FATHER TROY'S POST TRANSPLANT JOURNAL DAY 6...AND CONVALESCING WELL.........

It was another early morning as my first post transplant and early release from the hospital, regular follow-up visit to the Mayo Clinic Hospittal Speciality Building was at 7 a.m., with a fasting lab and medications review. Back at the hotel since 9:15 a.m., we will return to Mayo for a set of appointments at 3 p.m. Lab results and a meeting with the senior doctor on my Transplant Team Dr. Raymond Heilman, are scheduled. A hamburger with FRENCH FRIES ! for lunch from Carlos O'Brien's, led to a restful afternoon nap before returning to the Mayo SpecialityBldg. for my Lab results from this morning, which Dr. Heilman reported were very good. The only weak one, my Phosphorous count, which was 1.6, and should be 2.5 or better. DAIRY PRODUCTS. MORE MILK, YOGURT, CHEESE, ICE CREAM, are in order...YUMMY. I love all of them and have missed them greatly. We bought a half gallon of Neapolitan on the way home and I ate some immediately on arriving back at the hotel. I have invited Victor & Tammy over for a farewell ice cream party later...Tomorrow we move to our vacation guest house at 2610 TRAPONOTTO ROAD, Phoenix, Arizona 85086.........Fr.Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL...DAY 2 OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.........

It is Day 5, post transplant and my convalescence proceeds with some pain, but not as much as I was expecting. I am interspersing extra strength tylenol into the mix during the day and taking the percocet prescription only overnight, as of today. This is recommended by my Mayo Clinic Transplant Coordinator. I am still mostly resting and urinating, but took a brief walk earlier and will walk about again later. My sister Alice, will be bringing me Holy Communion from St. Bernadette's Church in about a half hour, before my evening anti rejection drugs, insulin, and dinner. It has been a relatively good day, made better by 2 phone calls. My Indianapolis seminary classmate, Father Dan Donohoo, called to check up on me and Father Oliver Maher held a Walk Down Memory Lane Dinner Party at the Cathedral presbytery in Kilkenny, tonight with our usual suspects, and I spoke with those present, Oliver, Brigid Mullins, Ger and; Kev Butler, Dr. Fr. Dermot Ryan, and Father Dan Bollard. What a joy it was to chat with them on this other side of my kidney transplant. Tomorrow brings my first return visit to the Mayo Clinic for fasting labs and tests at 7 a.m. More Soon. Love, Prayers, + Gratitude,.........Fr. Troy

POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT DAY 4.........REPORTING AFTERWARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME.........

Hello Everyone, from Day 4, after my kidney transplant in Phoenix. My big, vibrant, new kidney thanks to Victor, is functioning very well. I am voiding as much as nine pints a day of fluids and the anti-rejection drugs are showing no side effects, as of yet. My pain level is a 5 or below most of the time, thanks to laying down most of the time, although I am walking more, with a metallic cane, by doctor's orders- 10 minutes more each day. My entourage of donor and caregivers are here in the Hampton Inn, until Tuesday September 1, whenVictor and Tammy return to Sacramento, and we move into the vacation guest house I have rented through October 17. Curtis Richards was here from Washington, D.C., Monday-Thursday and was a great help to me and all of us. I have spent last night and today, watching the funeral rites for Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy. It was very Irish-American and very Catholic...More Soon. Love. Prayers, + Gratitude,.........Father TROY DAVID POWERS "Transplant Troy"

LIVE FROM PHOENIX...#2, FATHER TROY'S & VICTOR'S TRANSPLANT EVE JOURNAL.........

