Second Anniversary

This may be the first ever post by a kidney but I thought it would be appropriate, particularly today. Two years ago today (October 26th) I was living quietly, doing my job, as part of my human host who is known as David Scott Foster III. Suddenly I was removed from my comfortable surroundings and quickly installed into an unfamiliar place. After my initial shock I soon recovered from the move and it was back to work again. My new home was David Scott Foster Jr, father of DSF III. I did have company in my new home though because my two kidney fathers were there but they had retired so I was working alone.
Now it is two years later and I seem to be doing a good job for my new host. He has been very kind to me by taking all of the medication he is supposed to and voluntarily deciding that certain beverages are unnecessary. He had also lost a few pounds he didn't need which makes my job easier.He has avoided stress by not playing golf.
Most gratifying to me has been the thanks which Jr. has given to both me and III. He says the last two years have been remarkable and such a different way of living that his previous few years on the machine had been. He also says that he knows I am happy in my new home and that there is a special place in Heaven for someone who would give such a gift.
Thank you for the opportunity to say hello.
SK (Scott's Kidney for the second time)

Open House & Appreciation Day Aug 17,2008

We haven't been very active on this site recently but an up-coming event prompted a fresh message. All of the wonderful people at the Hilton Head dialysis clinic are having an open house and have invited everyone they can think of to attend the "Pateint and Staff Appreciation Day". Turk and Joanna will be coming up from Jacksonville tomorrow and when Turk learned that I had been asked to say a few words as a transplant recipient he offered to do the same as a donor. This should be a day of thanks and appreciation for these great people who work long dedicated hours doing incredibly important work keeping people alive. Most of my 316 treatments were done at Hilton Head. I'll be forever grateful as I will also for the 124 that I thank Turk for not having since October!I hope to take a few pictures which with Joanna's help I'll add to the blog.

Last trip to Atlanta until February

Met with the Docs and had a "procedure" to remove a temporary stent that is standard for the transplant. Got there at 2:15 and when I finally emerged from the clinic Susan was beginning to wonder what was going on after 2 hours. Everything is fine and I have taken off about 30 pounds of water. Now for the real diet.
Kidney is glad we wont be traveling so much.She hated to see us pack our bags. My next appointment will be in Savannah in January at an Emory clinic there.
We stayed at Mason House and the wonderful staff had done a great job decorating for Christmas. They made a great effort to have it as nice as possible for the families who would have to spend Christmas there.
Probably won't have much more to say in this blog as we are hoping things will continue to go well. Turk is feeling better and back at the grind. Hope to see them at Christmas. He has already given me the Christmas present of a lifetime. I'll never be able to thank him enough.
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and the best New Year ever. That's what I'm shooting for !

Scott

Last weekly trip to Atlanta

Hi from Susan and I and we hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was the quick trip to Jacksonville and it was good to see Turk and Joanna as well as her parents. We had dinner at the Kisleys and they put together a special feast.
Turk really is starting to look good and although he still has some discomfort, his tests went well and it's just the slow process of healing. What a great person he is to have gone through all of this for somebody else.
After Monday's visit to Atlanta we won't have to go back for two weeks and then after Christmas every month. Every odd month for a while after that we can go to an Emory satellite clinic in Savannah which is only 45 minutes away. That will be a welcome change from the 5 plus hour drive now.
Hope you all are well and having a pleasant Holiday season.
Scott

Off to Atlanta again

We're about to leave to drop off Kidney at the spa. She knows something is up because of the packed bags and probably will refuse to get in the car without coaxing. She hates to have us leave her.
Turk is waiting to get back word on some tests. Still not too comfortable and anxious to get back to work. We're hoping he is 100% very soon. He doesn't deserve to have any discomfort.
I have lost about 20 lbs of the water and need to lose another 10 at least. Feeling much less winded and sleeping better.
One more weekly trip after this week and then every two weeks for a while. They monitor the various levels very carefully and that will probably be for years to come.
Got word last night that we can stay at Mason House again tonight. Happy about that.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everybody. It will be a special one for me as few people have as much to be thankful for as I do.

Mondays in Atlanta

Sunday PM we left Kidney at the spa and headed to Atlanta for my 7:20AM appointment Monday morning. We went in Susans car with no GPS but I remembered the way. Thus the 5 plus hour trip was closer to 7. Downtown Atlanta and Decatur are really nice. Stayed over at the Mason house and met some more interesting people. One was a 9 month old baby who had a heart transplant at the age of 19 days !! Another was a guy who was put on the nationwide transplant list with 68,000 people ahead of him. He got called 2 days later with a perfect match--unheard of.
Three or four hours at the clinic with lab tests shots and consultations. All seems to be going well but I do need to shed 20 lbs of water.
Turk is having some difficulty and found a half day at work was pretty painful. It seems so unfair that he should be suffering and I'm not. I'll keep you up on his progress which I hope will be rapid. What a great guy he is.
We'll be driving back to Atlanta the next two Sundays then it will be every other week.
Thanks for your cards and best wishes. We are blessed with a wonderful bunch of friends.
Scott

This week

I have been trying to add a few pictures but without success. So I'll take a stab at filling you in on the first week home. As you know Turk came home with us and is doing well but still has some discomfort. We hope Joanna will be here by dinner time and they'll head back to Jax tomorrrow.
Our first outing was on Wednesday as the result of a call and invitation to attend a breakfast at a local restraunt to welcome Mitt Romney. We took a picture with Mitt and he thought it was "wonderful" that Turk had given me the kidney. I already knew that he is a very impressive guy but I was encouraged that Turk and Susan as well as much of the croud who had'nt yet heard him, were impressed.
Outside travel is interesting due to our customary attire of sweat pants and slippers. In my case at least it is the only thing that will fit. I have lost a little over 10 lbs of the 30 I gained in water during the procedure. All of this is expected but a little tiring hauling it around.
Turk and I took a drive yesterday and checked out the New River Auto Mall where Turk checked out some new wheels for Joanna who is looking for something for her new job which will require plenty of driving.
Went out today for some supplies and were happy to see the Cannons who dropped over with some lovely flowers.
We will driving back to Atlanta on Sunday for an early Monday appointment with the doctor. These weekly visits will last till December, then decrease in frequency. Turk evidently is all done and no follow ups are necessary.
We all love to read your comments and you have all made this experience that much more rewarding. We sincerely thank you.
Scott