Courtney...how are you feeling???

I'm doing good. :) Another IV out of my hand!!

Woohoo! You must have looked like a voodoo doll! Any therapy dogs gonna visit you????

Hahaha! :d

I HATE IV's in my hand.....yuk! hope you don't bruise up like I do. So glad you progressing a long! Keep it up. Are you feelin the hugs???? lol! :p Donna

It is wonderful to see you posting! You are amazing!

It's cuz she's a youngin' and you're an olden'...lol! :p

Courtney, keep up the good progress and I hope you're out of the hospital very soon to enjoy :presents2: Christmas :santahat::xmastree1: at home :gbhouse: with your family & friends!

Q!
 

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Dexter, who just started a couple months ago, came to see me today! :D They gave me a calendar of all the dogs that are scheduled to visit each day! :D


PS They have a MASTIFF that comes to visit! I don't know his name, or when he'll come. But I want to see him SO BADLY!!!! :D:D:D:D

haha Old Mike! :p

I won't be out of the hospital for Christmas unfortunately... I'll be in a regular room for about 10 days, and then the Ronald McDonald House, which is great cause it connects to the hospital. All you have to do it walk through a hallway and you're there! I'll be there for 6 weeks. We're thinking mid February I'll go home. :)

Ronald McDonald House! Sweet. Hamburgers, fries and milkshakes every day! That cracks me up that you have a schedule of visiting therapy dogs!

Sending some REST....
 

Now Ladies, that's what I call service. You don't even have to leave the place to walk the dog... :sidesplt:
And Hamburgers,Fries and Shake... I want to come.. Punken and Breese can come too... They have their paper's... Therapy Dogs

I'm glad to see you getting along so well now, Courtney. Just take it easy and enjoy your stay at Mc'd.

God Bless and Take Care

So glad you are doing better and have that IV out of your hand! Yea!

I got the folley catheter out! Yippee!!! Two dogs today! Missy, a Beagle, should be here any minute now! And Bohdi. Not sure what kind she is, but she'll be here in the afternoon! :D

Thank you again for all the thoughts and prayers! <3

Courtney, I am glad things went well for you and your now on the road
to recovering from surgery.
It's wonderful so see you posting and having fun, just like you should be.
Nothing to make you feel better than a big lick of love from a dog:p
Sounds like you have a schedule of licks daily. You'll be up and around
in no time. Being in the hospital for Christmas is no big deal, your getting
better daily, that's the important thing. Watch those french fries and
cheesburgers, they go right to the butt area;)
Hugs and prayer's are headed you way Courntey for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy and Healthy New Year,

Thank you! <3 Oh, of course!! Nothing like the lick from a dog. :animal36

Yeah, they said they give out presents to the patients anyways, so I'll get one! :D

Thank you, you too!!!!

I am so happy you are doing so well and just had to say what an amazing attitude you have!!!!!

Is Sapphire going to be allowed to visit you?

No :(

:(:(:(:(

Sleep well little one, prayers for a comfortable night. <3 & Hugs.

Oh my, Courtney! I am sorry I am just seeing this thread for the first time! I am so glad you are doing well, and that you are having plenty of furry visitors. Keep us posted. I am glad you at least have internet access!

Thanks for the Christmas Card Courtney. How are you doing today? I sure hope time passes quickly so you can get out of the hospital soon.

Cindy

Long Awaited Update!
 

Sorry I kinda left everyone hanging! Here is an update of the transplant recovery:

Let's see, I had the surgery on Sunday.