My early out the hotel door with my twin sisters Alice and Alene to the Mayo Clinic Hospital for pre op testing and interviews from 7:35 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., went well. Starting with a fasting blood lab, followed by a EKG and Chest X-Ray readied me to meet one of the transplant team doctors, my nurse coordinator, and a social worker. We learned our hospital check-in time is 5:45 a.m., and that we are the first transplant surgery of the day at 7:30 a.m. My surgeon's name is Dr. Mulligan, a good ol' Irish name to be transplanting a Powers. The surgery will take 2-4 hours, so it should be completed by lunchtime in California;. Curtis Richards has arrived and will be joining us for a BBQ dinner at poolside here at our hotel tonight. Curtis, Alice and Alene, will be telephoning an extensive contacts list tomorrow afternoon and evening. I will not be taking calls or making them for several days of my early convalescence. Nor will I be e-mailing until I am stronger.........PEACE + PRAYERS to EVERYONE, TROY TRANSPLANT

FATHER TROY's PRE TRANSPLANT JOURNAL...LIVE ! FROM PHOENIX.........#1

EUREKA !!!!!!!!!, We have arrived in Phoenix, uneventfully, right on time and are ensconced in our Hampton Inn Suites on North Scottsdale Road. The 5 of us, (Jeremy will be down circa Sept. 11) are going out for Mexican food at Carlos O'Brien's.........What a first night in Scottsdale, beginning with the truly fantastic suites, the best I've ever stayed in ...Our dinner at Carlos O'Briens right across the street from our hotel is said to be, "The Best in the Valley", and now we know why.  My sister Alice and I celebrated with a frozen margarita and Victor a gin and orange juice, as we toasted finally getting here for transplant.  Then it was off to Fry's supermarket to buy provisions for the days ahead.  Our hotel shuttle driver, Rodney, was celebrating his birthday on Sunday, so I did what my mother would have done, bought him an ice cream cake.  In this case, a Carvel Ice Cream Cake, which I first heard Larry King talk about on Mutual Radio, more than 30 years ago...Then we recessed back to the suites for a nightcap of a special drink the Herrera's and I enjoy, a Watermelon Cooler.  That's all the libations I will have until well into my convalescence and recovery.  As I can drink as much asI like with dinner before 7 p.m. Monday night, but no alcohol allowed.  I will gladly celebrate being able to drink more than 48 ounces of fluids a day again.  Tomorrow, Monday is an early start, with a 6:40 a.m. shuttle to the Hospital for pre-op tests and prep.  I meet up with my beloved friend Curtis Richards, who will meet me there and come back with me to the Hampton Inn Suites to join us for dinner.  Curtis has rearranged his work schedule in Washington, D.C., to be here Monday-Thursday, and will be helping me, in part by assisting my sisters in calling my contacts list with a first post transplant progress report on Tuesday.........More LIVE From Phoenix/Scottsdale pre-transplant for the last time tomorrow night.  Love, Peace, + Prayers,  Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY'S PRE-TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#13...

T Minus 2 days and 9 hours until my long awaited kidney transplant in Phoenix at the Mayo Clinic Arizona Hospital. Beyond the assurance of others prayers, the most asked question I am getting is, Father, are You nervous ? I answer honestly, I feel excited and nervous, but confident and believing God is not about to abandon me. I also believe in the stellar medical staff and health services provided by the Mayo Clinic. I know we are in very good hands, my donor and I. Today, after completing my last dialysis treatment, I met Bishop Emeritus Francis Quinn at Mercy McMahon and then headed out to Franklin Blvd., to check in with Msgr. Kavanagh. I ended up concelebrating with, and presiding at St. Rose's 5 p.m. Mass with him. As my fare thee well visit with them. Tonight my packing begins, less clothes than sweats, shorts, tees, and pajamas, with a handful of shirts and pants. Some twenty books, my laptop, ipod, and radio, as well.
Thank you for your prayers and support. The next pre transplant journal entry will come from Phoenix tomorrow night. God's Peace be with you one and all.........Fr. Troy

...378...890...1323...

