What good is waiting? I was supposed to get a call from my doctor on Friday. The phone never rang. I did my best to keep it next to me all day… which is an effort I rarely make. He has a long to do list on my account and I was looking forward to an update. He needs to contact the hematologist in Boston who has done combined bone marrow kidney transplants to see if he’ll take my case. He needs to see what insurance thinks about me transferring over to Boston. He needs to contact my primary care provider to request referrals for me to get dialysis and plasmapheresis in Boston if I go for an assessment… sounds like a couple days’ worth of work at most. Right?
Meanwhile I’m hanging in there… doing the dialysis routine and wishing I could drink water to my heart’s content (I’m limited to 32 oz of fluid a day) and eat salt (I’m supposed to keep it under 2000 mg a day, but if I even get close to that my thirst is overwhelming). And wishing I could eat some potassium rich foods (like potatoes… ooooo salty fried potatoes… and tomatoes and guacamole) and eat lots of good ol’ phosphorus rich foods (like dairy, whole grains, beans, meats, seafood, spinach). And of course, the ultimate fall food- soup. One day I’ll have pho again (if you don’t know what that is, you need to find out. It’s a soup-based party for your tastebuds.) My favorite way of falling asleep these days is remembering what it feels like to drink fresh cold lemonade in big gulps… or to imagine myself taking bites of tortilla soup, with lime squeezed on top and big chunks of tomato and avocado… the smell of cilantro and roasted peppers filling my nose.
I must admit, one of the biggest reasons I want my kidneys to be healed is so that I can eat and drink again to my heart’s content. It is a priceless gift to be able to just follow your senses and satisfy your desires for food. If I had to rank my miseries they would go like this: Drowning in my lungs (definitely number 1), sepsis (short lived but horrible), gall bladder attacks, daily unquenchable thirst, persistent nausea, giving birth, bone marrow biopsies, getting a nerve poked at the dentist. What good is it to suffer these things? I have no idea. I just know that in this world, we are built to suffer as well as to enjoy. There’s no way out of suffering. I’m sure when this is all over I may find some golden truth about the value of suffering… and in some cases I do see how it demonstrates love. But what good is it to anyone for me to be thirsty all the time? All I want to do is wriggle out of it. It makes it very challenging to focus on anything else. It sure makes me saver those 32 oz though… water has never tasted so good.
heidi's deal 
Thank you so much for this update. I continue to pray for you so many times a day. You look fabulous! I am so sorry for your suffering. Your children are growing so fast and are absolutely adorable!
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I just want you to know I read all your posts and I’m praying for you.
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Just wanted to check in from your reader fan club. Definitely add ability to compose a blog post over David’s cuteness to your list of amazingness 😉
Xo
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Thank you for writing and letting us into these moments and grow ever so slightly in our concept of your experiences in all this, to be humbled and appreciative as we realize how much we take for granted until circumstances change. May God meet you in the waiting. Psalm 27
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Love you Heidi!
You are beautiful!
You are stronger than you think because He is holding you up.
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Heidi…I love hearing about what you’re thinking and doing… I sense more of a calm…and that makes my heart happy. If you’re like me, however,…I prefer to show that I am strong on the outside when, in reality, on the inside, I struggle…with lots of things. I’ve been told that I’m quite normal in that aspect. Even so…I want you to know I appreciate your vulnerability in showing us all aspects of what you’re going through. It makes me think about what I take for granted…like chips and salsa. I’m going to believe with me (and have been) that you will get to savor things like that again real soon. While you wait…I’m praying for continued calm days and that somehow answers come quicker for you. Know that I pray for you a lot…I mean…a lot! Much love to you and your sweet family. Claire
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Love hearing from you! Thank you for taking time to post 🙂 I’ll be praying God makes that 32oz become like a well-spring!
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Thanks for the update. Love you and continued prayers.
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Heidi,
Thank you so much for sharing your struggles. I am sure that they are difficult to put into words. I know that God is using your life to illustrate his glory to many people beyond your immediate circle of support and love. God has been using you for his glory since the moment that I met you. I was always struck by the way that God was illuminated through you and I can see now through your blog that you are steadfast in pressing on. I love you and you should be very comforted in your obedience to God. We are praying for you in Cincinnati and my family in South Carolina is too.
Grace Shivers
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Hi Heidi! I am not sure if you would remember me. I met you in the Navigators at IU about 10 or 11 years ago.
I am so sorry you are going through all of this! I am praying for you!
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