What the F…?
February 9, 2010 at 2:45 pm | In CKD, Daddy-O, Family Ties, Kidney Disease, Transplant | Leave a CommentTags: CKD, Dialysis, IgA Nephropathy, organ donation, PD Catheter
I just read an article that made me really mad. It goes to show just how shallow Insurance companies are.
Let’s see. I won’t be able to take a vacation (not that it’s likely anyway) with my Husband because of his Transplant. We only have insurance through our work which covers accidental deaths and hospitalizations, that kind of thing.
I am appalled that the woman in the article can only get her other body parts covered if she leaves the country. Ironically if she went on vacation before she had the operation, she would have been covered. It would have been harder for her to travel, presumably while on Dialysis – just read the blog Bill Peckham’s Blog to find out that it can be done! However, post-transplant when she is untethered (from the Dialyzer), they won’t cover her.
Why do the big companies continue to cover only the healthy people? There are people who have paid into policies all their adult lives and never had to use it, yet the minute someone gets sick, wham! you’re a persona-non-grata – your policy gets cancelled or you find out you’re ineligible because of whatever it is that’s making you sick. This gets more and more frightening when you consider the aging population made up of Baby Boomers who have enough to deal with, with the current Pension Plans being underfunded or non-existent, RRSP which have lost a lot of their value, and having to laughingly live on a Government Pension (a.k.a. CPP or Old Age Pension). Once upon a time they were told that this would be adequate to meet their needs when they retired when it is most definitely not.
Is it worth it to travel and insure 99% of your body? I can understand that if something should happen to the kidney, the medical costs are exorbitant, however I think the recuperation would be easier in a warmer climate than by having to face a cold Canadian winter.
Despite cap-in-hand Government bailouts, they still manage to screw the little guy.
Insurance Companies, you disgust me.
Then and Now
February 8, 2010 at 8:05 pm | In All Things Doodle, Caityisms, Family Ties, Miscellaneous Crap, Toeses and Noses | Leave a CommentTags: Baby, Grandkids, grumpy toddler, kids, Toddler
This was us, almost exactly three years ago…
A quiet moment we shared – one of the few when she wasn’t screaming.
Getting more independent every day.
Getting smarter and cuter every day.
And more of a ham.
But still…
You love.
Your Sister.
Um … Maybe We Should Hide the Safety Scissors
February 7, 2010 at 11:01 am | In Toeses and Noses | Leave a CommentAfter everyone left yesterday, my male cat came over for a cuddle. Both cats were a little out of sorts yesterday because of all the noise associated with a three year old’s party. I looked at his sweet face and noticed something looked different, but couldn’t quite place it. It took me a minute to realize what was different. Over his left eye, the whiskers were gone, cut off. He had only one whisker left over his right eye which was bent and half cut and the rest were cut short. Alex said he probably got them caught on something, but I suspected something else. Lexy denied all knowledge and the way she said it, I knew she wasn’t lying.
Caity must have taken Lexy’s safety scissors and decided the cat needed a haircut. I’ve always said you could do anything to this cat and he would just sit there and take it.
Poor cat. I hope she doesn’t discover where we keep the razors …
Stooper Bowl Sunday
February 7, 2010 at 10:35 am | In CKD, Caityisms, Daddy-O, Family Ties, Kidney Disease, Sisters, Toeses and Noses, Transplant | Leave a CommentTags: CKD, Dialysis, IgA Nephropathy, kidney transplant, organ donation, Toddler meltdown
I had 15 people in my house yesterday for Caity’s birthday. It was just a cake and coffee afternoon-type event, Alex wasn’t up to anything bigger. Next year we’ll likely have a proper kids’ birthday for her. Just before everyone left, Alex was falling asleep on the couch – he was wiped. He gets these burst of energy where he thinks he can do whatever, but that energy burns him out fast. We’ve both been going to bed by 10:00 lately, exhausted. The basement toy is now upstairs (Hi Gina!), out of earshot, it being too cold for the kids to play in the basement. I still think “In The Nightgarden” is not only the stoopidest show ever, but the characters are evil mind-sucking aliens. I mean seriously, “Iggle-Piggle“?? Who thinks this shit up?? But the girls love them and that’s what matters. Caity was miserable most of the day – too short a nap and too much excitement. Both girls were in bed, asleep at 6:30 last night. We all needed the break.