Tuesday was the first time I got out of bed. I think the nurses tricked me into doing it though. lol Here's the story. I had a foley cath. For those of you that don't know what that is, you never want one! LOL It's a cath that goes into your bladder so that your pee basically just drains out when you would normally get up to go to the bathroom. I hate these!! The doctors and nurses said that after a transplant, they usually keep it in at least 3 days. I didn't want it at all. I talked to my nurse on the second day about taking it out. She said that to have it taken out I have to prove that I would be able to get out of bed to go to the bathroom and everything. She said she'd ask the doctor and if I got up and sat in a chair for an hour, I could probably get it taken out. Well, I got up and sat in the chair, a little to fast for her. lol She told me to slow down so she could help me, but I was already in the chair! :D Well, she said they wouldn't take it out yet. I don't think she even asked, but whatever. :rolleyes: :p I flew back in bed, I don't like to move when I have one of those caths.

Wednesday, they did take it out. I was then taken out of ICU to a regular room. I walked to the bathroom when I had to go, and pretty much shocked everyone that I was able to get up that fast after surgery.

Thursday, I actually walked outside of the room. I went to the library, which was on a different floor. Umm, I did a bit of walking, but a lot of just sitting, too. I also would get up and sit on the couch in my room instead of staying in the hospital bed all day.

Friday, I was walking even more! It was like, non-stop. I just walked a lot. Sometimes my mom and I just walked around the floor just to move. A therapy dog came (lots came over the days) and the owner said I could take her for a walk if I wanted. Of course I said yes! I took the leash and walked her around the floor. I walked really fast with her, too! lol I think this was the day that I started wearing my own clothes for the first time after the transplant.

Saturday and Sunday, just a week after surgery, I was walking all over the place! My mom and I went to the cafeteria for snacks, or a meal or two. We went over to the Ronald McDonald House, which was on the opposite side of the hospital and a few floors down to go in. Pretty much walked the whole day. We moved stuff from the hospital room to the Ronald McDonald House room. (I was supposed to be discharged from the hospital, but they wanted bloodwork done, and the lab doesn't do weekends, only the nurses taking care of admitted patients do.)

Monday, they took the Central Line out of my neck, and I was free to go. We went to the Ronald McDonald House and prepared to stay there for another two months.

Tuesday and Wednesday, when we did things at the "House" and people asked why I was there, they'd say good luck with the transplant on Sunday. lol We had to tell them that I HAD a transplant, not going to have one! They were impressed!! My family also came down for a little Christmas party on Wednesday! :)

Thursday (Christmas Eve), I had the dialysis tube finally removed! :D

After that, it was just bloodwork a couple times a week, being bored, and doing things that the "House" planned.

I think January 7th I went home.

The doctors said I was doing better than they'd ever seen. My numbers were and continue to be stable, pretty much the same each time they check, which is once a week now. None of them expected it to go as well as it did, and continues to do so. They didn't expect me to be walking as soon as I did. They didn't even expect the kidney to start working as fast as it did!!


Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers!! :thumbs up


Here are some pictures I put on Facebook while at the hospital/Ronald McDonald House:

Courtney Hall's Photos - Transplant Times | Facebook


:heart to

It truly was a Christmas Miracle. We got the call at 10:00 pm Saturday, December 12th that they had a kidney match for me. It was my mom's birthday, and I had just showed her a little video I made for her. I used the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler, and pictures of different times together. I tried to put it on YouTube, but it wouldn't let me. :( So I put it on a DVD instead. Sunday, I had the transplant, from, unfortunately, a deceased donor. We asked the doctors when I was put on the transplant list. They said Friday. Not even 24 hours on the waiting list, and I had a match. They said that's never happened before. People usually wait a long time to get a match, maybe even years before they get one, and I had one within 24 hours...

:heart to

I am sorry I am just seeing this thread ... I am so glad you are doing so well.

Oh, thank goodness all went well! Without an update from you, I had no idea! ;)

That is wonderful that you are healing up so well. :) Hope all continues to go so well. Best of luck and prayers to you. :)

Oh, thanks for the update and so very glad that things are going so well. Hugs to you....

How wonderful! Thanks for posting...we can't have Mike worrying..he doesn't have enough hair left to do that...:D

That is wonderful Courtney! I am soooooo glad to hear the update and to know you are doing so well! :)