24: Young and Niave

      It has been a while since I last posted a blog.   I am encouraged by many who share with me that they enjoy reading my posts and keeping up with my kidney transplant journey.  Today's post includes the words of three individuals very close to me and were by side when I had renal failure in 1988.  Ashley made this suggestion to me and I am very happy they assisted me with writing today's blog.  Once again, I am humbled by the kindness and words of others.

      As you  know, I had renal failure after Ashley's birth.  The pregnancy was uneventful.   ( I always think about her and Justin being unplanned pregnancies and shake my head.  In May, 1987 I was diagnosed with endometriosis and Dr. Lies told me it would take at least two years for me to get pregnant.  Ronnie and I had not even been married a year.  Needless to say we were excited, but not what we planned, but we knew it was in God's plans).  My health was great and I was in great shape.  I even worked outside doing yard work on her due date. 

     After a difficult labor experience, she was born nine days late.  Somehow holding my healthy baby girl, made the labor insignificant.  Two mornings later, I woke up not feeling well with a low grade fever.  After telling the nurses I was sure I would be fine, Ashley and I were discharged from the hospital.  Within hours, I was very ill and remained in the bed for most of the following week.  My mother took me to the doctor that week and I prescribed an antibiotic and told to take Tylenol.  After being ill for a week, I remember Ronnie telling me he was taking me to the hospital because he was afraid I was going to soon die in our home.  I was admitted to the hospital in Goldsboro, the town we lived in at that time.  A hospital bassinet was provided for Ashley and she stayed in the room with me for a few days.  Within a couple of days, I began swelling over my entire body.  I gained 40 plus pounds of fluid in less than a week. At this point, I was unable to function at all.  My face was so swollen that I could only see the silhouettes of family members.  Sometime in the midst of all of this occuring, I was misdiagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (even though the tests were negative). After  being in the hospital in Goldsboro for almost a week, the doctors determined I was experiencing renal failure. I was transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill.  Immediately every medical specialty area began examining me. Within a day or so, a kidney biopsy was performed and I was diagnosed with two kidney diseases; Minimal Change Disease and Acute Tubular Necrosis. Even though I was conscious, I remember being so ill and not truly realizing all that was occurring. 

      At that time, Ronnie and I lived in the western part of Wayne County in the Rosewood Community, and he worked for Winn-Dixie in Kinston. Chapel Hill was not convenient to either town, and Interstate 40 was not completed at that time. I can not imagine what all Ronnie went through during those days with a wife dying in Chapel Hill and a newborn. 

     I am forever grateful for Dr. Ronald Falk being assigned as my physician.  He is a such a wonderful doctor and I have been blessed to be under his care ever since.  After receiving mega doses of Prednisone, Lasix, and receiving dialysis, I finally urinated after almost 3 weeks.  It looked more like motor oil, but it was urine. After being hospitalized for several weeks, I was discharged from the hospital 60 pounds lighter than when admitted.  My kidney function improved drastically and I began to think that I would fine forever.  Being young and naïve,  I never realized that living with renal disease was a life time commitment with future consequences due to the damage both kidneys sustained.  As Dr. Falk told me in July of last year, I  had been given  25 good years up to this point and very fortunate. 

       I thank God for all those who have prayed for me over the past 26 years and supported my family in various ways.  Please read these words from three special people in my life.  Janet Owle and Joan Howell are my sisters, and Sue Floars took care of Ashley while I was in the hospital and even for a short while after I came home. 

 

      Words from my oldest sister, Janet Owle:  

      "When Myra became pregnant with her first child, it was an exciting time for our family!  My sister, Joan, had one son who was 17 years old, and I had one daughter who was 14 years old! A baby in the family was exciting news! After Ashley was born my husband, daughter, and I made the trip from our home in Chesapeake, VA to meet our newest family member!  Ashley was a beautiful healthy little girl! Excitement filled our family.
     Little did we know that our joy would be interrupted by unimaginable crisis! We returned home to VA, when a couple of days later we received a call that Myra had returned to the hospital because of headaches and some swelling.  Nothing too serious at that time; however things took a turn for the worse and Joan called me at school and said to come home to NC immediately! Myra had gained an excess of forty pounds of fluids!  When I walked into the room and saw our baby sister so sick, I just knew that her time with us was limited!  Thankfully God's plan was different.  Ronnie, her husband decided to have her transferred from our small hometown hospital to Chapel Hill at UNC Hospital. Within a short time Dr. Falk, and his staff had her stabilized, and after spending about six weeks in the hospital she was able to return home and spend time with her sweet baby.
     In the meantime you are probably wondering what was going on with Ashley. A family friend of Ronnie's family took care of her while Myra was hospitalized. The Floars Family were Angels send by God to love and care for Ashley.  My mother and sister spent days and nights at the hospital to help Ronnie through this difficult time. Whenever possible, I would come on weekends to help relieve the family.
     Acute kidney failure is what I remember hearing, and thinking what does this mean? Now, that I have seen my sister live with renal disease over the past twenty-six years, I understand.  She has endured the countless urine collections and trips to UNC for check ups, as well as the side effects of her disease. Through it all she has raised great kids, been a teacher of special needs children, and been a wonderful wife to Ronnie!  She is one of the first to meet the needs of her friends whoever they are in need, because of illness or whatever may be going on in their lives.  It is no surprise that her friends and colleagues have rallied around her with such support as she awaits her transplant and the next chapter of her journey!"