On this Saturday August 22, three days before my kidney transplant,at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix, I am sitting through my final dialysis treatment. These nearly two and a half years amount to 890 days since I was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease and began dialysis in Sutter Roseville Medical Center. From March 15, 2007 to today, I have received 378 dialysis treatments, 359 of them at the Davita Orangevale Dialysis Center, 8 of them in Sutter Roseville, and 11 of them in hospitals and clinics in Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Juneau and Phoenix. My 378 dialysis treatments amount to a grand total of 1,323 hours on the dialysizer. And those of you who know me, know my penchant for numbers !!!!!!!!! Ninety five percent of my dialysis treatments have been with the team of medical professionals and technicians at the Orangevale Clinic. I am here because my nephrologists, Drs. Bhat, Thornton, Spin, and company, are affiliated here and they are such solid members of my wider medical team that I wanted to retain them during the course of my renal ordeal. The Davita Team of co-workers has prominently posted a motto that reads, "WE ARE A GROUP OF DEDICATED TEAMMATES COMMITTED TO CREATING A CLIMATE OF COMPASSION, CARING AND EXCELLENT SERVICE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND EACH OTHER." Given they work 12 hour days with three distinct daily shifts of as many as 20 patients, 6 days a week and our patient personalities can at times be difficult or unpredictable, they do a fantastic job. To all of them I say thank you for seeing me through these almost two and a half years. A grateful shout out to the nurses, Jackie, Debbie, Dan, Sherrie, Joyce, Angie, and to nutritionist, Nancy, social workers, Hazel and Amber, receptionists, Casandra, Donna, the bio med staff, Marcus, Russ, James, and to the technicians, Bev, Amy, Lisa, Clare, Wendy, James, John, Jun, Alyssa, Jonathan, Josh,Tiana, Paige, and all the rest of the Davita Orangevale staff, who have made this a productive and tolerable experience, especially when I have been less than patient at times. I am full of gratitude for all of the men and women here and elsewhere who devote their efforts to us who need this indispensable lifeline. Let me also acknowledge and express appreciation for the Fresenius Corp. and their Holiday Dialysis International, on the internet that arranged dialysis treatments for me and simplified my worldly travels, especially Francesca and Rachel. I also thank my fellow dialysis patients, many of whom I have come to know and appreciate for their own stories and friendship. For me, please God the dialysis experience is all but over. But for my fellow patients and the 77,000 dialysis patients needing transplants with only 11,000 donors annually, I say stay strong and focused that many of you will also be blessed with a kidney transplant. Know I will be praying for you and advocating for greater kidney donations from all prospective donors, that you too may successfully see the completion of your dialysis and transplant journeys. God Bless YOU and Keep YOU, God make the Divine Face Shine upon YOU and be Gracious to YOU, God Grant YOU Peace.........Reverend Father Troy David Powers

SPREAD the Word...READ Father Troy's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL here while I convalesce in Phoenix the next few months at, troydavidpowers.blogspot.com THANK YOU 30-60-100 fold.

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#12...

Day 12 of the pre transplant journaling with just 5 days to my kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix, has been a multifaceted day. After bundling up personal papers and storing them safely away, I went to the bank and drew on my transplant account the rental cashier checks for my convalescence-caregiving house in Phoenix from September 1-October 17. I was also interviewed by reporter Denise MacLaclan, of the Catholic Herald diocesan newspaper, for a story in their next editions. I put together phone contact lists for my caregivers to call with the first progress reports following my transplant.
Then I went out to South Sacramento to visit and luncheon with my chilhood pastor, priestly mentor and spiritual second father, Msgr. Edward J. Kavanagh. He is progressing nicely from a broken hip nearly six weeks ago. The therapist who worked with him today was hopeful he is improving in gaining back his ability to walk well. I saw my primary caregiver Jeremy Lipp, at La Rosa Blanca and dined with parishiners out celebrating a family birthday. My excitement is being joined by nervousness, but the power of prayer and confidence in my transplant team, has me feeling ready and able to get this kidney transplant and to be returned to full time priestly ministry, just months from now.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#11...

