since been started on nasal oxygen but is fine. Meds have been started and we’ve asked them to begin her allergy meds again because she is sounding allergy nasally. She takes her meds like a champ and the nurses are duly impressed, because you KNOW, she’s 8. But since she’s been taking meds for oh, let’s see…8 YEARS, she’s kinda used to it.
• Cheryl is doing well by all accounts. She looked great when I saw her this morning, albeit a little mentally foggy, and Julian said the same thing later. She was in pain, but still said she would have done it again. She smiled. I cried when I “thanked” her (as if) and so there. When Steve, her husband called tonight it was at the request of Cheryl, who was wanting to check on the Quinncess. She
• I guess I knew what to expect but then I was still surprised. I know that Quinnlin is a different child, but our experience is so different from Gage to Quinnlin. I need to blog about that more, but can’t because the subject deserves more attention than I can write right now.
• Julie Wolfe from NBC Affiliate/WXIA/11Alive followed our story and is running it on Friday morning as we understand. It feels weirdly like Julie is someone close to our family because of our shared experience. I want to have her over for dinner. Invite her to the kid’s parties. When she came out of surgery and her face was beaming from excitement that was inescapable I just, I don’t know, felt connected to her differently. She interviewed me within minutes of seeing my girl’s surgery end and interviewing her surgeon to asking me how I felt about it. It’s all kind of a blur but she asked me how I felt, how it was waiting, was I still worried and as I answered her tears started to flow. And as I looked at her, her eyes filled up a little bit and that made it worse for me because she was understanding how I was feeling because she just watched the miracle that is kidney transplant and well, I was kind of a mess. My BFF said I am a reporter’s dream bringing on the tears and emotion and all. I think it was an ugly cry too.
• Gage was fine until today. And then it was bad. Enough said about that.
• We are overwhelmed at the out pouring of support from family, friends and strangers. There’s a post that needs to happen about that, too. But suffice it to say that it is all wonderful and surprising and heartwarming. Just know that your calls, emails, comments, tweets, status updates, forwards, all of it is appreciated. We felt your love and prayers and concern and happiness. You are part of Quinnlin’s transplant story.

There will be more, but for now that is the list. I know, this week is a lot to take in from this momma’s perspective. How was your week living with us?

Pictures for your viewing pleasure…

Adorable (is that rude of me to say? I mean would feminists everywhere be ticked off?) and Talented Julie Wolfe filming Quinnlin

No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
~John Greenleaf Whittier~

Dear Cheryl,

I sit listening to my daughter’s hospital monitors buzzing wondering how we are here again so quickly after Gage’s transplant. Or at all. How did one family come to realize two transplants in under 3 years for their 2 kids under 10?

By generous non-related living organ donors.

By your gift and Jody’s gift.

Who would have ever thought that when Quinn was days old we would pray together asking God to protect her and all along her protection was in part, in the room with us? Thank you for being her protection. Her protection from dialysis at this young age. Her protection from living a less quality of life than she can enjoy with your kidney donation.

I am still stunned that you signed up sure as could be that you would donate a kidney to one of my children. After Gage got his kidney thanks for staying in line for Quinnlin. She needed you to stay committed to it. We are so grateful that you looked at her life and decided that whenever she would need a kidney and wherever she would get a kidney you would be willing to go. To move the metaphorical mountains, and all that.

Thank you for following your heart. Thank you for being with our family on our journey to raise two kids that will hopefully, as you say, drive, go to homecoming and get their first kisses. Thank you for being selfless, giving, Godly. Thanks for listening to the inner voice that motivated you to donate your kidney. Thanks for taking care of your kidney all these years so that Quinnlin could receive it.

It’s not everyday you get to prepare for months (or years as is your case) to save someone’s life, to get the chance to change the course of their life and that of each member of their family and then actually get to do it. That takes commitment and love, and sacrifice.

What no one can understand without knowing you is this; not once that I saw did you wavier, not once did you think this was impossible. I’m not entirely sure you thought as you were going through waiting (nearly 3 years, or testing 3ish months) that it was all that hard. Or maybe that was your gift to me. Not once did I see a hesitation of any kind in your words, yours notes, your embrace. Or in your worry for Quinnlin.

I marvel at what you told the reporter, “I don’t want to say it’s nothing, but I know Quinn and this was an easy choice for me.”Your commitment to donate your kidney is the epitome of steadfast love. Thanks for being a person who can love in such a way to make a gift like this because this is a rarity as you know.

Because then for a moment I know with utter certainty that you see what I see in Quinnlin; a life of promise, of hope, of laughter, of memories for all those that know her. I can only thank you for your gift by helping Quinnlin live her best life. Help her have the life she so richly deserves. To give her a chance to shine the light you so graciously passed to her yesterday.

We are extremely lucky and blessed to know you and have you in our life. I will never take your gift for granted.

Love you,

Julia

I am tired, tired.

Quinn is awake, awake.

