Story Continues /after Transplant

 The transplant went well and both of us were released 11/8/16. Had to return to the clinic for labs and checkup twice a week for four weeks then once a week. By 12/20/16 was able to go to every other week. That's when we were able to move back to Arkansas City,Ks. Do checkups in St Luke's Transplant Clinic in Wichita.

We needed to stay close to the Clinic until I could go for 3 months between checkups. As I was feeling better than I had felt in 28 yrs. I needed something to do. There were things that happened during this time with the transplant. Which as I said earlier I might tell in another story later. 

In March I had contacted the Army Corp of Engineers (COE) about possible volunteer jobs close to Wichita. Watch close here he shows up again. A Ranger from Big Hill Lake called just as we were getting done with a checkup 4/3/17. He had a host spot at Timber Hill Campground a primitive campground. All that he needed was someone to keep the self pay station supplied with envelopes and mow about an acre of grass. Mainly just needed a presence there.

So we drove from the Drs. office to Timber Hill to look at the spot and meet with ranger Allen. He explained more about our duties. We told him about having to go to appointments. That was no problem he said take off whenever we needed, just tell him so he could check on things. The presence of our RV motorhome would help. We agreed to do the job and would start on the 11th of April. 

This was a great location as it's about the same distance from Wichita and Kansas City. Which turned out we had to go to both. 

Our host site at Timber Hill. Which is at the entrance to the campground not in it.

We were there until October 21st 2017. This was a great place to be for the summer and time we needed to stay close to Drs. Turned out that I had more Doctoring than I thought I would. But all was good. By this time they decided that I could do monthly labs and Dr every 3 months. O Yay for this meant that we could go somewhere.

After seeing Dr Weber at the clinic on 10/31/17 we headed back to our spot in Lakewood, NM. As we returned to the Ranch we met our new neighbors. Stan who had been our neighbor had left the Ranch and turned his lot in. Our new neighbors were Skee and Joni. They quickly became new friends.

Joni always making bling or painting something.

It was great to be back with our friends Bob & Beth White. Also getting to know other people at the Ranch.

Bob & Beth

We were at the Ranch working on our Motorhome and Casita (shed) . We decided  that we would go to our son Mike's after Christmas to see them and watch Grandson Keegan now 10 play soccer. The 26th had labs done then next day started to California. This was in the car leaving the motorhome at the Ranch. The first night stayed in Lordsburg, NM. The next day while driving Dr calls the lab work is not good. She wanted to check again. We found a lab in Benson, AZ on our route. This time the labs were good. So continued on and arrived the 30th.

After doing New Years by watching the Rose Parade & the Rose Bowl (OU) it was a good time and we really enjoyed the day. Anytime we get to be with Kids & Grandkids is always a blessing. OK if you're thinking we were there sorry just watching TV.

Keegan's soccer season was over but he had been chosen to play in the all-star games. The 2nd we took him to all-star practice.  3rd we took Keegan to Port Loma to Sunset Cliffs NP and Cabrillo NM. 

Port Loma

Then the 6th and 7th the All-Star tournament. Here are some very proud grandparents. His team took 1st place. 😁

The next day we headed back to the Ranch. We went by way of Quartzsite,Az to see if we would want to stay there sometime. Decided probably not for us. Then we went to Ore Valley, Az for a couple days. Then on to the Ranch.

Our spot at the Ranch after remodel.

After returning to the Ranch for a week it was about time to head back to Kansas for a 3 month checkup. We decided to just take the car again but would go early enough to go by way of San Antonio for our Anniversary. Then on to Wichita.

Riverwalk from our resort.

The trip to Kansas went well seeing family. Enjoyed time with our grandkids. The transplant checkup was good. The function had stayed the same. 

We returned to the Ranch in February and continued the remodels on our rig

 and Casita. I also helped remodel two other Casitas in the park. It was a good time doing all of this I felt so much better than I had in 30 yrs. By then it was time to plan our next trip back for a checkup. Also time to plan some travel time.

After

Ronda got me.

