A DAY 37, AFTER TRANSPLANT REFLECTION ON PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP AND THE PHOENIX FINISH LINE.........

Father Oliver's need to be at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport by 4 a.m., this morning meant we left the house at 2:55 a.m. Jeremy and I dropped him at Terminal 4, and were back at the house in the Trapanotto Estates at 4:45 a.m., a nearly 67 mile roundtrip. We each slept for a few hours befoire my morning meds and breakfast at 9:45 a.m., and Jeremy has been sleeping off and on, ever since. He will be awake to prepare my lunch and give me my afternoon meds at 2 p.m., and will then discuss what's for dinner. I am thinking perhaps steak sandwiches, mashed potatoes and green beans. I am already missing Oliver very much. He is such a loyal friend and brother priest, to travel 12,000 miles return for short periods, for the third time in seven years since my diagnosis with diabetes and renal failure, to provide personal caregiving, companionship, solidarity, and support. Oliver and Jeremy also made a strong and complementary team of caregivers for me. Jeremy met Oliver last summer when he visited me for two weeks in celebration of his 20th anniversary as a priest. Jeremy is my solo caregiver the next two days and then will be teamed with Presentation parishioners, Paul and Sharon Friedrichs, who will be here to assist this weekend. Then come Monday, Jeremy and I will be together in the final 14 day homestretch to our return to Sacramento, on October 17. I have a kidney transplant summary appointment with one of the doctors tomorrow afternoon, and have only two follow-up appointments remaining, one next week and the other the following week, so that I will return to Sacramento right up to date, hopefully in a seamless transition to oversight by Sutter Memorial Transplant Center. My next Mayo Clinic Arizona follow-up appointments after October 17, will be the 4 month post transplant evaluation week in December, and the first of my annual, lifetime, week long, visits next August. That's all for now. Until later.........
Peace + Prayers, Fr. Troy

MAYO CLINIC'S SIX HOUR MONITORING OF MY BLOOD PRESSURE.........

I am back at the Trapanotto Estates house with Oliver and Jeremy, after having a blood pressure monitor placed on me at the Mayo Clinic for six hours duration until 3:45 p.m. this afternoon. It is inflating and recording my blood pressure readings every 10 minutes, for 30-45 seconds each, during which I can not move my arm. I am instructed to maintain my normal activity level, but am not allowed to nap, bath , or drive (not that I am driving) while the monitoring is underway and must keep an hourly diary of my activities, such as walking, shopping. eating lunch, riding in the car, or sitting. I must also take my blood pressure medications, as scheduled. As Oliver has to leave for the airport at 4 a.m., we will have a quiet dinner at the house tonight. These 8 days plus with him here have moved along quickly. I will miss him, but Jeremy and the Friedrichs will also be good company in the waning days of my Sonoran Desert convalescence. It is time for one oof my tv shows before lunch and then a ride out to get the mail.........More Later...Fr. Troy

A NOT SO EARLY MORNING BUT WE NEED TO GO TO THE SCOTTSDALE CAMPUS.........

it is 7 a.m., on Day 35, after my kidney transplant and we have a later start as my only Mayo Clinic appointment today is a Blood Pressure Monitoring at the Scottsdale campus on Shea Blvd., about 27 miles drive from the house. Oliver is doing my vitals and morning meds plus insulin, before preparing my breakfast. My a.m. blood pressure is 147/78; with a pulse of 66; my blood glucose count is 141; my weight today is 211; on our unofficial scale, which is about 5 lbs. less than Mayo is getting. Breakfast is a bowl of multi-grain Cheerios, a glass of Cranberry juice, bacon, and toast. It is Oliver's last day of this visit, so after the Mayo Clinic appointment, we will do our best to make the most of it. Temperature-wise, it is cooling down to 106 o F, today after two days of 108 0. Ironically, with his morning departure for Ireland tomorrow, Wednesday's high in Phoenix, is forecast for 97 o, as a real cool down returns after nearly a week of mid to high 100's, while Oliver has been here. Jeremy has been resting up these past 2 days for the final push here in Phoenix, from tomorrow through Saturday October 17. Paul and Sharon Friedrich confirmed their weekend arrival this Friday and will be here to assist with my caregiving over the coming weekend. Tha't's it for now. Breakfast is about ready and I am ready for it !!!!!!!!! Love + Prayers until Later.........Fr. Troy

POST TRANSPLANT KIDNEY BIOPSY & ULTRA SOUND HAS US OUT THE DOOR BY 5:45 A.M. .........

