Officially On the Transplant Lists

 I received word this smorning that I'd been placed on the kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant lists as of noon yesterday. That's 23 hours and counting.

Amy Singh, my liaison at UPMC's Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, said my success in getting on the list in slighly more than a month indicates my proactive approach to health. It takes some people a year, she said, to complete the tests and go through all procedures to qualify for the T-list. 

Soon I'll provide information about the system UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing)  follows in doling out transplants fairly. But should a kidney become available that's a perfect match for me, Amy said, the transplant could happen sooner rather than later. But the more likely scenario with O-positive blood, is a longer wait than usual. So, while a kidney transplant could happen in a matter of weeks, it more likely could take three and even four years.

I'm not holding my breath.

There's plenty to do in the meantime, including, as Highmark Inc. recommends, making arrangements to give my wife Suellen power-of-attorney prior to the operation due to the fact that a transplant is a major operation. 

Being on the transplant lists is an excellent reason to maintain my current level of health. 

And in another half hour, I'll have been on the list for a whole day.

Time sure flies.