I guess I should start from the beginning.

My name is Amanda, and I am 26. Over the past year and a half, to two years my father has had two heart attacks, an emergency quadruple bypass surgery (which they didn't think he would make it through) and kidney failure. His first heart attack was the worst. He went into the hospital at about 6 a.m. and we waited all day to hear something solid. Minutes felt like hours, and hours like days. The tears were constant. My step mother went to them to find out what was going on and they gave us the heartbreaking news, they said that he had two options, he could be medicated to alleviate his pain, and most likely wouldn't leave the hospital and would pass away, or they could go in and do a quadruple bypass surgery but that he probably wouldn't make it through and that the dye test they would have to conduct could destroy his already frail kidneys. The choice was his, and thank God he chose to do the surgery. He was scared he would never see us again, and we were afraid of the same. 4 or 5 unbelievably long hours later the surgeon came into the waiting room, we were all on edge and more terrifed than I could ever begin to try and explain. The surgeon had good news, he came out of the surgery much better than they had expected, we were all so relieved and happy, but of course he wasn't out of the woods yet, it would be a long road to recovery, he said. So then we waited for him to wake. We visited him constantly, I sang to him as he lay there covered in tubes and pumped full of morphine, everyday praying God would see him through this. The doctors kept saying, cross each bridge as you get there. Each time they could unhook one of his machines was a triumph, but two of the biggest hurdles were the day they woke him up, he could finally see us now, and then the day they removed his breathing tube, finally he could speak to us. It was a very difficult time, but we all came through it and when he was finally able to come home, we started to move on with our lives. Then shortly after that he had another heart attack caused by a blood clot. It was a complete fluke they said, nothing he had done had caused it, it just happened. This was not even close to as bad as the last one, but the day after they sent him home, he became weak and began vomitting and couldn't even get to the bathroom on his own, shortly after this we knew his kidneys were going. Up until this point they hadn't been in great shape, he had some swelling, but the kidneys had been holding their own, now he was headed for dialysis. He has diabetes, which is mostly to blame for his kidney problems. Watching someone you love get wheeled away in a bed and not knowing if you will ever see them again is the most terrifying thing I have ever gone through and it really opens your eyes. When I found out my father was going on dialysis I volunteered my kidney. At first he refused, but after talking with his specialists, he agreed to let me get tested. My stepmother got tested also but was not a match, several of his siblings offered, but they all had various health problems that would keep them from ever even being tested. I had done much research on the subject and felt I was fully prepared for what was to come. After getting the initial blood test and finding out I was a match (YAY!) I then began a series of tests, which I must say were not as difficult as I had imagined. I had, of course, the wonderful 48 hour urine test which we all love so much (for those of you unfamiliar with this, you have to collect your urine in two large jugs over a 48 hour period) , and more blood tests than I can remember, the psychological tests, endocronologist, cardiograms, x-rays, the first of two renal scans where a harmless dye was injected and the most nervewracking test for me which was the final renal scan where they inject a rarely, but possibly fatal dye which scared the buggers out of me, but went fine. I have summed all of that up pretty quickly, but in reality it took about a year to get through all that testing and each time waiting for the results was brutal! Anyway, after a long long process, we finally had the final word. We were good to go! Much to our suprise, the final test was shortly after my wedding in August and the surgery was booked for November 23, 2006. Well, I was aprehensive about having this done before the holidays, but knowing how much my father needed it meant everything so it was scheduled.
I have been counting down the days since we found out "the date" today is November 10 we have 12 days until the surgery. I have been keeping a journal for me to write in which I have found very helpful and today I am going to get the "Prepare for surgery, heal faster" book that was recommended to me by some other donors. I am nervous, but more excited than anything. I can' t wait for Dad to be able to have a life that doesn't include 3 days a week of dialysis. He has had his hospital bag packed for about a month now. I have been excercising (running) everyday to keep in shape and increase my chances for a speedy recovery and I am pretty positive about the whole thing. I just hope neither of us gets sick before the surgery and it has to be delayed. With arranging short term, and all of that, not to mention how badly my father needs this, I would hate to have to have it rescheduled. I have so much support from all my friends, and family and truly do not know how I would do this without each and every one of them by my side. My husband is wonderful and has stood by me through this and his parents have been amazing as well. I feel almost like I have a scratchy throat but am not sure if that is my paranoia, or something else. So I have been taking vitamin c to help ward off any sickness, and keep praying that I will be okay to do this.
As I said I just got married in August to my soul mate. He is my life, and I am so blessed to have found him. He is so loving and supportive, and he makes me laugh, I couldn't imagine my life without him. Our wedding was something I will always treasure and I will never forget how it felt to stand up in front of the people we love and in front of God and pledge our love and life together. He gives me strength and love and I would have nothing without him. My father walked me down the ailse and gave me away, and danced with me at my reception. Life has been good to me and I just hope that this gift I am giving my dad will give him the kind of life he dreams of.
I had my birthday in October, just turned 26 and it was wonderful. My family and friends were wonderful to me. I am so happy that I have all of these wonderful thoughts and memories to take with me into this surgery and I know everything will turn out the way it was meant to. It's in God's hands now, and he will take care of us.
Picture at the top of the page is Me and Dad dancing at my wedding
Below - Me and my wonderful husband at our wedding and on our honeymoon



Well, I think thats all for now.