Giving Jeremy a solid morning to sleep in, after his first 10 solid days of caregiving for me, Oliver and I were up and out the front door heading to Mayo Clinic before 5:45 a.m., for my 35 minutes earlier than usual, 6:30 a.m., fasting blood labs. Then I checked into the hospital for today's outpatient procedure, a kidney biopsy and ultrasound. It was done without anasthesia, only an i.v. line put in, should I have needed it. The ultrasound of my new kidney was done first, and then Dr. Patel arrived and prepped me for the biopsy. Explaining that he would take one or two samples of my kidney and after applying sedative cream/gel to the area around my kidney, he took the biopsy gun in hand and snapped it while lightly pressing into my kidney. Seconds later he declared his first attempt on me, successful and said he had gotten a sufficient amount of kidney for testing. After about 15 minutes more in the surgical room and 45 minutes in the recovery room, where Oliver was paged to join me, the nurse released me. We went straight over to the Mayo Cafeteria, where I took my morning meds and insulin and had scrambled eggs, bacon, and orange juice for breakfast. Now it is time for my afternoon meds, insulin and lunch. My breakfast time blood sugar count was a low, 134; and my lunch time count was an even lower, 105; the latter despite my mid morning snack, which included a cake donut. More spareribs, corn on the cob, and cream of celery soup for lunch, with ice cream for dessert.........To Be Continued...Love + Prayers, Fr. Troy

BACK FROM MY TRAPANOTTO NEIGHBORHOOD WALKABOUT.........

I am just in from a 45 minute galavant up and down West Trapanotto Road, due east and west and around the corner a block, on Via Trapanotto Road. I took it slowly and securely, all well paved sidewalk, all the way, almost a nature walk with the great abundance of quail and jack rabbits inhabiting the neighborhood. The distance was approximately the equivalent of 4 blocks, from start to finish, with my sturdy cane guiding me along. On Via Trapanotto Road the next block over from us, to the east there is a very nice tennis court below the bluffs of higher built houses. I didn't come across the swimming pool that is located within the estates, but I will find it. Not to swim, but to savor next to for the rest, relaxation and ambience poolside provides. The scorpio I am, is enthralled by being near water, even just to gaze at it. On my personal books and reading list presently, I not only brought along about 15 of the 30 books I am currently reading, but placed an Amazon. com order for more, which was delivered last week. Among the books that were delivered is "True Compass", Edward Moore Kennedy's, powerful, personal, memoirs. I have only read the opening pages, but must agree with most of the reviewers I have read or heard speak about it. He seems to have written an unvarnished and moving chronicle of his life and experiences. It's about time for the bbq grill to be fired up and the grilling of the spareribs and the corn on the cob to begin. So I will sign off for now, and see what the guys are up to. I enjoy spending this time out in the backyard with them.........MORE ! MORE ! MORE ! to Come.........Fr. Troy

A LAZY, GRAZY, POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SUNDAY #5.........

This Sunday has unfolded slowly and rather quietly. Oliver and I went to the supermarket to get the bbq-ing spareribs for our dinner and to replenish our other food supplies and I enjoyed the walkabout in the controlled environment of the Albertson's down the road, for an hour or so in what is closing in on a 108 o F day here in Phoenix. We had planned to drive down the Carefree Highway east to what Oliver describes as a very interesting area of two villages near where the local parish church is located, after Jeremy returned from the Sports Grill and his infusion of the Raiders Nation. He has returned, but alas we will pass on taking the drive until tomorrow, as I must eat my dinner before 7 p.m., in order to complete the 6:30 a.m. fasting blood labs at Mayo Cllinic in the morning. Thus we would be cutting it too close to be back in time to eat these delicious bbq ribs in a less than enjoyable, swallow them whole, fashion. So manana to change scenery for awhile will have to suffice. It has been an amazing afternoon wittnessing the ongoing responses to Teres' sharing earlier about her daughter Lauren's finishing 12th out of 200 competitors, at the Stanford Cross Country event. I agree with the other respondents on Facebook to this posting, that Lauren is an amazing runner and we are proud of her and glad that Teres shared the news with us. Jeremy has already called several of my contacts list friends with the updated progress report I assured them my caregivers would make. Curtis is following up with more calls to his share of my contacts list from the transplant day and with my blogging and e-mails, the word as to how I am doing should be effectively and extensively imparted. I am going to walkabout the front and backyards of the house for a short while, before the grilling gets underway. Thanks for reading and responding.........In Jesus the Christ,
"Transplant" Troy

POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SUNDAY # 5 - I AM BLOGGING, OLIVER IS AT MASS, JEREMY IS WATCHING FOOTBALL.........

