TwitterMar 02 2010
Life with Zac as He Recovers from his Kidney Failure, he was not feeling well today . . .
I think I’ve mentioned this before…in the process of healing an individual goes up and down, as they progress up toward their healing. So long as they are working toward said healing, the process goes upward, as it dips up and down. Get it???
Today Zac was on a “down”. I noticed the drawn look and washed out color in his face immediately upon picking him up for his Naturopath appointment. He mentioned how tired he was on the way and I encouraged him to consider going to bed maybe around 9 for awhile rather then his 10:30 ish he is so determined to hold to.
After the appointment I ran a couple small errands and took him home to make him a meal. I was going to make it for all my kids but Blessing, my oldest, had prepared a sweet potato soup for them already so they didn’t need a meal from me. That is according to me and their father. They on the other hand were totally not interested in the beautiful velvety smooth, pumpkin colored soup that warmed the insides and nourished the soul. Instead they complained and begged for the same option as Zac. But a deaf ear was applied to that request and soup was ladled into bowls, crackers and bread was placed in the middle of the table, and I prepared a meal for Zac. If only sweet potatoes weren’t on the always avoid list, I would’ve been able to have him eat it with some bread and viola the night would have wrapped itself up.
I prepared wagon wheel pasta, spinach, zucchini, and green pepper chopped small with a dash of dill and basil, a small amount of chicken chopped into little pieces, all sauteed together with some chicken broth just before pouring over the pasta.
The entire time I prepared this meal I kept looking at Zac and thinking, “He really doesn’t look very good.” And of course the mother in me that wants to down play what I’m seeing reasoned, maybe he just needs to eat and go to bed extra early. Get some nutrition and some sleep and he’ll be great in the morning. Zac gobbled up the meal enjoying every bite, took his supplements, and then about 45 minutes later began to look even worse. He said he was feeling like he did last week before school. The day he woke up feeling fine and within 20 minutes was dizzy and wanted to throw up and nearly did. He went back to bed that day and slept most of the day thereafter. Within a few minutes of referring to that day, dinner was coming up along with the supplements. Poor baby. The vomit didn’t give him an easy time of it coming up.
Once he was through he posed no argument to going to bed and went right then. I get him settled, tucked him in, turned on his meditation CD, hugged and kissed him, and he hugged me back, hugging has sort of been off cast for a couple years since he has become an older “guy” now, turned out his light and left. With a heavy heart. These are some painful moments to be divorced and living in another household regardless if I am only five minutes away…
As far as my day. I worked 9:30 till 4 with the twins I care for on Tuesdays. Did Zac’a appointment and the whole cooking thing, helped him through his sickness, put him in bed, came home, and hit the computer, to work on our business. Then turned to my blog. After this I plan to slid into bed to sleep, to rise early, and head over to my sons home so that when everyone vacates the house I’m there with Zac. However tomorrow I do have some very important business items to tend to and thankfully Blessing will be around the house for awhile possibly allowing me the time to go and get done what needs done. We have a doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon as well. So off to downtown Birmingham once again. I only hope that this time it doesn’t take over an hour to find a place to park like it did on Monday when they closed off the parking garage to Children’s hospital because it was full, even though every time I circled I saw cars exiting in groups of three and four and I can only assume it was freeing up some spaces. It was like the city was hosting the Marti Gras, I defied anyone to find a place to park. I parked blocks away after leaving Zac in the lobby to wait for my return.
Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
What they don’t tell you is twice-boiled peeled potato’s are fine for a renal diet. Makes frying potato’s with spices and maybe a little bit of acid (lemon juice perhaps) a bit more tasty. Maybe you should hold off on the natural supplements and just go with a salt-reduced diet and see how he fares for now. I’m just thinking because the body expells things for a reason – including the supplements. I know for a fact, however, that whatever the doctor gives you is medically relevant – not to say the natural supplements are unnecessary, but many times people don’t understand that the two can conflict with each other. Take, for example, St John’s wort and antidepressants – they have the same effect and it can cause toxicity in the system. The worst thing you’d want to do right now is to put an undue burden on his system – his liver OR his kidneys.
Please remember that I say this from a good heart, not to offend you, and I’m sorry if you take offense but realize this is coming from a good heart, and I know that what you’re doing is from a good heart. Right now you’re dealing with two cooks in the same kitchen – John Solomon and the doctor, and you know what is said – too many cooks spoil the pot. Just, you know, be careful, okay?
Having said that, I’ve heard vitamin B12 specifically is very good, my grandmother should have been on that but decided she didn’t like to give herself the Vitamin B shots every day – she died at 65 in the dialysis chair because she didn’t listen to the doctor. Maybe Zac is too far past vitamin B shots, maybe he isn’t. Something to look into for him if the doctors haven’t already.
Oh yeah, I forgot. Go with distilled water. The dissolved mineral salts in the water can also put undue strain on his kidney. you can get a cheap distiller for like $100 online.
I agree he is drinking distilled. Thanks for the tip
Theresa Jane
The majority of things that the doctors have Zac on are supplements: vitamins. Believe me there aren’t two cooks in this kitchen. We would never do anything to put Zac’s health in jeopardy. Zac’s health is improving thanks to the doctors, dietitian, and Nautropath all playing their separate roles in creating improvement, and hopefully returned health, for my sons health and I’m thankful for each and every one of them. It takes a team to pull someone out of serious health issues. And we have a wonderful team. Not to mention Zac. He is doing his part as well.
Theresa Jane