Thoughts & Prayers for Laura and Lou(Herk)

[Wayne & Kimmy]

Herk & Laura, keeping you both in our thoughts here in FL. Hope Laura gets well soon.

[Herk7769]

Laura update:

Her kidneys are pretty much shot, so dialysis is her only non-transplant option.

She got her shoulder port this afternoon and starts dialysis in the morning. Wednesday she will get her peritoneal port so I can do her nightly dialysis at home in a week or 10 days while the port heals.

The peritoneal unit is PORTABLE (sort of) but we are getting the fully automatic one that only needs to run at night.

SO, camping is still on! Though we may have to devote a (large) portion of the cargo bay for her supplies. Baxter will drop ship just about anywhere so we can even do Florida next year.

Off to nurse training for me next week.

If we had elected the blood method, we would have needed to put the camper up for sale.

HomeChoice Automated PD System Training - Part One - YouTube

[BlakeB]

Lou.. If you need ANYTHING or if there is anything we can do, please dont hesitate to let us know.

[Night Stone]

Thoughts and prayers to Laura and Lou from California, God bless.

[Herk7769]

Thanks again for all your prayers and well wishes.
It made a big difference in her outlook.
She was pretty bummed as you can imagine.

[TTNewbees]

Mr and Mrs herkabrary, hang in there our family from illinois are counting on a full and speedy recovery and send our prayers and wishes for you and your family.

[Herk7769]

Update:

She had her first blood dialysis yesterday and will get 2 more of increasing length and strength (today and tomorrow). She will also get her Peritoneal Port this afternoon for her future care.

Her color and cognition improved markedly after her first treatment. We have high hopes that she will be like her (old?) self by Thursday.

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.

I will be Mod'ing the camper again (yea, I know; right? ) to prepare it for her dialysis equipment and supplies. As we go along, I will try to photo document what I need to do for anyone so unfortunate as to have this illness and yet not want it to impact their traveling lifestyle.

The biggest impact will be to poor Bella who will need to be banished from the bedroom (obvious sanitary reasons).

See you around the
Thank you all.
Herk and Lolly

[Firefighter969]

Thoughts and prayers from Eastern Shore MD

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Update:

She had her first blood dialysis yesterday and will get 2 more of increasing length and strength (today and tomorrow). She will also get her Peritoneal Port this afternoon for her future care.

Her color and cognition improved markedly after her first treatment. We have high hopes that she will be like her (old?) self by Thursday.

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.

I will be Mod'ing the camper again (yea, I know; right? ) to prepare it for her dialysis equipment and supplies. As we go along, I will try to photo document what I need to do for anyone so unfortunate as to have this illness and yet not want it to impact their traveling lifestyle.

The biggest impact will be to poor Bella who will need to be banished from the bedroom (obvious sanitary reasons).

See you around the
Thank you all.
Herk and Lolly

What a wonderful attitude during a very trying time. Can't wait to hear that you guys are on the road again. Best wishes.

[themounties]

Prayers sent

[speedcat]

Prayers up for both of you!

[grayfox]

Good news. Sounds like excellent progress with a very positive attitude... very inspiring to all. We'll keep the thoughts and prayers coming. Hopefully we'll get to meet you and Laura on the road... Gettysburg maybe ??

[onetonford]

Thoughts and prayers to Laura and Lou from California

[ng2951]

Glad to hear you will be back on the road again. It will be interesting to see how you reconfigure the rig.

Of course the good news is out of the hospital and y'all will be happy trailings again.

[bend302]

I had a friend with the same system. They spent the winters in a condo in FL and would stop at motels along the way and take the equipment in with them. So, yeah, it is portable.

Lots of luck!

Bill

[Brother Les]

God has watched over you two for many many years, and He will continue for many more.
My prayers for understanding, assurance and to the recovery point of His will. Not an easy road, but a road that you two can travel together as one, and so you shall. Please include Bella as much as possible, for your baby is a large part of your family and a true companion.


May The Lord shower your family with Blessings in these trying days.

[Herk7769]

Laura Update:

Second dialysis went well (but painful) and her surgery for the Peritoneal Portal also went well. A scare in recovery when she would not wake up from the anesthesia (3 hours in recovery), but she never turned down an opportunity to take a nap. Her blood chemistry is still a mess, but they hope it settles down when the dust clears.

One more blood dialysis tomorrow and the neck catheter comes out; never to return. Next week she starts her Peritoneal Dialysis (and my training).

Why ANYONE would choose the blood dialysis over the PD I will never know.

Other than a slight (VERY slight IMO) burden on the caregiver, there is nothing but PRO's for the patient. MUCH Lower cost (less than 1/3 the cost of blood dialysis), NO pain after the portal is in, more closely resembles actual kidney function, level blood chemistry (no ups and downs), stay home, can travel ANYWHERE in or out of the country, normal life, swimming, hot tub, CAMPING, etc.

NONE of that with blood dialysis.

The PRO is that caregiver gets to drive to and from the dialysis center every three days; drop the patient at the center; go to a bar for 4-6 hours; pick up the patient and drive home.

The CONS are all patient related. There are no PROs for the patient.

And YET in the USA 85% elect the blood dialysis, even though Peritoneal Dialysis has been around for over 25 years.

[Pitcrew18]

Get well prayers from North Carolina.

[Teamfour]

Prayers going out from Northern Virginia.

[Oakman]

You and Laura are still in my prayers.