T - Minus 5 Days and counting to my kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic Arizona Hospital in Phoenix. The address to the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix is : 5777 East Mayo Blvd.
Phoenix, Arizona 85054
602-515-6296
I am scheduled to be in the hoispital for one week and be released on Tuesday September 1.
That day we will move into the vacation guest house I have rented from then until Ocotber 17.
My caregivers will be calling a substantial number of you Tuesday afternoon/evening to give you a progress report following the transplant. As soon as I am able to do so, I will be making Transplant Journal updates on a daily basis right here. Spread the word with the direct address to my blog which is : troydavidpowers.blogspot.com
On another significant note, today August 20, Feast of St. BERNARD, Abbot and Doctor,
is the 90th BIRTHDAY of Monsignor GERARD SCHONS.........He was feted at a very special luncheon today by Monsignors Kavanagh and Church and the staff of St. Rose's Parish in South Sacramento. I was his altar server and lector there thirty to forty years ago and he delivered a post Communion reflection at First Mass, 22 years ago.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY...
Fr. Troy

BUDDIES.........

Preparing for my kidney transplant next Tuesday has me thinking of, and appreciating anew, the many friends with which I am blessed. Bishop Francis Quinn's use of the word, "buddy", to describe our relationship at my pre-transplant party Monday night, has me thinking about my other buddies. Father Oliver Maher, Administrator of St. Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland is one of my chief buddies. He has been since our days as classmates at St. Kieran's Seminary. Oliver will come to be with me in Phoenix in late September and early October. Curtis Richards, is also definitely one of my key inner circle buddies. Our friendship has endured over more than three decades through all that life has brought our way. Curtis has now informed me he will be coming from Washington, D.C., and has arranged his schedule, so to be with me for several days next week as I undergo my transplant and begin the initial convalescence. Joe Gibson and Ray Riehle, are two more of my long time buddies. Their friendships through the past two and three decades, have been a wonderful exchange of interpersonal sharing and intellectual endeavor. This Saturday, August 22, one of my very special buddies, Alex Mauro celebrates his 20th Birthday. Alex's bond with me is undeniable. A man with special needs, Alex exudes love and is a reminder to me and you, that God has a place for everyone and the Alex's of this world remind us they too, share God's Love.

Mari Farnsworth and the Helping Hands ministry volunteers who have driven me back to the rectory after dialysais, are other buddies of mine. As are, David McAffee and the Presentation Men's Club, who will be providing for my weekend caregiving while I am convalescing in Phoenix. Others who qualify as buddies to me during my renal ordeal are five Presentation women who have stepped up and cooked dinner for me one night each weekly for the past two and a half years. Sid Currey, Joan Qualls, Julia McAffee, Kitty Freidrichs, Irene Cervantes, have provided me with kidney friendly meals, keeping my potassium and phosphorous in check.
There are many more too great in number to include here as buddies of mine. But one more person must be included. He is not only my friend and wheelman, but my living donor, Victor Herrera. Victor has stood by me faithfully from just seconds after I received the prognosis of my kidney failure,that it would require a transplant, he volunteered then and there to be my donor..."GOD IS GOOD".........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#10...

With it just 6 days to my kidney transplant, today was a day for vital post transplant decisions. After days of discussion and consideration, Bishop Soto and I reached agreement about diocesan support for my post transplant expenses. He is fully aboard in wanting to assist me and getting me well again to resume my full time priestly ministry. Also today, I arranged with a Phoenix area realtor for a guest house rental for the six week convalescence where my caregivers and I will be staying, September 1 - October 17. We had hoped to stay at the Mayo Clinic's Transplant Village, but alas it is full and the best hotel arrangement would have cost as much, if not more than the guest house. I ended my work day by visiting my retired colleague and my Folsom Pastor during my 3.5 years as Associate Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Father Bill Kinane. He is recuperating from a rotar cuff injiry in April, but as always his generous spirit and priestly fraternity are truly wonderful..."Schlaft in himmlischer ruh "......Sleep In Heavenly Peace.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#9...

