A Little Background Info

Before I start posting updates to my dad's condition, I thought I should first post a summary of how he got here. Since the only people who were "in the loop" about my dad's kidney problems were our immediate family members.

Those of you who know us, know that we are very private and at my dad's request, kept his health issues to ourselves. He is not a big talker and needed to process what was going on before he made a decision. We respected his wishes and he has recently decided to go forward with the transplant that 4 years ago he was not even willing to discuss.

Thanksgiving of 2002 - My dad looked and felt horrible - gray coloring, water retention, fatigue, and sleeplessness.

Early 2003 - Went to doctor and found out he had protein in his urine and high creatinine levels. They referred him to a nephrologist in CT.

Summer 2003 - Nephrologist did a kidney biopsy and found he had auto-immune lupus-like glomerulonephritis.

Summer 2003 - Nephrologist told him he'd need a kidney transplant in 3-6 months. Dr. told my dad to come back when his kidney failed and they'd start dialysis put him on the transplant list by the end of 2003. Dr. said he was not "healthy enough" for a transplant at that time anyway (heart issues).

Fall 2004 - My dad decided not to take the wait and fail approach and decided to try and regain some kidney function to delay the transplant as long as possible. He sought the help of 3 nutritional medicine doctors in CT and Virginia. They all agreed he should start a gluten-free diet ASAP as glomerulonephritis has ties to Celiac Disease.

Fall 2004-Summer 2006 - Dad went on a strict gluten free and casein free diet along with tons of vitamins and special supplements. He regained 25% of his kidney function during that time along with his heart health - much to the surprise of his nephrologist who said his condition was irreversible.

Summer 2006 - Decided to reintroduce gluten since his kidney and heart were doing so well. Within a few months his kidney function dropped significantly.

October 2006 - Went back on the GFCF diet

November 2006 - Contracted a cold

December 2006 - Cold turned into pneumonia

New Year's Eve 2006 - Took himself to the emergency room were they treated his pneumonia.

January 3rd, 2007 - Kidney function never rebounded after the reintroduction of gluten and the bought with pneumonia, so dialysis was started.

January 8th, 2007 - Nephrologist at MCV, in Richmond, evaluated him and discovered that he was finally healthy enough for a kidney transplant and felt that even though he could probably regain some kidney function, it was not worth putting him through extended dialysis if a living donor was available for a transplant.

January 11th 2007 - My mom got tested to be a donor for my dad and the team is optimistic that she is a match.