On this Day 33, following my kidney transplant, the fifth Sunday since the transplant took place, I am writing my second blog column for today, after checking my e-mail, while Jeremy is watching the broadcast NFL football games and Fr. Oliver has gone to Mass, at Our Lady of Joy Church. He will be bringing Holy Communion back to me. I am looking forward to attending Sunday Mass there myself, two weeks from today, our final Sunday in Phoenix. With my strength and stamina increasing by the day, I should be able to attend and participate in a full Mass by then. Jeremy intends on returning to the Connolly's Sports Grill /Pub for a few hours this afternoon, to watch the otherwise blacked out here Oakland Raiders game. Meanwhile, Oliver will marinate the spareribs we are BBQ-ing for dinner tonight. As I have fasting blood labs starting at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Mayo Clinic, my dinner must be eaten by 7 p.m., tonight. Today's Phoenix temperature is expected to reach 108 o F, after reaching 106 o F, yesterday. Ironically, it will remain in the low to mid 100's through Tuesday and the forecast is to drop to 95 o F, on Wednesday, the day Fr. Oliver returns to Ireland. Having taken my morning meds between 8-8:15 a.m., and my blood sugar being a low 87, after registering 94, at bedtime; my temperature at breakfast time was 96.8; my weight was 215 lbs.; and at 10 a.m., my blood pressure was 205/81; (likely a result of last night's french onion soup, which has significant sodium, and is another reason as much as I enjoy it, that I eat it sparingly) and my pulse was 85;. I will be having the remainder of the Shepherd's Pie from last night for lunch in a couple of hours and will kickback and chillax until taking my daily walkabout. In this heat and humidity today we will have to choose a cooler setting than 108 o directly. My blog has surpassed receiving 300 visits, since I started it on April 19. Thank you to all my blog followers and regular readers.........All My Love + Gratitude, Fr. Troy

DAY 33 POST TRANSPLANT...AND ANOTHER REASON TO REMEMBER THIS DAY 29 YEARS AGO.........

Our dinner out at Connolly's Irish Pub and Sports Grill on East Carefree Highway last night was wonderful. A very Irish menu was on offer, from our starter BBQ Guinness Meatballs, to my entree, Shepherd's Pie. I also enjoyed a bowl of French Onion Soup, not as good as Deborah McNamara's, but nice. Oliver had a house salad with Apricot Chicken and mashed potatoes and Jeremy selected the Pork Chop with seasonal vegetables. I brought enough Shepherd's Pie home for Sunday lunch. Sunday Dinner we are planning on BBQ-ing Spareribs, another of my favorites, just ask my former Folsom/Citrus Heights cook, Jane McGrath just how much...Looking at the calendar, it being September 27, means I and my CSUS Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers have another reason to remember and commemorate today. This is our CHARTER DAY, or was September 27, 1980, when we became a fully chartered chapter at Sacramento State. This year, the 29th anniversary of that hallowed and hard worked for attainment is poignant, as just 4 months ago the chapter closed on the cusp of it's 30th year. I am honored and privileged to be the first recruit of the colony and the second initiate in the history of the chapter, Phi Pi Zeta 2, and am proud to have served for several years as the President, Vice President, Fraternity Educator, and Alumni Affairs Secretary, as well as an Executive Committee member of the young colony and active chapter at CSUS; and as the President and the Alumni Chancellor of the Superior California Alumni Association; and then while Pastor in Oroville, Alumni Chancellor of the former Chico State University active chapter.
I greet, salute, and remember, all my good brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, in the greater Sacramento area and throughout the United States and Canada. From Tom MacKenzie, Jon Salinger, Kevin Stevens, Robin Blair, and the late, great, Bob Butcher, the six of us who were the Original Six Sacramento initiates; to J. Patrick McCarthy, Gary Vinson, Jon Doak, Bil Cinnamon, George W. Spasyk, S. George "Doc" Dirghalli, Willis Tate, Clay Myers; to Merv & Mike Carson, Curtis Richards, Larry Thill, Wade Haley, Mike Wilson, John Keyes, Mike Mugnaini, David Bugatto, Captain Brian Welch, my champion, so valiantly contending for the past nine years with ALS-Lou Gehrig's Disease, and the awe inspiring Matt Cologna; and to all my Phi Pi Zeta brothers, in the honest friendships and shared experiences, in Zeta Alpha Chi. I say, let us always celebrate Our Charter, and all it took to achieve it and to maintain it over the past 32.5 years. Now that it is but a memory, may we keep its spirit and purposes alive in our hearts and interpersonal, fraternal experiences...Enough sentimentality from yours truly. As Brother Bob Towery, recently commented of moi, in response to one of my blog columns, "For an old softie, I am quite a toughie". I am not sure about that, but as you well know, dates, details, numbers, and anniversaries, I do tend to remember.........More to Come this Sunday after a good night's sleep.........Peace + Prayers, in Faith, Hope, + Love, Brother Father
Troy David Powers, Phi Pi 2.