Since March 15, 2007, I have done 376 dialysis treatments, for the most part on Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoons. This week, please God my last week of dialysis ever, I am doing the final three dialysis treatments on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, to accomodate my pre -transplant departure schedule of concerted activities battening down the hatches. At today's dialysis treatment the final blood draw was taken from me, as it was from Victor my donor, on Monday, to confirm that we are a perfect blood match for kidney transplant. Mine should have been done yesterday as well, but I moved Monday's dialysis to today, so as to see Bishop Soto and be on time for the Geach Family's Party for me. It was UPS expedited to Phoenix this afternoon. My transplant pre-op schedule for Monday at the Mayo Clinic has arrived. I will be tested and prepped by the transplant team from 7:35 A.M. -230 P.M., then return to my entourage at our hotel for a dinner before 7 p.m., as my pre transplant fasting begins then. The one concession to me is I can drink as much as I like with dinner, but no alcohol. Monday and Tuesday, also start out as days of fast for me.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#8

Day 8 of my countdown to my kidney transplant and another full day it was. Following my 6:30 a.m. Mass at Presentation, I spent the morning doing more of the tasks on my pre-departure foolscap pad. Then in the late afternoon I had a meeting at the Pastoral Center with Bishop Jaime Soto, a productive, hour long, discussion about my transplant needs. He seems to sincerely want to be of help, so I am hopeful I will have his and the Diocese's support. While waiting to see Bishop Soto, I chatted briefly with Bishop Weigand. Then I proceeded to my Pre-Transplant Thank You and Fare-thee-well Party at my 30 year friends, the Geach Family's son and daughter in-law, RODD & KARLA's Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill Restaurant at Elk Grove Blvd. & I-5. Friends and Parishioners of mine from all over the Sacramento area attended and the food and drink flowed abundantly as all present shared the gifts of themselves with me. My most special guest tonight was our very own beloved, Bishop Emeritus Francis Anthony Quinn, whom I was honored to have with us. Bishop Quinn personally recruited me as a priest for the Sacramento Diocese and is my ordaining bishop, May 2, 1987, in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the Centennial Year of our Diocese. My grateful, heartfelt, and prayerful, THANKS to all who attended tonight's party from Presentation, St. Philomene's, in northeast Sacramento, St. Joseph's, Elk Grove, St. John the Baptist, Folsom, and St. Rose's, South Sacramento, Parishes. Also, to one of the teachers in my youth from Woodbine School, Mrs, Matsunaga. And of course, Roger, Karin, Rodd, Karla, Ryan, Josefina Geach and Kelli & Patrick Moran, and their children/grandchildren, for sponsoring the event. Thank you all for treasuring me, as I treaure all of you.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#7...

T - Minus 9 Days and counting, to my kidney transplant on this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and one week to my departure for Phoenix and the Mayo Clinic Arizona. Today has been exhilarating as both the Presentation of the BVM, and St. Philomene's parishioners celebrated with me my joy and excitement, that at last, my transplant is about to oocur. Visiting the post Communion portion of St. Philomene's 9 a.m. Mass, meant I got the chance to participate briefly, with my classmate, Fr. Eduino. Then resting in my quarters this afternoon, I telephoned my Indianapolis classmate, Fr. Daniel Donohoo, whose 50th Birthday was yesterday. Another full day tomorrow to begin an almost nonstop week. It will be a blending of business and pleasure, including a meeting with Bishop Soto at the Pastoral Center and my Pre-Transplant Party at Original Pete's Restaurant, in Elk Grove, sponsored by the Geach Family.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#6

Saturday, Day 6 of my transplant journal, has been T- Minus 10 Days and Counting to My Kidney Transplant Day, Tues. Aug. 25, at the Mayo Clinic Arizon, in Phoenix. It has been a necessary day of rest and relaxation, after a very busy, non stop week of pre-transplant activities. The week ahead will be even busier for me battening down the hatches before heading to the high desert for at least two months. I went home to South Sacramento for a few hours and went to lunch with a priest friend. Returning to Presentation for 4 o'clock Confessions and the 5:30 p.m. Mass, I am mulling over what to have for dinner. I will preside at 8 a.m. Sunday Mass here at Presentation then I will head over to St. Philomene's for the remainder of their 9 o'clock Mass and my announcement of the kidney transplant..........Fr. Troy

THE GREAT HEALTH CARE REFOTM DEBATE.........

