Thorburn Family

Thank you for the prayers regarding Rich’s recovery and his seizure a couple days ago. He is doing well.  We are keeping an eye on the seizure meds situation, and if another seizure occurs, he will see his neurologist.  It does not appear that any damage was done to anything pertaining to the surgery.  He got away w/a minor groin pull and a little tongue damage. You know, he’s lost 23 lbs at least since surgery!  He says the tongue bite is just part of the weight loss program  We praise God for his continued recovery process.

Rich’s recovery has been going well, but today he had a grand mal seizure.  He did hefty damage to his tongue, but it does not appear that there is any damage to the surgery area at all, at least from my inspection.  Please keep this in prayer.  Rich is still out of it, so I won’t know about any other damage or effects until he’s “with us” again.  The concerning aspect is that he has taken all his seizure meds faithfully, and this still happened.  We do praise God for not allowing any seizures while Rich was in the hospital. 

What a joy it was to get our mail today and find the thick pile of “disclosures” on Benjamin from Nevada.  We are able to start getting to know our new child.  What a blessing!  As we read, we keep saying.. “this kid is right up our alley!”   We just cannot wait to meet him in person, bring him home, and start the process of attachment, family bonding, and a new start.   It is great to have this information and be able to start pinpointing areas of need, and develop strategies for meeting those needs well.  Our ICPC process has been underway, though temporarily delayed by a petition by the birth father to be considered for custody.  Birth dad voluntarily relinquished his rights a couple of years ago and has not seen his child for at least that long.  It is considered a virtual impossibility that he could gain even a chance to get his rights back.  He has had one court date (and was denied) and there is another coming (??when), and then we expect this will be the end of things.  Meanwhile, our ICPC process and transition plans with his workers continue, and we proceed as though there is no delay possible.  We know that Benjamin will join our family at exactly the right time, no sooner and not a day late.  

We are home!  We arrived today, and Rich is soooo glad.  He is really sore and tired, of course, but there’s nothing better than recovering at home.  I should have some pictures on the site shortly.  To God be the glory,  Anna

Ken went home today!   Rich will be in the hospital another day or two.  We are really looking fwd to being home, out of hospital “air” and in our own space.  All in good time!  :)  Anna

Tough day today for Rich, and later on, for Ken as well.   Doesn’t look like they’ll be released tomorrow after all, but we’ll see.  Digestive issues are causing problems for Rich and he’s been taken back to no liquids, no foods again (getting fluids through IV though).   Ken is not feeling well either.  This is a bump in the road and it will pass.   Hoping for a great day tomorrow and release from the hospital soon.  Anna

Rich and Ken continue to do well.  They are moving closer and closer to going home.  They both drank liquids today and Rich ate a couple crackers.  Eating will be the key to getting off IV and getting on the pills instead.  Rich’s cathedar and epidural were removed today too!  He’s making lots of revolutions around the nurse’s station w/his IV pole; looking great.  We think that Rich will go home Sunday, and Ken may go home then, or a day later, as well.  We are so thankful for all the prayers and for God’s goodness towards each of us. The kidney continues to work well.   We are considering the idea of a “kidney transplant skit” by the Thorburns and Micks for Family Camp at Susque this year.   Now that everyone is in much less pain, we see a lot of humor in the transplant procedure :-) 

Rich is doing a lot better now.   The wonderful doctors and pain management team have developed a great plan for him, I believe.  Rich is sleeping and feels good .. pain is a 3 on scale of 1-10 (before it was a “12″).   I am thankful for this.  He’s really a trooper and true to his character.  Today he walked slowly around the nurses station 3 times.  Ken is also doing well.  Both guys are still eating only ice chips.  We hope that in a day or two they will be eating something.  We are on our way!  Kidney is functioning well, they say!   Thank you for all the prayers.

Rich and Ken are in their room, trying to sleep.  Rich received an epidural but it did not work for very long.  He is very uncomfortable, in a lot of pain.  They are trying other things and will probably take the epidural out tonight as well.  Please pray that his pain will decrease and that then they will stay on top of it.  We aren’t really sure why he is having that trouble.  Hopefully the nighttime will be uneventful for both of the guys.  THANK YOU for all the prayers.  They mean a great deal to us.  Anna

The surgery went well.  They started Rich 2 hours before they started Ken.   Ken and Rich are both recovering.  The kidney worked fully & immediately.  They said it is a BIG kidney!  Ken is making 1.5 quarts of urine an hour.  Things could not have gone better.
Rich has been moved to the room that he and Ken are sharing.  He’s very sore, and is unable to have the regular pain medication system most donors have, b/c of his sleep apnea.  Right now he’s a hurting puppy ~ getting a kidney out is harder than getting one in ~ they have to dig around your other organs and do a lot more manipulation to extract.  Rich has a very nice nurse who will be helping him as much as she can.  They are doing scans on Ken and he will arrive in the room after that.  Please pray that the guys will recover well, that Rich will have no seizures, and that Ken’s body would continue to have great success w/this kidney!   I will write something better later on tonight or tomorrow and send it to everyone, and update our website, but wanted to give you this update for now.  I can receive mail and also get internet in the hospital, which is why I can update this dite.  But, I don’t seem to be able to send mail, so I have not answered any emails since getting to the hospital (but I am reading them).  I am going to take this next door to the hospital and hopefully send some mail.  But, it won’t be until later tonight.
THANK YOU for the prayers and keep praying, thanks.   God is gracious and mighty!
Love, Anna