On the February 10, 2009 Darci got a call from University of Michigan Hospital telling her to get ready, they had organs for her.  Much to our disappointment, she got a call back at 7pm that night that the organs were no longer available.  We all went to bed, with our bags still packed and were awaken at 5am on February 11th that the organs were available again and to be at U of M by 8am.  With much excitement Darci traveled quickly to U of M for a kidney/pancreas transplant.

 

Surgery went well, 8 hours later Darci was in recovery and on her way to her room.  After 9 days (5 more than expected), Darci came home a new person.  The kidney and pancreas are working well and Darci has a new found freedom from insulin shots and dietary restrictions.

 

But the trade off, anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life.  While Medicare and Medicaid pay for the first 3 years after the transplant, after that time Darci will be on her own to pay for the those drugs and all other medical expenses.  She has not yet been released by the doctors for work, and she has other medical problems that may prevent that from happening.

 

She is classified as legally blind in the right eye and has what is called Charco of the left foot.  All these are complications of her diabetes and are not reversable.

 

 

 

For more information on Transplants please visit the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org