New front

She got me again.

We planned a trip for the next 3 month between checkups. We were meeting up with Whites in Nebraska and then west to the Mountains before heading back to Wichita again. This didn't pan out.

As we made our way back to Kansas we needed to go by way of Texas to renew my license which is a CDL and had to be done in person. Found a small town DMV that wouldn't be too busy in Haskell, Tx. Which gave us the chance to see cousin in Abilene just South of Haskell. Stayed at City RV park which is free first night. 

We continued on and stopped in Edmond, Ok at Arcadia lake then onto Kaw Lake. Visited grandkids there. Went to visit Ronda's parents in Ark City. Finding their house was needing major repairs. After much discussion with them and Ronda's brother. It was decided that it was time for them to move in with Randy in  Wichita.

This is where our plans changed. Randy had room for them but the bathroom was a long way and up some stairs. So we cancelled our trip and stayed and added a bathroom to the room. Then we had sold their house and helped move them and got them settled. 

By this time it was time for next checkup. Which was good. The function hadn't changed.

Things were going well with the Parents. So we headed back to New Mexico to the Ranch.

This brings us to September of 2018.

Again thank you for reading. Hope you're enjoying the story of our adventures.

 

Summer is turning to fall.

 As our 2023 travels are in the last months. As we are in Florence for this month and exploring this area. We're taking a little slower. We've been resting and taking walks in Florence. 

We enjoyed a midday hike-walk on the Arkansas Riverwalk in Canon City. Did about 1.5 miles making for a 3 mile walk. Will return to do more another day. After our walk we took a one way trip, which is the only way on Skyline drive. 

A little history of Skyline Drive. Built by 60 inmates in 1905. The inmates got 10 days off their sentence for every 30 days worked. In 1906 when opened the city council declared it unlawful for automobiles to use the road, only horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and foot traffic. This only lasted a year after protesters complained to the council. Stretching 2.5 miles above the distinctive Dakota sandstone hogbacks, this is now a one-way road. 

The riverwalk is beautiful and looking forward to do more of it.

We will still be doing some day trips. Have a couple planned. Going to do a loop trip to Woodland Park by way of Cripple Creek.

Another loop Trip to Westcliff.

Also one to Buena Vista.

All of these could happen a couple times. Depending on the fall colors. As we make this loops, will let you know what we find.

Also the fall color change will determine when our 2023 travels will end. And when we'll return to the Lonestar Corral for awhile.

We're so blessed to be able to travel and see all of God's wonderful creations. We thank him everyday for making this life possible for us.

Again thank you for reading. Hope you're enjoying the story.

PS; Please use the contact form at the top with your email so can let you know when a new post is up.

The story Continues / To Transplant

After setting up our lot. We were at the Ranch  until Christmas when we returned to Kansas to be with family. While we were there my Moms Husband passed away. So stayed longer for that. We had left motorhome at the Ranch for this trip. While gone the Ranch received  about 10 inch of snow which is unusual. Temperatures were below freezing for a few days. We were lucky the only thing broke was a water filter housing.

After our return and fixing problem it was our anniversary. So deciding to take another trip and leaving the motorhome, while going to San Antonio, riverwalk and South Padre Tx for our anniversary. Before leaving did blood work again. We had been in South Padre for 2 days and Dr. calls says kidneys are getting worse and that we should be heading back to Kansas for a checkup. Said not emergency but soon,  We finished our stay and  headed back to the Ranch.

South Padre

Riverwalk

We got everything ready to head  for Kansas. We arrived and I had more test ran and they showed that the kidney function was 18 percent. Which had dropped from 24-28 percent I had been running for 25 yrs. This means that now I'm eligible for a transplant and need to start getting ready for dialysis. So we started learning what all our options were. So after discussions with Dr, decide to have fistula surgery, which makes a port to do Dialysis. Which Dr said could let us keep traveling and could have dialysis anywhere if needed. We also start the process of qualifying for transplant. This went well and I was placed on the transplant list June 6th.

