Give A Kidney
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Remember This blog is to be read backwards. If this is your first time here, please go to the bottom of the page, then ‘Next Page >>’, then ‘Next Page >>’ again until you can start with January 31, 2007. The first entry is there, then work your way up.

I will try to make monthly postings, so remember to visit again.

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Thank you,

Harry Kiernan

Today was my six month checkup, and once again, I passed with flying colors. It’s great to see the transplant personnel so pleased with my recovery. From the way I see it, I have more than recovered. I feel, both physically and mentally, much better than I did before the surgery.

Jessie, Eileen and Jim’s daughter, graduated from college today. I stopped by their house this afternoon and stayed a couple of hours. This is a really nice family! It was very nice, once again, to be included in yet another one of their family gatherings. Eileen was so happy to see her daughter graduate. There was a time when she wasn’t sure she would be able to attend.

I know I’ve said this before, but I so glad my kidney went to this family. They are so real with their love and respect for each other. And even more, I’ve been made part of that great family.

Thank you, Eileen, Jim and Jessie!

Katie & I visited Eileen and Jim tonight at their home. Katie was home from college for Thanksgiving and wanted to go with me to see them. Every time I see them and how great they are doing, I get an unbelievable feeling inside. I truly feel I got just as much out of this as they did, if not more.

Eileen cooked a great turkey dinner for us and even delivered it to our home. It was, and continues to be, a very tasty feast.

Recently I was interviewed by a local media outlet about this kidney story. They had spoken to Eileen and Jim, Audrey and then Ted (he got my blog started and kept it going while I was in the hospital). Then they got around to me and asked why I did it. Basically, I reiterated what I’ve been saying here all along plus saying ‘It’s the right thing to do!”. When they asked: “What’s it like to be a Hero?”

My only response was: “Has the world become so cowardly that doing the right thing makes you a Hero? I hope not!”

Well, my September check-up was this morning and nothing exciting to pass along. Everything is continues to get stronger and better every day. I really am so glad I did this. I can’t imagine not having done it. Everyday bring this unbelievable great feeling and I wish I could do it again!

OK, I’ve been out of the hospital for three months now and I’m sure I feel better physically than I did ten or fifteen years ago. Three months is such an insignificant amount of time to be ‘inconvenienced’ in being able to give someone a new live. In the grand scheme of things, the time and all the after effects this is just a drop in the bucket for me. This has, and will continue to be, one of the greatest experiences of my life. Every time I see or talk to Eileen, and feel how great she is doing, I feel great!

This morning was my August check-up at Hartford Hospital. As always, there was more blood taken along with the usual poking and prodding. All appeared fine…then I got a call later in the day from the hospital. They were concerned about the creatinine levels in my kidney which should improve by drinking more water. So, all that is needed is to just keep drinking.

Everything else physically is fine and I am continuing to feel better every day.

I’m sorry there isn’t much more to write about right now. I am playing golf, but only nine holes. I actually started playing again a week or two after I left the hospital…don’t tell anyone.

Bye the way, Eileen’s kidney is doing better in her than my existing one is in me. I guess mine just misses is left partner. I told it to get used to it…it’s not coming back!

People who haven’t seen me in a couple of weeks keep saying: “God, you look so much better than last time I saw you!” Just how bad did I look? But when a woman now asks: “How do you feel?” I just open my arms and respond: “Feel for yourself!”

It was eight weeks ago today when I gave Eileen my kidney. I realized today that, besides the tiredness from the anesthesia, I feel like nothing happened to me at all. Really, I have no pain or discomfort whatsoever.

I am enjoying the weight loss though. I’m still hanging around 180 – 183 lbs. I used to model in the eighties and nineties and was encouraged this past March to pursue it again. This weight, for me, is a good modeling weight. I had a shoot this morning and have one this weekend. I’m looking forward to putting together another composite sheet and start marketing myself again. This should be fun. The one thing modeling has prepared me for, is how to take rejection. It doesn’t get much more personal than that, ‘rejected because you don’t look good enough’.

Eileen & Jim stopped by today to refill my oatmeal chocolate chip prescription. They also brought over birthday presents for me for last month. They also included some ‘Welcome To The Family’ items. THANK YOU!!!

Jim told me that today is Eileen birthday and asked if I could stop by this evening for some cake. By the time Kate got home, she was too tired to go with me so I went alone.

In attendance were other family members and neighbors. Everyone was so grateful for what I had done. I felt the attention was being taken away from Eileen.

Jim’s father, upon leaving, couldn’t thank me enough. He said they were very fond of Eileen since day ‘one’ and are very grateful to have her back. I told him it was my honor to be able to do this and if I could do it again, I would.

It is very nice to see a whole family alive and happy.

Today, Saturday, will be 11 days pain free and with no drugs! Everything is coming together, finally. I can eat and drink anything I want, but I’m trying to be sensible… most of the time.

Katie and I stopped by Jim and Eileen’s home Wednesday for about an hour or so. Jim’s mother made us a real Italian pizza and apple pie. The pizza was just too good and also too easy to eat so that didn’t last long. I just cut into the apple pie today and, of course, that’s very tasty also.

The medicinal oatmeal chocolate chip cookies worked their wonders, but the dosage did not last long enough. I wonder if there is a refill prescription available.

I saw some friends this weekend and they all said: “You look great!” I wonder how horrible I must have appeared earlier for them to have that reaction.

Well, I’m going to try to make entries every week or two, but it’s getting hard to be creative and not boring.

So if you don’t hear from me for a little time just remember: “Every now and then I know it’s kind of hard to tell… but I’m still alive and well!”