"RETAIL THERAPY", IN PARADISE VALLEY MALL, PHOENIX, ARIZONA.........

Father Oliver and I returned just over a half hour ago from a two hour, retail therapy trip to the Paradise Valley Mall, four miles beyond the Mayo Clinic Hospital. It is a very spacious shopping mall, with four major anchor stores : Sears, J.C. Penney, Macy's and Dillard's. We browsed through all four stores and made a few purchases. In Dillard's my fiscally conservative self decided to supplement my summer shorts and shirts, by paying 70 % off for three sets of trunks and three Jack Nicklaus golf shirts. Given the Arizona heat and humidity and my convalescence mode, I am wearing mostly summer shorts, tees and lightweight cotton shirts. Especially while my incisional wound continues to heal. Jeremy and Oliver are watching a movie as I blog, and we are going across the Carefree Highway in an hour to have dinner tonight at Connolly's Irish Pub and Sports Grill. As I have for the past several years my beverage of record will be iced tea or diet 7 up/sprite zero. The two hours walk in the mall, more than met my walking quota for today. My diischarge instructions are to walk 10 more minutes everyday. That's all for now.........MORE SOON...Fr. Troy

SATURDAY MAIL CALL BEFORE NOON.........

The Post Office substation, two miles east down the CareFree Highway, closes at Noon on Saturdays, so Jeremy and I made an 11:15 a.m. trip down to get the mail. More cards and letters, including a Fed Ex delivery, and two more greeting cards from my daily correspondents, Karin + Roger Geach. I am monitoring today's news on MSNBC this morning and CNN this afternoon. Oliver is having his brunch, while I will take my afternoon meds and insulin and eat lunch within the hour, more of his delicious Spaghetti Bolognaise...We are going to dine out tonight and then return for a leisurely evening, perhaps watching a movie. Not sure yet what the afternoon holds, but it will be good, I am sure.........Love + Prayers, Fr. "Transplant" Troy

POST TRANSPLANT DAY 32...A SATURDAY OF REST AND RELAXATION IN 106 o ARIZONA HEAT.........

After a week of relatively mild temperatures by Phoenix standards, in the mid 90's to low 100's, the mercury is heading up again and expected to rise today and tomorrow, to 106-108 o F. Fr. Oliver is not quite melting, but is definitely feeling the heat much more than Jeremy and I are. And I must admit, it is HOT !! The two of them are likely to lead us back to Lake Pleasant, so that they can jet ski for a while to cool down, while I sit on the dock and watch them enjoy themselves. I first witnessed the delight Oliver derives from jet skiing in Lake Tahoe, back in the early 90's. I am also reminding him there is a swimming pool here in the Trapanotto Estates and the extra sized jacuzzi on the patio in our backyard, the temperature of which he can adjust downward, to cool off for awhile. Jeremy is right on time with taking my morning vitals and is giving me my meds, with my breakfast cooking. My blood glucose is 152, this morning, which is starting to come down the past two mornings since Kathy, the Mayo Clinic Diabetic Nurse increased my bedtime, long term, Lantus insulin to 40 units nightly...Breakfast was great. The eggs were perfectly over easy; the bacon crispy, the toast wonderful, and my first of three glasses of milk today, delicious. After 2.5 years of being limited to 4 ounces of milk daily and no bacon, I am reveling in enjoying them both again. The coffee is brewing, as I await Oliver's appearance downstairs. For now, he's enjoying his king size four poster bed too much !! We may go to the shopping mall in Paradise Valley today, for O.D.M.'s retail therapy and to give me the opportunity for a lengthy, controlled environment, walkabout in the mall. Bishop Jaime Soto called to check in on me again yesterday and we had a very nice conversation. I told him he will hear back from me at least once, before my departure from Phoenix, three weeks from today, Oct. 17.........Peace + Prayers, until Later - Fr. Troy

