Had a clinic appointment at 8am today. They did blood work and a bone scan. I then saw the nurse, the doctor and the social worker. In and out in about an hour.
All my labs are GREAT. Blood pressure is normalizing. Kidney function is great. They did a bone scan to get a base line for bone density as the anti-rejection medicine can cause you to lose bone. Exercise is the main way to avoid this.
One of the main things that I have learned in this process is to have more patience. Obviously, going through the pre-transplant process and the post transplant process can be very time consuming. There is little that you can do to speed up the actual appointment process. (It is obviously much quicker to get a transplant when a living donor, like Keith, gives you a kidney.) However, the appointments take the time that they take and there are no short cuts and no way make it go any faster. The professionals that work in this field of medicine understand the necessity of doing everything as quickly as possible and are doing all that they humanly can to make it run as fast and as efficiently as possible.
So what does a person do? What I’ve learned is that a good attitude, smiling face and a pleasant word make it all go better. It just seems to make the time go better if not faster. Plus, when you slow down and let the process run you actually get to know that person sitting next to you or the person trying to help you. It is then that you have a converstation that is usually encouraging, helpful and sometimes very interesting. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone one of God’s creatures is unique in their own way. Everyone has been through some difficult time or process. Along the way, when we stop to recognize their humanity we gain from it — and hopefully add to their joy and help them complete their journey. I’ve heard it said that the thing that you can do to hurt a person the most is to be apathetic. You simply don’t care. Well my goal going forward in life is to care even more about people. Even people I don’t know. So many people — friends, both near and distant, — family and just acquaintances have shown a great deal of interest in my situation. It is the least that I can do to “pay this forward” to the people that I come in contact with.
So smile, enjoy the day and make a difference in a life today.
Scott
"Bracketing" by Scott Skelton 
Scotty and all,
Good thoughts for the day. I agree wholeheartedly. I will add this: find out people’s name and call them by it. Doing so goes a long way toward showing what Scott talked about, caring about the person you are interacting with. Most people that Scott and I have dealt with over the past month or so had a name tag on and the same is true in many other situations. If the person you are dealing with doesn’t have a name tag simply ask them their name, they will be glad to tell you. There is a marked difference between “Thank you” and “Thank you John.” I promise that you will be able to see it in their eyes when they hear you use their name.
Additionally, for anyone considering a living kidney donation and wondering about the the time involved for the donor I would offer the following: (1) blood test matching (30 min) – no work missed; (2) physical evaluation (2 full days) – 2 days of work missed; (3) surgery/recovery (6 days) 4 days of work missed. I do not know if this is typical on the recovery time but I am writing this from my office 6 days post-op. At most I would think that a donor would need the full week off after the surgery and be back in the office two Mondays after the surgery (missing a total of 7 days of work). There is also a follow-up visit with the surgeon in 3-4 weeks, so that would require a small amount of time but no more than a regular doctor’s appointment. I hope that gives anyone considering a living donation an idea about the time commitment for the donor.
Finally, if anyone has any questions about the donor’s role in a living donation please feel free to contact me at klangston@nixlawfirm.com
Keith Langston
Scott, what an AWESOME testimony that you and Keith now have! I have caught up on your blog today and have had tears in my eyes all morning as I read what has been written from the lives that have been touched through your process. It is so amazing to see the growth that you are going through and how you want to ‘pay it forward’. I get chill bumps thinking about the impact that EVERYONE reading your blog could have on this world if we all just took one tiny step of ‘paying it forward’. Shelia and your girls have the sweetest spirit and I do pray that God uses each of you to make the difference in lives that you want to.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Please know that Savannah, Coltone, and I continue to pray for you and Keith and all the families and ask God to continue to bless you in untold ways.
Becky
Scott I am glad that you are doing so well. I have been following your blog and I find it very interesting. I love technology and think that this is so neat for you to be able to have a diary of your procedure and share it with everyone instantly. Continue to do what the doctors say to do and you will be back to a normal life soon. Take care.
RJ
Hi Scott,
I am Sheri’s friend, and I just wanted to say I have been praying for you and your family. I am so glad to hear you are doing so well and continue to get great reports! God is good! Your words today are an inspiration to me. I pray that even though your process is long at the clinic, that you will walk away with inspiration everyday like you had today. Thanks for your words of wisdom today! Glad to hear things are going really well!
Kellie
Thanks for the encouraging words Keith and Scott! I’m sure I’m not the only one that have spent the past few days making sure everyone knows I would like to donate my organs in the event of something untimely – based on Keith’s lead/example.
It’s hard to believe it was just a few months ago I was joking about donating a kidney to Scott and how much work I would miss – now I know.
The story continues to be amazing. My eye just happened to catch the “blog hits” counter…11,656 hits. That, too, is impressive.
So already the story is getting out, and many people, known and unknown, are seeing this story.
Keep spreading the word. It is a word worth spreading.
Mike
Rabbi Shmuley once said that we should “dignify” every person we come in contact with each day. To “dignify” means to give undue attention or status. In other words, we should lift them up whether or not they have done anything to earn or deserve it. After all, that is what God did when He sent his Son to save us sinners. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8
Scott, call me when it is convenient for you. I would like to bring you a meal. 972-569-9222
Scott and Keith-
You both continue to amaze me with what you are learning about yourselves and the reason for our time here on Earth. You have realized truths that have taken me many more years of living to learn. We learn to be thankful for our hardships because they bring us so much closer to who we are intended to be when God creates us.
I am so thankful for both of you and what you stand for. I’m so happy that you are both doing well.
Love, Jane
Patience speaks volumes…it’s one of those virtue things, right? We miss so much in life by not connecting w/ those we come in contact. Opportunities are all around…we just have to be open to them and let God use us in the moment.
Missed you at mid-week peak tonight but enjoyed the visit w/ Sheila & Lauren. We shared some laughs and talked about their upcoming weekend convergence at your temporary digs. You missed Miss Edna’s banana split cake…but hey, maybe you can recommend a cheesecake flavor that might compare!
Smiles & hugs,
R, K & M
Scott,
It is so nice to have a praise report to go along with all the prayer requests. I am so grateful that your transplant is going so well. We certainly prayed for you tonight at praise team practice. We are looking forward to your return.
In Christ’s love, Sharon
Thanks Sharon.
S
Hi Scott, What an inspiration you and Keith are. Thanks for sharing your daily experiences with us. Your testimony inspires me to smile more, listen more and spead God’s love more. Praying for you and your family. Betty and Bob Anderson
P. S. What wonderful parents !!!!!!
Scott, I don’t believe you know me but I have had an interest in you for a while. Your mother and father-in-law are members of our church and a number of years ago your wife, Sherri, was a precious member in my class of fifth and sixth graders. You have had our prayers these last few weeks and it is inspiring to see how God is working to bring about all that he desires for you. Thank you for sharing on the Blog. I, also, have had the privilege of having your dad as my dentist for more than 35 years. Your family is a great testimony to the goodness of God.
Forgive me for getting Sheri and Sheila’s names mixed up. I can’t blame it on old age for I did it back when they were girls as well. They are both precious so I think Sheila will forgive me.