      From my sister, Joan Howell: 

      "Twenty Six years ago this month, my family and I were blessed with a new baby girl in our family born to Ronnie and Myra Jones, my sister and brother-in-law.  We were so excited and then Myra started having problems shortly afterwards.  She had to return to Wayne Memorial a week or so after Ashley was born.  I remember going to the hospital and she was retaining so much fluid, she looked distorted.  The doctor kept saying we are trying this and when that didn’t work, he’d try something else.  She gained about 40 lbs in less than a week.  I was really scared.  Finally after many discussions, she was moved to Chapel Hill hospital.  I was living and working in Raleigh at that time.  Every morning I would go to the hospital in Chapel Hill before going to work to check on Myra.  One morning while I was there, Dr. Falk told me he needed to talk to me.    He said he wasn’t sure if Myra was going to live, but that he was going to do all he could to help her and he did.   It was a very scary time for all of us.  After a long recovery time, she was able to go home to her baby and husband, Ronnie.   Myra has made many trips to that same doctor at Chapel Hill for the last 26 years and even  though her kidney function has not been normal, it has been enough to get by until last year.

Please be in prayer with me that God’s Will  be done in her life.  Also, that healing will be done through a kidney transplant for my sister that I love very much.

     From Sue Floars, family friend:

"God Gave Me Ashley

         Ronnie’s mom and I were classmates at Goldsboro High School. We had three sons each, the same ages, and we shared lots of other things at church and in school. We both dreamed of having a little girl.

         It was heartbreaking when Shirley was stricken with cancer. She fought hard for a while, during which time we drew much closer. I helped any way I could, and had been there at the hospital the night before her home going to Heaven. It was a very hard time for them all- Myra had just lost her dad three days earlier. I remember telling the boys that night that I could never take their mom’s place, nor would I try; but I would always be there for them all.

        About three years later, Ashley was born May 5, 1988. Just a few days later  I received word Myra was being rushed to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill and Ronnie needed help. I went to her mother’s house and there Ronnie gave me Ashley to care for. I was keeping my two-year-old granddaughter at the time, so I had a nursery set up with all she would need.  I was very concerned for Myra’s health, but thrilled to be entrusted with sweet baby Ashley.

        My granddaughter, Laura Lea, thought that we had gotten her a baby! Ashley was beautiful with her big brown eyes, dark hair, and dark complexion. She stole my heart and by the end of the first day the whole family was in love with her. For the next five or six weeks, she was “our baby”. We enjoyed her so much. Jackie, my husband would wake her up every morning before going to work to love on her and play with her.

        Ronnie was staying with Myra as much as possible, but he would come to my house or call to check on Ashley every day. When he would come by, Laura Lea would stand in front of him with her little arms out to the sides and say, “my baby!” She didn’t want him to take her. Ronnie and I grew very close during this time- we would cry, laugh, and pray together.  We shared so many special times. He really opened his heart to me and the Lord.

        As I look back, I am amazed at how something as bad as kidney failure could bring out such joy and love. God had Myra’s sickness 26 years ago just like He has it today.

        Thank You, God, for giving me a small part in Your plan; and thank You for giving me more family. Ronnie, Myra, Ashley, and Justin are all a part of my family. They have brought much joy and happiness to my life!"

       Thanks to Janet, Joan and Sue for sharing.  I am forever grateful to them, Ronnie, and my mother.  Due to God's plans for my life, I survived an incredible illness.   

      At the present time, my kidney function is stable at 22%.  I have been placed on the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) list and hoping to have potential donors tested soon to determine if they will be a match for transplant.  With my kidney function 22%, the doctor states I continue to need a transplant, but it will be delayed.  In December, my kidney function was 15% and Dr. Falk was very alarmed.  22% is a large increase from 15%.  Please continue to pray for me as I go through this journey.  I have issues with high blood pressure, extreme dry mouth, strong metal taste in my mouth, swelling when I awake in the mornings but especially lack of energy.  Summer break is coming soon and I can't wait! 

      Fundraising has been extremely successful and there is no way to thank each contributing person and organization enough.  May God Continue to Bless Each of You Who Has Blessed Me!