John Baker Update. 12/29/2011. 7:45 PM

John is happy to be out of the hospital however we are still part of the frequent visitors club. We were there most of Wednesday, and will be most of Friday, and most of Sunday. His creatinine is still holding at 1.4. We need to see 1.0 or less. His B.U.N. is down to 22. We want 20 or less. His hemoglobin is up to 8.7. We would like at least 11.0. Friday and Sunday will include plasmapheresis and a dose of eculizumab for antigen therapy. The hope is that the liver will began to absorb the antigens that attack the kidney thus protecting the kidney. We still need your continued prayers.
Thank you.

John Baker Update 12/26/2011 1:45 PM

John had an ok night. His creatinine and B.U.N. is same as was the 24^th. His hemoglobin is up to 7.7 from 7.2 on the 24^th. He is getting plasmapheresis today and eculizumab following. He has three more treatments after today and then they will re-evaluate the treatment plan. They are discharging us today and John will sleep in his own bed tonight. We will come up Wednesday and Friday for treatments.  

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

Thank You very much.

John Baker Update 12/25/11. 10:15 AM

Last night was about the same as the night before. They did not draw labs this morning except for tacro levels. They will draw labs tomorrow when they do plasmapheresis. They removed his central line about an hour ago so we are free to go out on a four hour day pass. That means we are close to discharge. I suspect Monday or Tuesday we will be discharged. Take notice that I did update the blog yesterday evening. Please continue to pray for John. We love you all and Thank You for your prayers.
Merry Christmas Everybody.

John Baker Update 12/24/2011. 6:45 PM

Hmm. Well good evening. It seems I neglected to update the post this morning.
Well John had another fairly restful night.his arm is perhaps slightly better. His creatinine is down it 1.4 and his B.U.N. is down to 25. He did have plasmapheresis today a will have every other day for four more treatments with antigen therapy to follow.
Gabe, Lizzy, and the kids are here this eve for our traditional Christmas eve time together.
God is so good to us. We are greatful for our friends and family and all your prayers.
Thank you.

John Baker Update 12/23/2011 10:15 AM

Good morning.
John had a reasonably good night and slept well.
His arm pain is decreasing for the most part and motor movement is increasing.
His creatinine is back down to 1.6 from 1.8 yesterday. His B.U.N. went down to 34 which is an awesome move in the right direction.
His hemoglobin is up to 7.3 from 7.2 westerday. Yesterday they started him on darbepoetin alfa, (commonly called darbe and otherwise known as aranesp,) instead of epoetin.  Darbe is a synthetic version of epo.
We will not be discharged till at least Monday as he still has to many things that need watched.

We love you all and Thank You for your support and prayers.

John Baker Update 12/22/2011 11:50 AM

John had a good nights rest last night. For his arm pain they are giving him pregabalin which is a cousin to gabapentin only the side effects are less invasive. I seems to be working. He is on very little pain meds other than that. He also seems to have gained motion and strength in that arm in the last 24 hours or so.

His creatinine us up to 1.8 from 1.6 yesterday.  This is not good however the anti-rejection drug tacrolimus could raise the creatinine if the tacrolimus level is over the prescribed target in the bloodstream as it Is an accumulative drug. They will be checking the tacrolimus (hereinafter refered to as tacro) levels today.  His B.U.N. is 40 as was yesterday.

His hemoglobin is 7.2 which is down from 9.1 on Tuesday. They draw about 15cc of blood daily for blood work. The kidney produces a hormone called erythropoietin that controls red blood cells. It is appropriately assumed that the new kidney is not producing adequate amounts of this hormone. They will begin giving him Epoetin alfa commonly called Epo, which is a manmade version of the natural hormone, until the kidney takes over.

The H.L.A.  (Human Leukocyte Antigen) levels in his body are still on a plateau. It is good that they have not risen but they need decreased. We will still continue plasmaphresis and doses of eculizumab on a scedual of every other day at this point in hopes to reduce the HLA’s in his body until the liver begins to absorb them.

John is feeling good and getting around well. We haven’t any definite info on a discharge date.

Thank you for your prayers.

John Baker Update 12/21/2011 12:45 PM

John is still progressing in the right direction. His creatinine is down to 1.6 from 1.7, a small an=mount but still progress. His B.U.N is down to 40 from 46 yesterday.He is mostly on oral fluids and a goal of 2 liters a day minimum. His urine output is keeping up nicely. His arm is going to be a very slow battle. We are still waiting for an MRI to access the nerve damage however the information  obtained will more than likely not change the direction treatment, but will hopefully be very informative. John is getting around much better, doing some walking and such. We don’t know about discharge in Thursday  yet but It appears to me that Friday or Saturday has more potential.

Thank you again for your love and prayers.