It was nice seeing everyone, even though I didn’t get to spend much time with anyone in particular. I barely saw my parents, I think they got lost in the crowd. Marc was looking well. He’s been making a great recovery and has a post-op doctor’s visit tomorrow. We saw the Director of the Transplant Unit on Thursday and he asked how Alex’s Dad was doing. We told him that a couple of days after he was discharged, he went to the Firehall when a call came in and he had already been Ice Fishing. The Doctor, amazed, said something about Marc just having a Nephrectomy and Ice Fishing. I guess most Donors don’t heal that quickly (or are that stubborn … hi Marc!) 
I started the pot of chilli about half an hour ago. Currently it tastes like spaghetti with a bit of Cumin … I’m hoping it will come together as it cooks. I used the Davita recipe for Mexican spice and we liked it a lot when we made tacos one night when Alex was still on Dialysis and had to watch everything he ate. What’s good about this recipe is that there is no salt. You can add salt if you like, but we have found that the commercial spaghetti sauce we favour, has more than enough salt in it – you don’t notice it. I did however, remember that I had some green chilis in the freezer *insert evil laugh here*, that should kick it up a notch as Emeril would say. The Davita site is a great resource if you’re trying to watch your salt intake or for those with Renal issues, it helps you watch your Potassium and Phosphorus intake as well. We’ve tried a few recipes and while initially I missed the salt, they were still tasty.
Alex is trying desperately to beat the Resident Evil 5 game he rented last week. It’s due back today so it’s either beat it, or re-rent it until he does. He’ll try driving today to make sure he can get himself to the train tomorrow morning for his Hospital appointment. If it’s too much for him, I’ll take him down again. It’s only blood tests tomorrow, so it shouldn’t take long. We’ll also find out how his tests were from last Thursday.
Stooper Bowl is on tonight, and Alex has his spot picked out on the couch. I’ll probably watch some of it with him, but will likely head upstairs when the kids are in bed.
From Toddler to Little Girl
February 6, 2010 at 5:14 am | In Toeses and Noses | Leave a Comment
Hi Caitlyn. Today is your Third Birthday. I hope you don’t mind if Mommy rambles a bit.
I am in constant awe of you.
You are growing up so quickly (too quickly in my opinion).
You are my last child.
I wrote your birth story last year on your birthday (http://doodlesmom.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/life-turned-around/), and once again I am amazed at how much you’ve grown.
You’re into a size 4T already. You’re very tall for your age. You’re smart, although Daddy would say you’re just a smarty pants.
You finally peed in the potty yesterday at daycare, I was so proud of you little one.
Looks just like George
Your birthday cake will have your George the Monkey on it. It’s actually a picture of Curious George but you probably won’t know the difference.
I will have to get someone to bring a camera, ours is broken and I don’t want to miss your birthday.
I love you.
You are my squeaky cuddle monkey and you have the most profound way of making Mommy feel better when I’m sad. You sit right next to me, almost on top of me and you rub my shoulder or back and smile that sweet smile at me.
You like to pretend you are a baby and still like to have quiet cuddles with me. Even though you don’t let your Sister next to me, I enjoy this time with you.
You need to learn how to share better. You need to be nice to your Sister, she loves you so very much.
I hope you have a great day little one. We love you.