5 FRIDAYS FOLLOWING MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH THINGS LOOKING UP.........DAY 31...

Today, September 25, is the fifth Friday following my kidney transplant on August 25, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona, in Phoenix. It was four weeks ago today that I was initially released from the hospital, three days after my transplant and three weeks ago today that I was readmitted to the hospital for the urinary tract / bacteria in the blood infection I contended with for a few days. Thanks to the adept diagnosis and the timely treatment the Mayo team of doctors and nurses carried out and the antibiotic regimen I am taking, they successfully eradicated my severe abdominal pains and stopped my infection. On the kidney transplant front, my incisional wound's pain continues to diminish and I am only having to take my percocet pain med or tylenol, every 24-36 hours at this stage of my healing. I am also walking further distances daily as is recommended, with lesser difficulty than it was a month ago, in the first weeks just after my transplant. Jeremy was awake and up at work caregiving for me right at the scheduled time of 8 a.m., without a wake up call required. My morning meds and breakfast appeared in short order on the table positioned in front of me, while I watched the NBC News Today show. A bowl of raisin bran, bacon, yogurt, a glass of milk, and a cup of coffee were my chosen breakfast menu this morning. Father Oliver has also awoke and will be down for his breakfast shortly and then we will decide how we are going to spend this totally open, unscheduled, day. My Mayo Clinic medication refills will arrive by mail today and I will need to go to Walgreen's up the street and get my other prescriptions, not provided by Mayo Clinic Pharmacy. I must also replenish my weekly supply of nuts, the cashews and peanuts I have missed so very much since my renal failure was discovered, 2.5 years ago...I just received an informative phone call from Mayo Clinic radiological nurse, Eileen, who called to discuss the Kidney Biopsy and Ultra Sound I will be undergoing on Monday. Her explanations and answers about the procedure were letter perfect and confidence building, as she told me that it is a short and straight forward procedure...I am looking forward to having chili beans and rice for lunch, before we go to pick up the mail. One of my favorite mid morning news shows, "Andrea Mitchell Presents", has begun on MSNBC, so I will sign off until later.........All My Best in Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

A VERY GOOD ENDING TO AN OTHERWISE TOPSY TURVY DAY 30 AFTER MY TRANSPLANT.........

Given the way in which this 30th day after my kidney transplant began, with my sisters pulling out on me in the wee hours of the morning and my emotional rollercoaster going into overdrive for several hours, this day is ending on much more productive and positive notes. First, the very good labs and follow-up reports at the Mayo Clinic this morning as chronicled in my earlier blog column today; Second, the all important fact that Jeremy is here and will be staying with me through the next 24 days and my return to Sacramento, on October 17; Third, Father Oliver's timely and as always, generous, fraternal and helpful visit, assisting with my caregiving and serving as the all important antidote to the downward spiral of my emotional rollercoaster; Fourth, knowing that there are far more persons who unconditionally care and are here for me interpersonally, spiritually, prayerfully, financially, loyally, from hundreds to thousands of miles away, who are my undeniable, God Is Good FAMILY, and stick with me through thick and thin, without exception. Those four things and the support and companionship of Jeremy and Oliver in getting me through this topsy turvy day, have made a real and positive difference in my attitude and confidence tonight. This afternoon's appointment with the Diabetic Nurse at Mayo, was also an affirming experience. She was pleased to welcome Oliver and Jeremy as my current caregivers and was satisfied with the detailed, written record, Jeremy has kept for the past 5 days of my blood sugar counts, so that she could map out an insulin plan for the coming 2 weeks. Her adjustments after immense difficulty two weeks ago, in even devising a way forward, was to leave the basal level of Novalog short term insulin 3 times a day, at 12 units, with a sliding scale of extra units above 150; and to increase the Lantus long term insulin nightly, to 40 units, to address the higher than desired pre-breakfast blood sugars I am getting. According to her, the hopeful sign now and going forward is the 99 and 110, blood sugars that I have had recorded as well, in the past 5 days. So all in all, I have reason to celebrate and to be optimistic tonight and I am. A lesson I learned some years ago, also applies. "Throw good money, after bad", which can be paraphrased, 'Embrace a much more positive experience to supplant a lesser satisfying one', is my way forward to a constructive and fulfilling conclusion. In other words, "Keep my eye on the prize", and my post transplant will please God, be full healing, restored health, return to fulltime ministry, and resuming a pastorate of the Church, soon. I hope this blog column has achieved its intentions- sharing my wholistic post transplant experience with all of you, honestly and reporting my authentic experiences during these weeks of convalescence and required caregiving with unvarnished truth and accuracy. Peace and Prayers, overnight and for a a fantastic Friday,.........Fr. Troy

A TOPSY TURVY DAY 30, POST TRANSPLANT.........

