THE DUTTONS ON THE ROAD : 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.