Love Mommy, Daddy, Lexy and the cats (Charlie & Mavvy)
First Week Clinic Results
February 4, 2010 at 1:49 pm | In CKD, Daddy-O, Kidney Disease, Transplant | Leave a CommentTags: CKD, Dialysis, IgA, IgA Nephropathy, kidney transplant, organ donation
Awesome numbers. Creatinine 175 (205 on release from Hospital, 900-1,100 when he was admitted) – down 30 points! Blood Pressure is normal! 124/86 – we were wondering if they hooked up the right arm..! Cyclosporine levels are good. Haemoglobin has risen to 96 (74 on hospital discharge). Everything’s looking great. The Doctor (who just spent the last two weeks working in Haiti, by the way) was pleased with his results. Alex said today is the first day that besides being tired, he feels like a human being again. Today is two weeks since the Transplant.
Way to go babe 
I’m so happy for you!
Oh … and this doesn’t mean you get out of wining and dining me on Valentine’s Day ….
Paranoid With Reason
February 2, 2010 at 10:19 pm | In CKD, Kidney Disease, The Crap that Men Do, Toeses and Noses, Transplant | 2 CommentsTags: benefit plan, CKD, Dialysis, IgA Nephropathy, kidney transplant, organ donation
My Husband, as you probably well know by now, is taking some pretty heavy-duty anti-rejection medication. If he stops taking any of it, there is a very real risk of rejection. He is not taking his disability lightly and he has been very good about taking his medication on time, every time. After his discharge last Friday the Hospital gave me a laundry list of medications to fill at our local Pharmacy. They cautioned too that we stick to only one Pharmacy so that they can keep track of drug interactions (i.e., getting a prescription from a clinic that may interact with his current meds).
Everything was available except for one of his anti-rejection drugs, CellCept. He needs to take this four times a day. The Pharmacy didn’t have the complete order of 120 tablets, but they gave us 30. The Pharmacist said the order would be completed today. It wasn’t. Alex has about 4-5 days’ worth of CellCept left in his inventory, but it’s way too close for my comfort. I want to know that anything he needs will be available. Immediately. The Pharmacy assured me that the item is available, and they will follow-up tomorrow.
I don’t like being this short of supply. It scares me.
Something else that scares me is the real cost of the medication. It’s insane. Thankfully both Alex and I have good jobs with good benefits, but there are so many people who don’t. There were a LOT of pensioners at the Transplant clinic yesterday.
Let’s review, shall we?:
a) Norvasc - a blood pressure medication. 30 day supply is $79.15
b) Trandate - a second blood pressure medication. 30 day supply $56.60
c) CellCept - an anti-rejection drug – I hope you’re sitting down for this one because I needed to be. 30 day supply $556.36! Youch!
d) Sulfatrim - an antibiotic, to get him over the transplant operation. $13.59
e) Prednizone - an anti-rejection drug. A 30 day supply $12.72
f) Lansoprazole - a generic form of Prevacid, an acid reducer. A 30 day supply $61.49
The Cyclosporin he takes twice a day is provided for free by the Hospital – they get it directly from the manufacturer (thank you Novartis for your incredible generosity!) would have cost an extra $1,356 for a one month supply. These are over $7.50 for each pill!
Let’s do some more math. Not including the antibiotic (because presumably he only needs this now), that’s $2,135.91 per month, or $25,630.92 per year ($9,358 of this is the free Cyclosporin). Every year. For the rest of his life. Not including inflation. It makes my head spin. I hope our plans cover this amount each year or we’re in real trouble.
Maybe Vince Could Sell This Idea on TV
January 31, 2010 at 4:05 pm | In All Things Doodle | Leave a CommentTags: kids, Vince Shamwow
So we pulled up to our local McDonald’s drive through after we ventured out to get some movies and video games. After we paid for our meal, we waited for a few minutes at the other window for our food. Lexy was yipping in the back seat about the time she went to McDonalds with her Sitter during the Christmas Break.
A new canape?
“Mom, what does that sign mean?” she asked pointing at the drive-through window.
“That sign means no smoking.”
“Oh.” she said. “In case the smoke goes into the store?”
“Yes Lex.”
“Oh, I thought it meant they served worms on a stick.”
