Next week I meet with a surgeon to discuss whether I qualify for a kidney transplant. It has been a long and rocky road to this point.
Around 25 years ago I was diagnosed with both kidney disease and diabetes. The doctor was convinced they were caused by several years of being exposed to lead poisoning from a lead pipe in an upstairs bathroom in a parsonage I lived in. Unfortunately, that church is now defunct and I can’t sue them for damages. 😊
When first diagnosed, I met with my nephrologist once a month. I would troop into his office carrying a jug containing several days accumulation of urine, having, the week before, had blood drawn and tested. That was fun. Especially carting the jug of yellow liquid through the medical office building. Talk about being ignored and avoided? It was not a conversation starter.
Over the years my visits moved to every six months and then just once a year. My nephrologist and I became friends. We had interesting conversations. My favorite was the day I said to him, “When I first started coming to you, I came monthly. Was that because you expected my kidneys to fail quickly?” Steve said, “Oh, yes. During the first year I was sure they would fail.” I said, “Wow, they have lasted over 15 years. I wonder why?” He leaned across the desk with a smirk, got right in my face and said just one word. “Prayer?” Bazinga, he got the preacher a good one.
Finally, about three and a half years ago my kidneys crapped out and I, unhappily, started dialysis. At the time I was living in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a large clinic with a huge staff. I, and one nurse, were the only white people in the place. I loved it and except for the treatments, it was one of my favorite places to be. The treatments were “uncomfortable” and started with the insertion of two of the largest needles I had ever seen. But the staff was charming. The ladies were warm and kind and friendly and occasionally would break out in song singing beautiful old hymns. And my fellow dialyzers were so much fun to talk to. They taught me about southern cooking, bar-b-que, and where to get the best vegetables and ice cream in town. We talked about what it was like to be black in Memphis in 2015. They were amazing.
After 3 ½ years of dialysis, I still hate it. But the clinic I am presently receiving treatments in is staffed by wonderful people who are kind and thoughtful. But nobody is singing to me during treatment and I am not getting in cooking lessons. I miss the Memphis bunch.
So, I decided I would look for a fresh used kidney. To qualify they put one through a long list of tests. At first, I assumed they were checking me out to see if I was in the process of dying from dread disease so they wouldn’t waste a kidney on me. But I’ve changed my mind. Now I think they are trying to kill me to keep from giving me a kidney. With each test my health gets worse and worse. My favorite one was the endoscopy. When that was over, the doctor gave me a prescription for a medication for my acid reflux. I explained that I have absolutely no symptoms of acid reflux. Now I do. I went to a cardiologist with a heart that had never caused me a moment’s problem and now I have reoccurring afib flutter. These people are going to kill me.
So, if everything works out, soon I will be searching for a good used kidney. If you have one you’re tired of hauling around, let me know.
Copyright © 2017, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved
Bill McConnell is the Interim Minister at Norwood Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a Church Transformation consultant and a Christian Leadership Coach. He is a frequent speaker at Church Transformation events. His latest book on church transformation is DEVELOPING A SIGNIFICANT CHURCH and is available at Westbow Press.
He can be contacted @ bill45053@gmail.com. Connect with him on Facebook @ William T. McConnell or on Twitter @billmc45053 or visit his Amazon Author Page @ Amazon
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