Minus 37 days and counting

I received an incredibly important phone call today from my kidney transplant coordinator. It was the call I have been expecting. It was the call I have been eager to receive, yet concerned for at the same time. I learned that all my test results came back with all the positives where we wanted positive results and negatives where we wanted negative results, all testing showed me to be healthy and approved for surgery. That is good and welcomed news.

The second point of the phone call was to make a decision on surgery dates. I've been told all along that as the donor, I have the final say and choice for selecting a surgery date. Of course being so close to Anna, we have been talking about surgery options since this process started getting serious earlier this summer. As such, we were already on the same page and hoping for a date somewhere near the end of October/early November. I was given a few options from my coordinator and after a very short conversation determined the best option for us would be Friday, November 9th. That puts my surgery at just over a month away. This date is not official just yet. It still has to go through all the proper levels of approval at the hospital, but I will know for sure by this time tomorrow.

I wish I could accurately describe how I am feeling right now, but for once in my life I am short of words. I'm feeling complete joy and hope for Anna. I'm feeling concern for my husband. I'm feeling angst for my co-workers. I'm feeling relief for Anna's family. I'm feeling anxious for my bank account. I'm feeling trepidation for my daughter. I'm feeling fear for my mother. Unfortunately, all I feel for myself right now is a strong desire for chocolate. Figures.

My fortune cookie yesterday offered me more direction than prophecy for once. It read "Do something unusual tomorrow." I must say, scheduling a completely elective surgery where I will be losing a fully functioning organ is without a doubt a most unusual act. I wonder if that place makes chocolate dipped egg rolls? That too would be unusual...but good.