As this Day 30 after my kidney transplant unfolds it has been a ttoopsy turvy one thus far. My sisters decided overnight to depart for Sacramento, 3.5 weeks short of the completion of my stay in Phoenix. We had a longer than usual wait between the 7:05 a.m. labs and the 9:15 a.m. follow-up appointments. Jeremy will remain with me for the duration of my stay as my primary caregiver, with assistance from Father Oliver through next Tuesday night and Paul and Sharon Freidrichs, on the weekend of October 3 & 4. My blood labs and follow-up appointment were all very good today. My morning blood glucose count was 141; my creatine level is 1.6; slightly up from Monday, probably according to the Physician's Assistant Jason, due to my elevated Prograf level; my potassium level is 4.7, up the middle for normal; my hemoglobin is rising as it needs to, to 12.1; with 13.2 + being ideal; my leukocytes are at 6.4, an acceptable white blood cell count; and my magnesium level 1.5; with my blood pressure this a.m., being 142/82; not bad for a topsy turvy morning. As I write this blog column Jeremy has given me my 17 units of Novalog short term insulin, and Oliver is preparing my lunch, which is cream of celery soup and a turkey breast and black forest ham sandwich..........What a delicious lunch it was, with a few of Oliver's favorite crunchies, Cheeto's, thrown in for good measure. We head back to Mayo Clinic now for a 1 p.m. follow-up appointment with the Endocrinology Nurse for diabetic review. I am hoping for a much more productive meeting versus the last one two weeks ago, which the nurse declared unproductive, due to inadequate recordkeeping on our part, and meter readings that were inaccurate. The three of us men remaining here haven't decided what the afternoon will include after my Mayo appointment, but I am confident it will be good.........All My Love, Fr. Troy

POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT DAY 29 - OUR AFTERNOON ON LAKE PLEASANT.........

This afternoon, Oliver, Jeremy and I, returned to the Lake Pleasant Marina and rented a speed boat for an hour and spent that time on the lake. It was relaxing, rejuvenating, and really awesome. The crystal blue water way was wonderful to behold as we moved down the six miles of the lake and then,the six miles of an adjoining river. Returning to the Trapanotto House, Oliver prepared me a 6:15 p.m. dinner as tomorrow is my fasting labs-follow-up visit morning at the Mayo Clinic. Then it will be back to the house to chillax until we decide what to do with the rest of Thursday and I do my afternoon walking. I am hoping baked ham will be dinner tomorrow evening, as ham has been disallowed on my diet the past 2.5 years. All My Best until tomorrow's next blog column.........In Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

ON DAY 29 POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT - WAKING TO THE AROMA OF A HEAVENLY BREAKFAST.........

After a very peaceful night's sleep, I awoke 30 minutes ago, to the wafting aroma of bacon and eggs cooking in the kitchen and voila, Jeremy at the stove preparing my breakfast. He just weighed me in at an unofficial 212 lbs., with the Mayo Clinic recording 214.6 lbs. yesterday. After last night's delicious BBQ dinner, I hardly lost 2.6 lbs. in the past 24 hours, thus the difference between an amateur and professional weight scale. The outing we are planning today is a return to Lake Pleasant Marina and Harbor, to do some boating and where Father Oliver and Jeremy will jet ski, which I would try if I could, but alas, cannot as at this stage of convalescence I am not allowed to be submerged in water, but only briefly shower in it. My morning blood sugar was 110 today, the acceptable upper limit, thus requiring only 12 units of Novalog, short term insulin, with no sliding scale. My temperature this a.m., was 96.9. Alene is the early bird of my two sisters and is awake and emptying the dish washer as I write this blog column. I am looking forward to another relaxing and recreational day, cognizant that my dinner must be before 7 p.m. tonight, in order to fast for the blood labs at 7:05 a.m. tomorrow. A Monday/Thursday Mayo Clinic itinerary this week is otherwise maximizing my down time enjoyably, leaving plenty of time to feed my newsy-nosy personality, as I refer to my penchant for current events and contemporary issues. Venturing into what I anticipate will be another fullsome day, there will be more to come later today. All My Love.........Fr. Troy

A MOST WONDERFUL FIRST DAY THIS VISIT WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.........

