Got some bad news today on the transplant front. The biopsy came back from the hospital, and the tissue shows a polyoma virus infection of the transplanted kidney, which has led to the lessened kidney function that we have seen the past few weeks. It often comes with the transplant, and normally healthy people don't have a problem with it as the body suppresses the virus without incident. However, when a patient is on immunosuppressive therapy as transplant patients are for life, this is always a potential threat.

The First Mate will have to go three days each of the next three weeks to the hospital for IV infusions of anti-virals, as well as add in more medication for fighting the infection. At the same time, the doctors have to lessen the immunosuppressive therapy somewhat to allow the body to fight the infection -- but which risks the kidney and pancreas that she received over the last year. It's a tightrope act, and for the next few weeks we'll have to just keep a close eye on her to make sure she comes through OK.

She has always appreciated your thoughts and prayers, so I thought I'd keep you updated. We could use a few of them now and for the next few weeks.

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» Prayers Needed For Captain Ed’s First Mate from California Conservative
A Prayer Request From Captain Ed at CQ: Prayers Needed For FM Got some bad news today on the transplant front. The biopsy came back from the hospital, and the tissue shows a polyoma virus infection of the transplanted kidney, which has led to the les... [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 1:18 AM

» Captain Ed's First Mate from Red Guy in a Blue State
Reading this post at Captains Quarters gave me a huge feeling of deja vu. Captain Ed's wife, a kidney/pancreas transplant recipient like my late brother, is dealing with a viral attack on her donated kidney, again similar to Paul. This [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 10:22 PM

» Captain Ed's First Mate from Red Guy in a Blue State
Reading this post at Captains Quarters gave me a huge feeling of deja vu. Captain Ed's wife, a kidney/pancreas transplant recipient like my late brother, is dealing with a viral attack on her donated kidney, again similar to Paul. This [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 10:23 PM

» Captain Ed's First Mate from Red Guy in a Blue State
Reading this post at Captains Quarters gave me a huge feeling of deja vu. Captain Ed's wife, a kidney/pancreas transplant recipient like my late brother, is dealing with a viral attack on her donated kidney, again similar to Paul. This [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 10:24 PM

» Captain Ed's First Mate from Red Guy in a Blue State
Reading this post at Captains Quarters gave me a huge feeling of deja vu. Captain Ed's wife, a kidney/pancreas transplant recipient like my late brother, is dealing with a viral attack on her donated kidney, again similar to Paul. This [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 10:25 PM

» Captain Ed's First Mate from Red Guy in a Blue State
Reading this post at Captains Quarters gave me a huge feeling of deja vu. Captain Ed's wife, a kidney/pancreas transplant recipient like my late brother, is dealing with a viral attack on her donated kidney, again similar to Paul. This [Read More]

Tracked on January 1, 2006 10:29 PM