The renewed health care reform debate currently underway throughout o country underscores just how important an issue it is for American families. In as abundant and affluent nation as ours, that 47 million persons of our 300 million plus population is without any health insurance coverage at all, is scandalously wrong. Health Care Reform has been a diffcult and contentious American consideration for over a century. The first American Presidential election campa ign in which health care reform was a major issue was 1912, that renowned three way race between incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft, former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, running as the standardbearer of the 'Bull Moose' Progressive Party, and Democratic New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt campaigned long and hard for passage of a National Health Program. President Harry S Truman made it a central plank of his uphill election effort. Of course, Presidents Clinton and Obama have campaigned for health care reform. Time for talking shop is well past. If, "money the mother's milk of politics", can provide obstacles to health care reform with political consultants, profressional organizers and bankrolling millionaires, then a fair and honest health care reform initiative needs to be put before the American people debated openly and with integrity, not these contrived protest productions at town hall meetings And if the American politics of 2009 dictates more stalemate and status quo , blocking reform, then why don't we begin again by finding a humane and civilized way to include all our uninsured sister and brother citizens ?.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#5...

Another full and active day for me counting down to departure for Phoenix and my kidney transplant on Aug. 25. After celebrating the 6:30 a.m. Mass at Presentation Parish and having breakfast I drove down to the Pastoral Center for a transplant needs meeting with a member of the Bishop's staff, who failed to appear. So I headed off to Folsom for my final pre-transplant dental appointment and then after lunch with a parishioner went to Orangevale to do my 375th dialysis treatment. While in the dialysis chair I continued addressing the two dozen items to be completed before I leave for the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix on Aug. 23. Tonight, after getting back to my quarters and chillaxing for an hour or so I went to La Rosa Blanca Restaurant for dinner and had a very moving conversation with Jeremy, my primary caregiver who will be gong with me and my twin sisters to Phoenix.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL............#4...

It has been another full day for me working on pre transplant activities ranging from legal matters and medical issues, to transportation and lodging arrangements for me, my donor, and my caregivers, in Phoenix. For the past several days myself and others in my circle of friends, have been researching the options for housing during the post transplant convalescence period in Phoenix. The newly opened Mayo Clinic Arizona Transplant Village is already full up and we are on a long waiting list, so an alternative must be found. As of tonight, it looks like me and my caregivers will either be in a hotel or a guest house. That will mean a short ride 3 times a week back to the Transplant Center for follow-up medical appointments an blood labs. Today, I also set up a Transplant Account at the Bank of America Arden & Eastern Branch, from which all my kidney transplant expenses will be paid.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL.........#3...

Day 3 of my Transplant Journal and a very active day it has been. I slept the most solidly last night I have in weeks, feeling a sense of relief my BIG day is finally set for kidney transplant, Aug. 25, in Phoenix. Both of my twins sisters, Alice & Alene, will be joining my friend and La Rosa Blanca younger son and waiter, Jeremy Lipp, as my 24 / 7 primary caregivers, Monday-Friday in Phoenix, post transplant. Now that we are unable to reside at the new Mayo Clinic Transplant Village, due to high demand and a lengthy waiting list, we will either be in a hotel or a guest house, whichever is most economical and true to my fiscal conservative self. I had my penultimate dental appointment for transplant certification with Dr. Jerry Ortner, DDS, this morning, with one more Friday. Why this is essential is my teeth must be in perfect order before transplant to avoid the frontline of post transplant infections, the mouth and teeth. A coterie of Presentation parishioners picked me up after dialysis to bring me home and took me out to a turkey dinner. (my lifelong favorite) Upon returning to the rectory I went over to the parish Nano Nagle center, for a brief visit to the Life Teen parents meeting presided over by our by our newlywed Youth Minister Brennen Cull.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY's TRANSPLANT JOURNAL...#2.........