How I Learned to Love My Windows and Hate The Home Depot
January 30, 2010 at 10:00 am | In Miscellaneous Crap | 2 CommentsTags: home depot, stupidity, window installation services
Ok, hate may be a little strong, but as I wrote in a earlier post about the fumes of the caulking dancing in my head, this has been one screw up after another.
We ordered the windows on September 24 (the date the contract was signed). They wouldn’t accept certified cheques so I had to give them regular cheques – one for the screen door and one for the windows. Fine. One month later they still hadn’t cashed the cheques and I’m sorry, but I don’t have the kind of bank flow where I can just hold their money for them.
After calling them repeatedly, they put through the bigger of the two cheques with no problem.
Then they tried to put throught the second cheque and they called me to say it bounced. I said no, there’s more than enough money in the account, try again. They called back, still wouldn’t go through. Not admitting that their stupid system doesn’t work, I went to my local store and interacted the second amount. Fine, deposit paid.
The week that the installation was to take place, I called the Home Depot and said I didn’t want another months’ wait so I was changing my payment method to my MasterCard. I spoke with the Bookkeeper. No problem, they could do this. Fine.
The windows and door arrived two and half months after the contract was signed and the installers were booked for three days. They completed the job in two and did a great job. Fine.
December comes and goes and we get into mid-January and I’m busy with Alex’s Transplant surgery. Now and again I’d check my MasterCard online and the transaction hadn’t gone through. The Home Improvement Tax Credit runs out January 31st and I still have no piece of paper that says I’ve paid. Great, I’m going to lose the credit.
I finally got ahold of the new bookkeeper and she said that according to my contract I was supposed to pay by cheque and they didn’t have one. I told her I changed the method. They couldn’t find it. I gave them my card number and off they went. The big amount for the windows went through but they tried to put through two transactions of the same amount for the small amount! Now I have to chase them to refund 1,100. Can’t they do anything right??
I have no patience at the best of times for stupidity, but come on people … get your system working so you stop screwing over people.
The moral of this story Caveat Emptor (Let the buyer beware). Even though The Home Depot sent an excellent crew to install the windows, and the windows themselves are lovely, their infrastructure is frightening. I’ve heard horror stories of people waiting to get their kitchen sink installed, six months after the construction began. And here I was thinking it would be so much easier using a big company that has a lot of weight behind it than “Joe Contractor” who might be a fly-by-night operation. I’ve watched too many episodes of Holmes on Holmes to trust those. The ironic thing is, I couldn’t call Mike Holmes with a problem now, his show is sponsored by … The Home Depot. *sigh*
A Smile
January 29, 2010 at 8:21 pm | In CKD, Daddy-O, Family Ties, Kidney Disease, Miscellaneous Crap, The Crap that Men Do, Transplant | Leave a CommentTags: CKD, Dialysis, IgA, IgA Nephropathy, kidney transplant, organ donation
He’s home. Finally.
His Creatinine level this morning was 205…!! He’s so close to normal… He told me that during Dialysis, they could sometimes get him down to 500-600. No wonder he always felt like crap. Awesome Bum, just awesome
He’s sleeping right now, exhausted. He’s on the couch, breathing softly. It’s one of the best sounds I’ve ever heard. We might treat ourselves to Dairy Queen later. He has his next CellCept in 50 minutes… It’s been a long week, folks.
First Transplant Clinic is on Monday. I’ll update then.
It’s funny, they wouldn’t let him leave today until they had an appointment booked with the Surgeon to remove the Stent. They wanted to make sure that he followed up. We were perplexed, why wouldn’t we follow-up? The nurse said that many Kidney Transplant patients don’t follow-up or don’t go to the clinic. I can’t imagine anyone willingly throwing away a gift like this. If you don’t take your anti-rejection drugs properly or at all, you run the risk of losing the Kidney to rejection – quickly and painfully. I told the Nurse not to worry, he’d definitely keep his appointments, Alex appreciates his gift. We both do.
Me and My Gal
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