What we learned about transplant was it would happen in Kansas City and Ronda would have to drive for 6 weeks which would be in KC. Remember the fiesta stick shift, Ronda could drive it but she didn't like it, she says not doing that in KC. So off we go again to find a new toad that's automatic. We found a Honda CR-V which is towable 4 wheels down. So again I installed everything to tow it where we were parked.

This now meant that a living donor could offer to donate a kidney. Ronda could not because of high blood pressure. My sisters offered but both had things that they couldn't. The first one to get past the phone interview was Ronda's brother Randy. So he started the testing to see if he was healthy enough to donate.

They told us that a donors testing would take 4-6 months and that we didn't need to hang out for that. This was before I was on the list. I had to have shingle vaccine before could be listed and would be 2 week before they could put me on the list. So decide to head back to the Ranch  to hang out while Randy was being tested. Then we got the call that I was on the list and His testing could begin.

Double Rainbow at Cochiti Lake

We had arrived at the Ranch on the 2nd of June and by the 20th it was getting hot. So we decided to see if we could find a cooler place. We left the Ranch on the 22nd and went to Cochiti Lake in northern NM. for 2 weeks . While there we took day trips to Jemez Pueblo, Jemez Springs and on up to Jemez falls. Went to Santa Fe a few times. While there we got to go to Albuquerque to the grand opening of the Whispering Bean Coffee shop. Which is owned by Ronda's cousin David and his wife.

Jemez Falls

When we left the lake we went to Farmington, NM to see Ronda's aunt Lois and uncle Emanuel. They had a place beside their house for us to park. we visit them for a couple days. While there it was time to do monthly blood work.. We were able to leave our motorhome at their house while we went to Pagosa Springs to our timeshare resort for 4 days. While there  I received a blood test report and the function was down to 15 percent. With drop, Dr. wanted us back to Kansas to get ready for dialysis.

We return to get motorhome and started to Kansas. Dr. had said no hurry unless start to feel sick. So we took 5 days staying at Cochiti lake, a rest stop near Wagon Mound south of Springer NM, Clayton rv park NM. and Fort Supply lake OK. Before arriving at Kaw lake by Ponca City, Ok where our son Steve and family live. We stayed there 10 days seeing grandkids and go to Arkansas City to see our family and friends there.

We moved to Wichita 8-2-2016. See Dr. and did blood work, function down to 14 percent, still not feeling sick. We visit my sister and Ronda's nieces that live in Wichita. The 9th we move to Arkansas City to the same spot we had stay at the start by my Moms house which now belonged to Patrick my nephew. 

We decided while waiting to see what happens next to take a trip staying at our timeshare resorts. The 13th we went to Branson for a night then on to Fairfield Bay Arkansas for a week. Then to Grand Lake in Oklahoma for 3 days. While there we got to see Rick & Sherri Ronda's cousin and their son Austin and his family. We returned to Arkansas City. 

We had gotten word that Randy was going to be able to donate a kidney and was just waiting on  St. Luke's transplant team to set the date. Transplant will be in Kansas City, Mo. So started slowly moving that way.

We moved to John Redmond lake Aug.29th for 10 day. Then stayed at 2 different campgrounds on Melvin Lake until Oct. 9th and moved back to John Redmond lake until Oct 23rd.

Melvern Lake 

Camp site at Melvern Lake

In this time I had made trip to Dr in Wichita for check up. Function was up 17 percent. Also had gotten word transplant was to be Nov. 3rd  2016.

October 23rd we moved to Crown Mobile Home and RV Park, Belton, Mo. 20 miles south of St Luke's Hospital. Where stayed until Christmas. When we moved back to Arkansas City, KS. To be closer to St Luke's Transplant Clinic in Wichita, KS. To do weekly checkups. And be closer to family. 

Transplant happened on the 3rd and all went well. This slowed our travels for time. Kidney Disease and Transplant is a story in itself and I might tell that story at sometime. But for now just parts that go with the travel.

Thank you for reading more of the story.  Hope you're enjoying it.