Category: Family and friends

Posts about family and friends.

A Match Made in Heaven

the Tall Girl #

I’ve been a little reluctant to share this news for fear of jinxing it, but — my cousin Freddy Chancellor has found a kidney donor! We got the news roughly a week ago. The transplant surgery is scheduled for tomorrow (Monday). So we’re relieved and hopeful that everything will go smoothly. We were beginning to worry that he’d never find a good match. Clearly that was just a test of faith.

He’ll need several weeks to recover from the surgery and regain his strength, but I think that will be a breeze compared to all the waiting and worrying. We’ll be thinking of him tomorrow and praying he’ll be back on his feet soon! Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts and prayers that Freddy would find his match.

UPDATE from Freddy’s mom, Monday, November 8: “Freddy is out of surgery! Everything went well and the new kidney is already working. Elizabeth and Freddy are both recovering well and the doctors expect them to be up and moving later today.”

Campaign for a Kidney

the Tall Girl #

My cousin Freddy Chancellor is in his early 40’s and is an amazing sound engineer. He worked the sound boards for the Major League Baseball All Star game this year, so you know he’s got talent. But he’s also got a big problem: he needs a new kidney.

Freddy inherited a genetic disposition for a specific type of kidney disease. The first time his kidneys failed, he got a transplant from his father. That was nearly 17 years ago. That kidney began failing last year, and he’s been relying on dialysis to do the job instead.

I’m not clear on the technical details so I may not explain this next part right, but my understanding is that his body is now sensitive to the family’s genes and so no one in the family can be a donor because there’s too much risk of rejecting the new kidney. A non-family member had offered to be a donor but the doctors finally ruled her out as well. Apparently it’s going to be very difficult to find a match that will work. Needless to say, it’s very disappointing and discouraging for the family.

Freddy’s best chance is to have as many potential donors get tested as possible. He’s looking for a needle in a haystack, and we need a bigger donor pool.

Freddy’s insurance would cover all medical costs, and I’ve been told the surgery is noninvasive. If you have blood type A or O and you think you’d be willing to donate, there’s a toll-free number you can call for a test kit: 1-888-822-7892. If you don’t fit that profile, please pass this information to others you know. A donor is out there somewhere. We just need to find him.

http://www.facebook.com/kidneyforfreddy

Fin

the Tall Girl # #

When we left my grandmother last night, I kissed her and told her, “We’re leaving you in good hands. Don’t go anywhere; we’ll see you tomorrow.”

But she couldn’t wait.

She had a Valentine’s date with her husband and needed to put on her wings.

Agnes Richard was 92 years old. She is survived by two children, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. and two siblings, and she was loved very much.

Downhill

the Tall Girl # # #

Grandma’s condition deteriorated rapidly in the last 24 hours. When we left her last night, she was talking to us and everything seemed normal. Now, she doesn’t even know we’re there. We can’t believe how fast everything changed.

We don’t expect her to make it through the week.

Last night, before we left her, she said, “I guess you’ll be glad when you’re rid of me. You’ll be free to do whatever you want.” Mom denied it, but I didn’t say anything, because I knew in my heart that it would be such a relief when all this was over. Now, both we’re heartbroken over that conversation. You always hope that your last words with someone you love will be good ones.

You can’t always get what you want.