About 1 1/2 years ago our family faced a
crisis. Our youngest son was in renal failure and in need of a new kidney. It
was a time of fear, stress, panic and prayer. All at once we were hit with
massive amounts of information: Cadaver vs. Living related donors, rejection
medications and side effects, dialysis, immunsuppression, infection, and
nephrectomies, just to name a few.
My reaction to the stress was to
learn quickly all I could about the process of Organ Transplant and donation,
(since it was determined I could be the donor.) A friend recommended: Organ Transplants A Patients Guide, as a good resource.
I quickly ordered it from Borders.
It was a very helpful place to start,
providing a a detailed explanation of the Donor Organ Network. Step by step it
took me through the process and discussed in depth: the immune response;
immunsuppression; acute vs. chronic rejection; the issue infection can play at
various intervals; as well as the signs and symptoms of infections and
rejection.
The book is factual, yet readable in lay terms. It answered
many questions I had even before I knew to ask them, and certainly provided me
with a framework for questions to ask our own doctors.
In addition to
the physical issues the transplant entails it also addressed psychological
ones: anxiety, depression, and body image. The psychological side effects of
anti-rejection medications such a prednisone, and cyclosporine were also
adressed.
For me, the chapter on children was especially helpful. It
touched on aspects of living related donors; how to prepare children of various
ages; and what to expect during the recovery process. It also touched on the
unique aspects of adolescence post-transplant as the medications alter their
body image, and their psychological reaction to that. At certain ages looking
"different" is very hard.
The second half of the book discussed
specific types of transplants: heart and lung, kidney, pancreas, liver, and
bone marrow. It focused on the commonalities and unique features of each.
Overall I found the book to be an excellent starting point as we began
the process of organ transplant. Though various institutions may have slightly
different protocals; this book certainly provided and overview of the process.
I highly recommend it to anyone facing an organ transplant, or to the families
on anyone facing a transplant.