More Positive Progress

I've now got the Human Tissue Authority interview booked for next Tuesday.  I've not yet had the list of things to take but it includes a "long" birth certificate (which I can't find) and lots of photographs to prove that Tim and I have been part of the same large and loving family for years.

The "long" birth certificate is the one with your parents names on it, and I can only find the "short" one; this has been resolved by ordering a new one, which I shall pick up at the register office on my way to the interview.  This involved a couple of funny phone calls as the local authority registration office is only about 250 yards from the house where I was born (and where my parents still live); hence when they said "where were you born?", my reply produced a friendly response along the lines of "I walk past there on my way to work"!  At least it made the 7 day response become a bit quicker.  Then on their form they ask for the reason why you want a birth certificate, and I suspect that my reason was unique for them, judging by their reaction.

I've also had some more test results, and a copy of the surgeon's letter to my consultant which sets out her reasons for judging me suitable to be a donor - I think I'll frame it!

The test results include a PSA check - dunno what that means but it was a blood test about my slightly enlarged prostate.  This was the one from my ultrasound last year that was "probably normal for someone of your age"!!  Anyway, the transplant nurse has told me that it is fine, and the surgeon's letter gave me the result of my exercise ECG last week, which was also fine, apparently.  The important bit of that result is that there are "no ST changes" on the ECG; if you search for "ST depression" then you'll find what that means, and I think it's pretty important so that's VERY good.

So, essentially, apart from the result of my fasting lipid profile (i.e. blood test for cholesterol), I'm good to go.  This is good, as my brother has seen his own consultant this morning and she is very pleased with the operation date; had one not been set he might have been looking at starting preparation for dialysis.  I don't think he had actually realized how ill he is, and the setting of a date has been a bit of a shock to him.  So, the waiting really is over, and it's time to sort out the details of how to prepare for the operation itself.