Day 28 after my kidney transplant yesterday, was one of the fullest and most active days of my convalescence period yet, a most enjoyable and fulfilling day, with my seminary classmate, priestly colleague, loyal friend and spiritual brother, Reverend Father Oliver Maher, of Kilkenny, Ireland. As my primary caregiver Jeremy Lipp, has already observed since Oliver's arrival in Phoenix Monday night, he can tell the major difference having Father Oliver here is positively having upon me. I can truly say if it is possible for a Catholic priest to have a soulmate, Oliver is definitely one of mine. We are truly in sync in a most effective and unconditional way, even though we are 6,000 miles apart most of the time. As one of our mutual Irish friends Brigid Mullins, in Kilkenny, a great friend to me herself, told me more than a decade ago, "Troy, we all know who your best friend in Ireland is, and his name is Oliver Maher". That surely has been and continues to be the truth, in season and out of season, through the ups and downs of our lives, daily, weekly, monthly, year after year, for over 27 years to date. Yesterday he not only took me grocery shopping, to the bank and post office, but guided us to the Lake Pleasant marina and recreational area, 12 miles down the Carefree Highway, given our mutual enjoyment of such scenery. And tonight he prepared the meat, corn, and potato salad, we had for dinner, with an assist from Jeremy, who did the BBQ-ing. Oliver is himself a great cook, having learned well from his late mother Noreen, who I affecctionately referred to as, "Mother Maher". One recipe he makes particularly stands out for me and he has said he will cook it during this week, that is, Spaghetti Bolognaise. It is by far one of his specialty dishes and simply scrumptious as well. Oliver's visit is also not only interpersonal and morale focused, but one of caregiving too. He and Jeremy are taking charge of providing my primary caregiving this next week, including accompanying me to my Mayo Clinic labs and visits. And yes, my fine friend wil also find time to do a little, "retail therapy", at one of the local malls in the vicinity, Macy's being his favorite American store. The icing on my Oliver cake yesterday were phone calls shared with my Sacramento classmate, Father Eduino, my second father and vocational mentor, Msgr. Ed Kavanagh, and my very dear 31 year CSUS and Washington, D.C., friend and brother, Curtis Richards. There continuing support, encouragement, and counsel, are helping keep my spirits high. Tonight also brought a blog comment from my Sacramento area friend Mary Carson, which I appreciate very much. The night owl in me, is fading so I will sign off for now, only to write further blog updates later as this new day, #29, post transplant, progresses. God Love You.........Fr. Troy

4 WEEKS AFTER MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT : MY FIRST FULL DAY WITH FATHER OLIVER IN PHOENIX.........

A most delightful night and first morning with Father Oliver, that included our going to the supermarket together and having him gift the house with more than $250.00 of groceries for the week. Agenerous friend/brother to me, he is indeed. Now we are going on an afternoon outing twelve miles down the Carefree Highway to Lake Pleasant, which is meant to be a very scenic resort area nearby. We will have lunch there and enjoy the sights. Jeremy already sees the truly positive effect having Oliver here with me, like Curtis Richards transplant visit was, is for me. When I say they are two of the nearest and dearest friends/brothers I will ever have, their presence on occasions like this continue to underscore that truth. And that in no way takes away from the myriad of other close friends are with me through thick and thin.........We are BBQ-ing again tonight, chicken legs for starters and sirloin steak as our entree. with corn on the cob and salad, and frsh fruit and ice cream for dessert....We have just returned from our afternoon excursio twelve miles west off the Carefree Highway to Lake Pleasant Boat Marina, where we took in the sights and had lunch. We will return one day this week to boat and jet ski, two of Father Oliver's favorite activities on holidays. Dinner preparations are underway as Oliver is making the potato salad and the steaks and chicken are marinating for the BBQ. I have just had two wonderful phone call with Msgr. Kavanagh and Fr. Eduino, each who are checking in with me regularly. Tomorrow is another free day, and then appointments again Thursday at the Mayo Clinic. The Infectious Disease Doctor said yesterday at my appointment with her, that she believes my Valley Fever positive blood labs , may be a false positive and nothing more. But to be safe in responding to them, she is recommending I remain on Diflucan anti rejection drug permanently, as I will several of the others...More Soon. Peace + Prayers, Fr. Troy.........

PART TWO POST TRANSPLANT IN PHOENIX STARTS IN A FULL, BUSY, BUT EXCITING WAY.........

