My dad's 1st birthday...

Today marks the first birthday of my dad. One year ago today, God gave my dad another lease of life through a kidney transplant.

It was on the last week of June 2002 when my parents visited a Family Med Practitioner to get some laboratory tests because my dad’s elbows and ankles were swelling. The laboratory tests revealed that his creatinine was very high, an indication that his kidneys were not functioning well. Because of this, they immediately proceeded to a kidney specialist who requested for more laboratory tests which proved that the earlier findings were right. He gave my dad five medicines a day with weekly laboratory tests and doctor’s consultation. The doctor told them that my dad’s right kidney is shrinking and the left one is starting to deteriorate also. This increased our financial difficulties.

Few weeks passed and the doctor didn’t mention of my dad’s need of a dialysis nor transplant even though my parents kept on asking him. This led them to look for a second opinion by the third week of August. The second doctor requested for some more lab tests, x-rays, as well as ultrasound which all revealed the same diagnosis but to a greater degree – this time the doctor well explained everything to my parents which put them on a stage of shock. The doctor told them that my dad’s right kidney shrank and is only 3% in function while the left one is shrinking also with only about 12% functioning. A kidney transplant is recommended as soon as possible and transplant needs to be done in Manila only with my dad’s brothers as the best possible kidney donors. He will now be in ten medicines ranging from a small tablet to a large capsule. Some 2 to 3 times a day in dozes of half a tablet to 6 pieces of one kind each time. He also has to do weekly lab tests and check-ups with the doctor.

It was so hard to bear the pain of the earlier diagnosis and prognosis but harder to break the news to the home members. Despite that, through sobs and lots of tears, my mom explained bravely everything and asked that we pray every night for my dad’s healing especially as the doctor prescribed a dialysis operation soon for my dad to be ready for dialysis any moment. Everyone in our living room cried that night.

That time, my dad’s medicines are costing about Php 600.00 per day excluding the three times a week injections, lab tests and doctor’s consultation which is sometimes two times a week. But through it all God is making sure that no single medicine is lacking everyday. We are continuously awed at seeing God provide the needed medications and hospitalizations, one day at a time.

First week of September, my parents went to Quezon City National Kidney Transplant and Institute for a possible enlistment of a cadaver donor under the Social Services Department (Charity). They were told that a cadaver donor takes years for the patient to wait so they canceled out the possibility.

Arriving at NKTI by the first week of October for the transplant preparations, they were told to prepare Php 100, 000.00 as deposit money to begin with the patient and donor work up.

Being a patient at NKTI under the S.S. Department was challenging. They needed to line up among many at the Registration counter of OPD before 8:00 A.M. You are fortunate if you get enlisted by 9:00 A.M. The doctor’s clinics for S.S. patients are not open till 1:00 P.M. and sometimes doctors come in as late as 3:00 P.M.

After one year of going back and forth to NKTI, all possible donors including my mom were rejected. Thus, the doctor decided to start with dialysis treatments three times a week.

After two years of dialysis treatment, suddenly through my dad’s doctor a donor came who was a perfect match. January 28, 2006, my dad received one kidney donated by a man whose life was taken brutally for an unknown reason after a few months. We were all saddened by the news considering that he gave life to my dad gracefully.

We are thanking God that one year ago today; He gave my dad another lease of life.