On this second day of my new Transplant Journal, I have the best of news. My kidney transplant has been scheduled for two weeks from today, Tuesday August 25, at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix. After 1,316 hours and 30 minutes of dialysis I am certainly more than ready to proceed with my transplant, so that I can be returned to full time ministry. The joy and excitement I feel to have this second chance at a near normal life and to carry out the priestly ministry I was ordained 22 years ago to share in providing servant-leadership for the People of God in my native place, is awesome. My sister Alice White, and my friend Jeremy Lipp, will be my primary caregivers, Monday-Friday. The Presentation Parish Men's Club will provide my weekend caregiving.........Fr. Troy

FATHER TROY 's, "TRANSPLANT JOURNAL".........1st EDITION

This is the first edition of my newly christened, Father Troy's "Transplant Journal". Beginning now I will write almost daily blog column updates for my pre-thru-post kidney transplant experience. You, your family friends, fellow parishioners, and all in my circle, will have the opportunity to monitor my responses for the coming 2-10 weeks. The very good news I returned home to, from a week's vacation last Saturday is that my living donor, Victor Herrera passed all his required tests at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix and the transplant team has informed him my transplant will take place there in Arizona with the date now between Aug. 25 - Oct. 20. That means I will remain in Phoenix until at least November or December, doing post transplant convalescence at the Mayo Clinic where hopefully me, my donor, and our caregivers will all reside for 6-8 weeks at the Transplant Village on the hospital campus.........Fr. Troy

OUR NEWEST UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT MEMBER : JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR.........

It is a proud and overdue moment in American history for Hispanic citizens in the United States with the nomination, confirmation and installation, of the very first Hispanic Justice ever and only the third woman to sit as a Supreme Court Justice and that, is in just the past 28 years. This Latina woman, about which much has been made the last 2 months, is a first generation, ,Puerto Rican American. She was valedictorian of her high school class, second in her class at Princeton University, an outstanding law student at Yale, where she was Editor of the Law Review, one of the highest recognitions a law student can receive. The bedrock, core values of our democracy include Freedom and Fairness. This outstanding Latina woman scholar, attorney, and judge, deserves the opportunity for a fair start to become a respected and diligent 111th U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She also is making history being a Catholic, the 6th Catholic,-Christian sitting on our highest Court, another historical first and making the Catholic to non Catholic ratio of the Supreme Court, an unprecedented, 2-1. Politics aside, what we now know is that Justice Sotomayor is a moderate liberal, and moderates appointed by conservative or progressive Presidents have often proven to be unpredictable votes as confirmed for life, sans impeachment, Justices. Again, I am not advocating she not be judged objectvely for the decisions she will render the next 20-30 years perhaps, but responded to fairly and not merely through a partisan prism.........Fr. Troy

FORWARD PROGRESS TO MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT CONTINUES.........

More very GOOD NEWS about my approaching kidney transplant. The Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix has informed Victor Herrera, my donor that the transplant will take place between Aug. 25 - Oct. 20. We have requested Aug. 25th.........MORE TO COME SOON...Fr. Troy

PROMISING NEWS ON MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.........