Together that might now work, but we’re going to see how it goes.

She is resting well and is remarkably very comfortable. By all accounts she is ahead of schedule. Doing “awesome,”  and “remarkable.” And a few “Really, really, well” comments in there.

For 3pm to 6pm labs, here are the results: her creatinine is down from 2.3 to 1.8 and her BUN is down from 98 to 54. It is trending in the right direction. She should feel the benefits by tomorrow…a kidney failure haze hopefully will start to lift and maybe the itching will go away.

She is amazing, this girl of mine, who loves all things green now and Hannah Montana. Who misses her brother and isn’t ashamed to admit it. And right now, she loves ice chips.

We’re happy she is alive. We’re happy that today she’s not on dialysis.

We’re eternally grateful to Cheryl for her gift. She is an amazing person we loved before she offered a kidney, and her left kidney, well, is the proud owner of a new body.

This is for my friends who do not mind looking at diseased kidneys.

Cheryl’s on top.

Obviously, Quinn’s on bottom.

Just a link for now. Because of Tina.

http://twitpic.com/jlzp3

We hear that at 11:30am the native kidney is still in Quinn and that the new kidney just got here with it’s fan club of the reporter and PR person and doc.

A friend ran into the kidney in the elevator about 15 minutes ago. It is all surreal. And here. A new beginning for Quinn. So the butterfly tattoo on the spot where her new kidney will go was appropriate.

Thanks Cheryl. For your love and your kidney.

It all has gone down about an hour and a half early – which is both good and bad. Quinnlin didn’t have to sit around hungry and anxious. That means that Cheryl was the first patient and it was going well. They took Quinnlin back that meant that Cheryl’s soon-to-be-ex kidney looked good and it was okay.

Quinnlin took versed which is fun for us. Our child life specialist said that Quinn did fine, no crying or being upset. In fact, when they raised her bed, she said, “Don’t make me hit the ceiling!”

We ran into the surgeon and asked him if he felt well-rested. He laughed.

Cheryl is still in surgery we understand.

Dear Quinnlin! Quinny! QB!

I’m sort of not believing it is your 8th birthday. I can’t believe I am sitting in the dark and you are asleep in the hospital. Resting peacefully. Which is kind of unusual in the hospital.

As I’ve watch you grow into #8 this year I’ve realized that you have every bit of fiestiness you had when you were a baby and you have certainly needed it this year. It will also serve you well in the future.

There are many wonderful things from this past year. Like your reading and how you love school and you have friends now and play dates. You are, however, a bit sassy and I don’t mind sharing here that after transplant we are going to work on an attitude adjustment. You are very, very vocal which I see as a very good sign. I am thinking you will be able to express yourself just fine during this transplant.

You have a heck of a smile and an incredible huggability. We’ve let you slide a little bit on chores, home work, and all because well, you are in kidney failure. I know, that seems a little sad doesn’t it? But that is about to change in a few hours and in a month or two you will be choring with the best of them!

You are a remarkable girl with a willing spirit that will help you one day. It will also likely hurt you too because you are very gullible, trustworthy and friendly first, ask later. These are some of your best qualities and I think even though someone might hurt you one day as a result, it makes up the part of who you are that is special.

You are getting a kidney transplant on your birthday. I KNOW! It’s all a little crazy right now, but there will come a time when you appreciate it, celebrating it all on the same day.

Your smile still melts my heart and your hugs remind me that there is good in the world. Each time you say, “Mommy, I love you” I feel I might burst. You are the reason I wake up a lot of days and the reason I try to make each one better.

I hope that you will always laugh at yourself and be kind to others. I hope you will love animals like you do now. I hope you will follow your dreams to become a teacher, a vet and a mommy or all three. Because one thing is for sure, today is about dreaming and hope. I hope that all your dreams come true.

Happy Birthday and Happy Kidneyday,

Love you,
Momma

On our drive over to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta there was a lot of chatter. As Quinnlin will do sometimes she goes on about nothing and everything all relevant and not to what is happening.

I asked her how she was doing as we passed the large atrium of the hospital…

“It’s sad, good, happy, scary all at once.”

I agreed as we entered the ramp to underground parking.

A multitude of things have transpired over the last day; most of it fabulous, and some of it exhausting. I’m writing this from the haze that is the first night in the hospital with your daughter – but your daughter isn’t so keen on some things in the hospital, like sleeping. At three minutes before midnight, her birthday, her kidney acquiring day, she feel asleep. She gets 4 hours then up for vitals.

Me? Happy to sit in the glow of the computer, whose cables are sitting comfortably in the back of Julian’s car. A smart nurse gave me a charged up battery from her blackberry and is charging mine for me with her cable that didn’t fit my blackberry. Was that confusing? It was to me.