The second half of my post kidney transplant care and convalescence here in Phoenix at the Mayo Clinic Arizona and the Trapanotto Estates houseI have rented is underway, with what will be a full, busy, but exciting day. Jeremy and I, drive the 20 miles to the hospital within the hour for my blood fasting labs and follow-up appointments with the Transplant Nurse Coordinator and the Physician's Assistant. I will take my morning meds and insulin at the hospital and then have breakfast in the hospital cafeteria, before we proceed back to the house for a few hours, and lunch. At 3:30 p.m., my appointment with the Infectious Disesae Doctor is scheduled to determine the plan for addressing the Valley Fever question and then after a few weekly errands and dinner, Jeremy and I will proceed to Sky Harbor Airport, some 33 miles from the Trapanotto House, to retrieve Fr. Oliver, whose flight from Ireland arrives in just before 8 p.m., tonight. That for me is the truly exciting part of today. Having him here with me for the next 9 days, in friendship, fraternity, fellowship, and fidelity, to everything our interpersonal relationship of nearly three complete decades denotes, support, solidarity, caring and concern for each other's well being. I am supremely confident that teaming Oliver and Jeremy together as my primary caregivers during the coming week, will more than provide for my post transplant convalescence in a thorough and focused way. And as I write this blog column and the less than 15 hour countdown to Oliver's arrival continues, there is a strong hint that despite the broken hip he suffered 3 months ago, that Msgr. Edward J. Kavanagh may appear here during Oliver's stay to visit with us and catch up on all things Kilkenny.........So my happiness and anticipation for several fantastic days ahead are increasing by the moment. I will keep you posted here on my blog, as time permits. Thank you all for being continuing rays of sunshine in my present condition. To the 20 persons who sent cards and gifts on Saturday, and to our lady of Lantana, my 30 year friend and St. Rose's parishioner, Sara Nava, whose phone call to me o Sunday was a joy filled sunburst, that truly rounded out my day. Her call checking in on me, led to the BBQ-ing Jeremy wonderfully did for us last night and the 61st annual Emmys, as always one of the televised mainstays in my life. Bring on this day...Until later, once Oliver is here......
Prayers + Peace, Fr. Troy.........

THE HALFWAY POINT IN MY MAYO CLINIC, PHOENIX ARIZONA, KIDNEY TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCES.........

It is 26 days following my kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic Arizona, here in Phoenix and the precise halfway point in my extended convalescence stay. Part One is done and Part Two is starting and brimming with positive energy and hope filled expectations. The first half of my stay has been breaking into the post transplant requirements and the trials and errors of learning to get things right. I am grateful for the assistance my sisters and volunteers are providing me as caregivers, but also very much appreciate that to date, I have retained my lucidity and have been able to assure that certain components of the caregiving not get lost in the shuffle of daily events. The Mayo Clinic is meticulous in providing us with instructions and directions, - the challenge is following them, referring to them, and writing it down, so as to be able to do all that is necessary without overlooking anything or second guessing ourselves. The Transplant Team has been very helpful, patient, and understanding, of the times we have come up short and gently but directly, reminded us to do things better in the future. As I have said before, a lack of patience when things do not happen as they are suppose to, has always been one of my chief weaknesses. That is now exacerbated by the frustration and upset caused by the anti-rejection drugs I am taking. Currently all my daily meds add up to 70 tablets a day. My standards of expectation are high, on this front due in part to the outstanding retired R.N., Mary Ann Pujals, who was my primary caregiver for a more than 15 month period 5 and 7 years ago, in the early months and years after I was diagnosed, operated on, and convalescing, for my diabetes. After 45 years as a nurse at Mercy Hospital, her focus, attention to detail, and daily presence were perfect. I am not complaining, rather comparing the experiences, realizing it is like the difference between apples and oranges. The Transplant Center specifically requires primary caregivers be family members or personal friends, in order that the transplant recipient (me) am more than just another patient of hard working nurses or other paid semi-pro caregivers. Why ? So that the focus be on my needs and constant care, during this initial convalescence and so that, companionship / friendship, is included, as a vital ingredient as well. That only truly comes with a volunteer nurse like Mary Ann, or the family and friend relationships that I have, such as with my sisters, Alice and Alene, and my friends/parishioners, Jeremy, Joe, Paul, Sharon, Dave, Fr. Oliver, et al...So as we start the second half of this Mayo Clinic Arizona / Trapanotto House post transplant convalescence period, I am very hopeful things will continue to improve on all fronts and that my healing and care will proceed auccessfully, so as to return me to Sacramento, strengthened and renewed, if not quite yet completed with my initial convalesence period afrer my kidney transplant.........Gratefully Yours in Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

P.S. - One more reminder : My mailing address while in Phoenix until October 17, is -

515 EAST CAREFREE HIGHWAY #163
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85085

Please send all mail to that Address and NOT to the house address. THANK YOU for all your cards, gifts, and calls.........TDP