Returning from my Alaska Cruise with Fr. Ben DeLeon, while taking a dialysis treatment in Vancouver, BC Canada on Sat. Aug. 8th, my kidney donor Victor Herrera called me with very good news. He has passed all his required tests at the Mayo Clinic Arizona, in Phoenix. He will be my donor. And the Phoenix transplant team has told him my transplant will occur in September or October. So, very promising and happy news that my nearly two and a half year, 372 dialysis treatments to date, renal ordeal may soon be over. I am still searching for a second 24 / 7 primary caregiver, Monday - Friday. If you know anyone who is available have them contact me at 916-396-2309, or by e-mail, at troypow@yahoo.com
Today, Sun. Aug. 9th, Presentation Parish in northeast Sacramento, where I am in residence, held a second annual BLOOD DONOR SUNDAY. The Bank Blood workers were busy from before 8 a.m., until after 1 p.m., with a myriad of parishioners giving blood. My thanks to all who participated as the blood donated will in part, be available for me should I need it in regards to my kidney transplant.........Fr. Troy

NORTH FROM ALASKA.........Part 4.........

Day 7, the last full day of my Alaska cruise with Fr. Ben at sea, as we head back to our final docking in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Grateful thanks from both of us to Karin and Roger Geach, for their gift of a truly wonderful dinner last night in the Portofino Restaurant aboard ship. It was an exquisite two and a half hour culinary experience. Tonight I look forward to our final night's dinner with our week long dinnner companions, Sean and Kaley, a young, 3 years married couple who are on their first cruise and hosting his parents and uncle and aunt as well. They are all Canadians. Sean works in Oil Sands development in Calgary, his parents live in Montreal, and his uncle and wife are from Toronto. A South African couple has also been at table with us this week. This cruise has been equally enjoyable as our 2005 Greek Isles cruise. Has me thinking about future cruises, to perhaps the Baltic, the Caribbean, or Brazil and South America. Thank you for sharing in this week's adventure. I do another dialysis treatment in Vancouver Saturday morning, then flight home to Sacramento, and will return for Sunday's 2nd annual Blood Donor Day at Presentation Parish, which will be taken up for my use if necessary, in conjunction with my approaching kidney transplant. In advance, THANK YOU PRESENTATION PARISHIONERS. See you Sunday........Fr. Troy David Powers

NORTH TO ALASKA.........Part 3.........

Wednesday, Day 5 of our Alaska cruise, I disembarked in Skagway and was taken to the airport for a 40 minute puddlejumper flight in a plane seating 5 passengers, to Juneau for my dialysis treatment. The pilot Mike did a great job and is from Santa Cruz, CA. The woman seated next to me Dana, is from Fort Bragg. and the other man aboard, Paul, formerly of Skagway, now lives in New Orleans. The flight, and dialysis were uneventful and the cruise line provided me transportatation from the ship, to the airport, dialysis center, hotel, and back to the ship. It is now about 10 a.m. Thursday morning I am back onboard the SERENADE OF THE SEAS. Tonight, Ben and I will dine in the Portofino Fine Restaurant for a really good Italian Dinner, compliments of my friends Roger and Karin Geach. Now it's time to explore downtown Juneau.........Fr. Troy

NORTH TO ALASKA.........Part 2.........

Day 4, of Fr. Ben and my Alaska cruise and we breakfasted today viewing some of the Glaciers here. It has been a day at sea, so we are actually sailing toward our next port of Skagway tomorrow. After touring in the morning, I will fly over to Juneau to take my dialysis treatment. And I will stay overnight in Juneau and re-join the ship on Thusday afternoon. I am waiting to hear from my transplant donor Victor, who is wrapping up his testing at Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix. Hopefully, it wll be a greenlight all the way for transplant in coming weeks. More soon as both adventures continue. Love and Prayers.........Fr. Troy

NORTH FROM ALASKA.........Part 1.........

This week of August 1, 2009 Father Benedict DeLeon and I are on a Alaska Cruise. After embarking from Vancouver, Canada on Saturday night, we spent Sunday at sea. Our first stop on Monday is ICY STRAIT POINT, and the village of HOONAH. Tuesday we are at sea again and then on Wednesday we will be in the port of SKAGWAY. In Skagway, after touring the sites, I will fly a puddlejumper 30 minutes to JUNEAU, where I will take a dialysis treatment. More to be shared of our Alaskan adventure in coming days. Thanks for sharing in it here on my blog.........Fr. Troy