Anyway, it was a whirlwind day that involved green hair, and dashing for batteries, and picking up meds, tv cameras, friends, packing and a visit to school to see Quinn’s class wish her well for her Happy Transplant Day. The kids are all charmers with their smiles and well wishes and their notes and their hugs. All happy (and a little scared) to see Quinnlin go out into the unknown thing known as kidney transplant.

Quinnlin was the Bell of the Ball (is that a southern thing?) and had the best time showing us her cards and gifts. A film crew filled her class presenting her with a quilt of love – all pictures of her with each one of them for the wall. She smiled a lot and mostly was gracious and she was charming too with all the attention. Please and thank you.

Gage has had a remarkable couple of days beginning with the day that was the day before the day of transplant. From church to lunch to a healing service for his sister of all people, to home for 20 minutes then to our goddaugther’s 2nd birthday party. He was also charming and enjoyed making Tessa laugh and he liked being the oldest kid there so he could jump and get their escaped balloons. He was compliant and talkative for Gage and all and all a good family day.

Today could have gone either way you know, behaviorally for Gage I mean. All the attention and presents and smiles and love bestowed upon the Quinncess. But he was genuinely happy for her I believe. He even gave her the stuffed animal tonight that he won at one of those .50 cent arm grabber rip off games. He watched her open presents and helped her and asked if he could see something, use something, have something. She complied and it was all sibling goodness. Don’t worry we won’t get used to that.

In between school celebration (“Not a party!” Quinn will tell you) and hospital check-in I realized I had a UTI and needed immediate drugs and relief. If you have read here for some time you will be no doubt be shaking your head saying it’s not possible. But yes it is, because it would not be my life if this didn’t happen on the day of hospital admittance for my child’s kidney transplant. Of course I’m referring to the other time I had a child get a kidney transplant (insane that I can say that with truthfulness) and a kidney stone in the same period of time by a couple of days. I remember driving myself to the ER. Not so dramatic this time that is for sure, but pesky and funny (bizarre, not funny ha-ha) and still required a call to a doc and a med pick up. We are some kind of messed up All Things Urine related. Or maybe it is just me and the kids.

After a party in which some people came to the hospital cafeteria to sing happy birthday to the girl who blew out her candles that were never lit we settled into the room. The most awesome report Julie Wolfe from NBC/11Alive/WXIA, our newest honorary family member for the number of times she’s had to hear us talk, has been following us for a few days for a story. She shoots her own footage and edits and writes and well, she is very nice and approachable. The kind of person we’d invite to a BBQ. She’ll be here again the morning of transplant and will be in the O.R. seeing first hand the love that is someone else’s organ. By the time it arrives here, Cheryl will be close to recovery and we will be starting our journey for the day.

Cheryl came by Quinnlin’s party and we hugged and cried and well, as the time gets closer it is harder to hold it all in. Saying thanks isn’t one of those things you can slide in at the end of a conversation. Like, “Hey drive safe, see you tomorrow, thanks for your kidney.” But that is kind of what happens. Right before I started crying as I watched my girl be excited about turning 8.

It was hard to settle my girl down tonight but it has been a wild day. Much anticipation and discussion. She is excited and scared. She will tell you she doesn’t know what to think about all this.

I will tell you that there are some feelings from Gage’s transplant to Quinnlin’s that are the same. And some that are very different. I am not so apprehensive about the small stuff, but I fill up that empty space of worry with more filler.

My girl. My beautiful, innocent (never had a surgery) girl and our wish for her to feel better and to live.

PHOTOS: Julian & Quinnlin at Cheryl’s prayer blanket say a prayer, tie a knot. Jody, donor #1 and Cheryl, donor #2. Quinn entering Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for her surgery, and Quinn and Cheryl.

Yesterday as we prayed at our church in a healing service for Quinnlin and Cheryl, Jody, Gage’s donor, offered her support and love.

Her support came on a day where 2 1/2 years ago she herself gave a kidney to my other child with ARPKD. She unselfishly went under the knife (and trust me when I tell you she is squeamish!) to give Gage a chance to live a life off a machine.

I knew yesterday was the day, but we’d been gone all morning and we were out late celebrating our goddaughter Tessa’s birthday so I never had a chance to tell post here how amazing I think she is as a woman, wife, and mother.  She is more than that of course, but to me all of those titles she wears so well, brought her to the place to donate and organ to my son, who was fading fast in all areas of his life. It was at her daughter’s urging that brought Jody to donate and her family’s wish to help Gage live. Live.

Gage has had a rough time over the last 18 months, that is not a lie. But can you imagine how much worse it could have been if he was on dialysis? Slipping further in his development at school and with friends and growth and life? Gage’s ability to cope, along with us, a supportive school system, a medical and mental health team would have been nearly unbearable for him had he been on dialysis. Who knows where his suicidal tendencies would have taken him.

But we are able to help him with his mental health because he is physically healthy. Thanks Jody for your love, caring, concern and your gift. Your gift and your gift of friendship mean everthing to me.

I love you. And your kidney ain’t bad, either, obviously.