Change Is The Only Constant...

Change has been the norm around here lately.  February 12, 2012 Sonshine went into the hospital for elevated Creatinin levels.  He was just trying to skip some school and fake being sick so he could come home from school early since his sister was coming home from college and his brother and fiance were coming in from Seattle for a couple's shower that we were throwing for them.  (This he revealed to me later in the hospital.)  His teacher sent me a text and told me that he didn't look so good.  I also got a text from Sonshine saying that he had been sick at school.  I picked him up, called the pediatric urologist who said let's not mess around, given his history, blood tests, urine tests, and a kidney ultrasound happened faster than you can imagine.  Around 4:00 p.m. Nurse Linda from the office called to say that the creatinin was around 4 and he flunked his test.  Get him to the hospital.  Enter the Pediatric Nephrologist.  Nice man but whenever he's around it's because things are definitely not good.  Disturbing news.  Tears.  More tears.  Even more tears.  The kidneys are failing.  Could happen quickly from here, could happen relatively slowly, but they are definitely failing.  Blood pressure is way up.  My 16 year old is going on 3 different high blood pressure meds.  A week in the hospital.  In the middle, throw a couple's shower and get right back to the hospital.  We are lucky to be able to be at a hospital connected with Children's Miracle Network.  It enables us to stay near home and for Sonshine's friends and girlfriend to walk to the hospital from the high school after school and visit.   Starting the last week or so of February, we are at the nephrologists office once a week.  Blood work weekly, urines weekly.  Blood pressure won't come down where the docs want it and I can see my son's legs starting to really get swollen.  the kid's arms look like a pincushion.  I would do anything to trade places.  Anything.  I pray, I beg, I'm angry, I'm sorry.  We are told at the beginning of April that we are heading toward dialysis.  Watch the numbers some more.  BUN and creatinin, phosphorus, potassium, systolic, diastolic.  Take the medication every 12 hours.  Oh, by the way, you will have to show 6 months of A+ medication taking dedication as part of the process to qualify for a kidney transplant.  Oh my gosh, transplant?  We go to Disneyland.  Really?  Yes, really.  The kid loves that stinkin' mouse and right now as far as my husband and I are concerned he can have whatever he wants.  To be continued...