Part 2:
On February 2, the worst day so far, I had two seizures. They were caused by high blood pressure. My blood pressure got higher than 200/120. I was taken to Pittsburgh via ambulance, and taken to ICU. I had a breathing tube for a while, but it was taken out after a day. I was put on some new medicine for the seizures. It altered my attitude for a day, but then I was back to normal. The rheumatologists decided that taking me off of the Cytoxan was a bad idea that the nephrologists had. They put me back on it. One doctor, Dr. Tash, happened to be the rheumatologist on call that day. If it weren’t for him, I may not be alive today.
The doctors determined that the high blood pressure was due to the kidney failure. I had eight liters of extra fluid in me that my kidneys just couldn’t take out. Thus, I had the seizures. To solve this problem, the doctors put me back on dialysis. This time, though, I was put on peritoneal dialysis. I was scheduled for surgery to put the catheter into my stomach area. The cath is still in today. I get dialysis every night for eight hours. On February 13, I was able to do a few things that I hadn’t been able to since arriving on the second. I left ICU and went into a regular room. I used a flushing toilet. That doesn’t seem like much, but after not being strong enough to for a month, it was nice. I got to put on my own clothes instead of wearing a hospital gown, and I was able to walk more than three feet. I actually walked all around the floor. On February 21, I was able to come home again.
I then went down once a month for Cytoxan treatments. I would go down one day, get the chemo, stay overnight, and go home the next day. The Cytoxan was a twenty-four hour process. I finished getting the Cytoxan in June, and was determined in “clinical remission.” That just means my disease is under control for the time being. I could flare up at any time, though. I go back every month for check-ups now.
In the fall of 2008, I tried returning back to school. It was very difficult. I was going to bed early, around seven o’clock each night. It was hard, getting up early, having dialysis, and trying to get my homework done the night before. Getting from class to class was exhausting. My stamina still isn’t back to the way it used to be. I made it for a month, but the exhaustion and the anxiety problems that I have, and have to take medicine for and see a psychiatrist for, made it too hard for me to continue. Again, I had to stop going and get a tutor, Miss Huster, to help me with my schoolwork for the second year.
Good things have come out of this experience, though. As hard as it is to believe, it’s true. I have made many new friends. My doctors, nurses, and other members at the hospital I now consider friends. My tutor, Miss Huster, is also a good friend now. I’ve learned a lot of medical terms, as well. I also get a Make-A-Wish. My wish is to go see Cesar Millan, “The Dog Whisperer,” at his Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, California. I love to watch his show, and think he’s great with dogs. I will be going to see him in either early March or late April. Either way, I’m really excited to actually go.
I have a rough time ahead of me. In December or January I will have a kidney transplant. That is the earliest it can happen. I will have to stay in the hospital for a minimum of four to six weeks. One month after the transplant, if it is successful, they will take the dialysis cath out. I will always have to watch out for flares. This means my disease will become active again. It could attack the new kidney, and I’d have to have another transplant. I will also be on medicine for the rest of my life. I could get off of it, but that is very unlikely. If I did get off of them, t would only be a short time before I’d get a flare and be back on the medicine.
Despite all I’ve been through, I still try to lead a fairly normal life. I love animals. I like to read about them, learn about them, and play and pet the ones that I can, especially dogs. Dogs are my passion. A lot of what I do revolves around dogs. I like to train my dog, my family member’s dogs, and play with them. I like to read as well. I like books about animals and mysteries the best. I also like to play video games. Computer games and other game systems are fun to play. I enjoy playing with my family. I do a lot on my computer, too. I like to go online, and surf the web. One thing I like is to watch YouTube videos of animals. I also made my own website. It is
chall. I also like to do my schoolwork. I like learning new things. I liked school before, but I like it in a different way now. More appreciative of it and willing to learn, even if I don’t like the subject. I like watching TV. “24” and “The Dog Whisperer” are a couple of my favorite shows. I enjoy watching some shows together as a family. I also do some horseback riding to help strengthen my body. Not only does it help me physically, but it helps me mentally. I feel strong and have to be in control while I’m on the horse. It also makes me feel good and relaxed.
Miss Huster has also helped me a lot. She’s a great teacher, and she’s bringing me out of my shell. I’m a shy girl, so it helps to be able to be comfortable with her. I feel comfortable with her and I like her a lot. I’m really glad she was my tutor last year, and agreed to tutor me as long as I need it, which will probably be until I graduate. I’m thankful to have met such a wonderful person that helps me with my work.
Sincerely,
Courtney Hall