John is having pormaport surgery on Tuesday

Tomorrow (Tuesday) John is going to have an operation.  The kidney specialists decided John's kidney function isn't improving after all.  So tomorrow he is going to have a permaport put in for permanent dialysis.  This will make it so he no longer has to have the uncomfortable temporary line sticking out of his neck.  Instead, he will have a permanent port inserted into his body at the point of his jugular.  It won't be visible at the sight of the jugular.  It will come out of his chest.  It will be visible at that point.  It will have to be bandaged at his chest.  It will have two tubes that hang out at this place, that hang down to his stomach.  This may sound weird, but it is better than the two tubes that have been sticking up out of his neck like anteneas!  They were in a weird place, and constantly the bandage was coming off and the sight was getting bloody (sorry for being graphic).  Now that the permanent port will come out in a different place (on his chest), it shouldn't get bloody (I think).  But maybe I am wrong.  At least it should be more comfortable, is one of the reasons they are doing it.  Now that he is getting permanent dialysis.

Yes, you heard me right, permanent dialysis.  What a disappointment.  As in lifetime dialysis.  Technically though, things could turn around, and his kidneys could function again, and they could yank the permaport.  But they are not counting on it, so they are putting the permanent line in.  John is not giving up though, he is going to fight to get off permanent dialysis. 

Well, that's about it.  All I want to say.  Except yesterday was a very bad day, today was a very good day.  Everyday changes.  Strange.  He is still averaging about two bags of blood a day.  The hematologist/oncologist today said that he was not discouraged though.  He thinks the chemo and prednisone will work.  I am not quite sure where he is getting the numbers from as far as bags of blood go and lab numbers, but I must stay hopeful, as he is hopeful.

Okay, anyway, please pray for John.  Tomorrow will be a very hard day.  Hewill have surgery.  This might take a couple of hours.  He will get several hours (bags) of platelets so he won't bleed too much during surgery.  That could take about four hours.  He will have about four hours of dialysis, which leaves him very exhausted, and he has had complications the last two times he has had dialysis.  So he will have a long tiring day.

Please pray that he is okay during the surgery. Thanks and I love you all.

Krissy :)