Brandi's Transplant

[Kathy Yates]

On Oct. 7, 2010, Brandi had her second transplant. We had lost her first transplant due to AtypicalHUS, at the time she wasn't diagnosised as having HUS until after we lost the transplant. Her own kidney's had been so damaged that they were not able to tell what had happen, with the transplanted one, they were able to do a biospy and discovered the cause. Didn't want to say anything until Brandi was out of the woods, so to speak, but as of this morning she is doing super and we are planning on being discharged from the hospital on Monday.

The reason I am posting this update at this time, was cause I wanted to share with Deborah some information of treatment that they did for Brandi before and now after transplant. Was reading some of the things that the doctors were going to do before and after transplant for her daughter and just wanted to share some differences and perhaps she could ask some questions about doing the same for her daughter. I read that they were not going to do plasma pherisis. Brandi had a treatment week before transplant and one the day before transplant, besides that they are treating her with 4 doses of soliris, she had one the week before transplant, day before transplant, and then following with one treatment for the next two weeks, and then doing the every other week treatment.

She is doing great! They did do a biospy on the kidney on Thursday, and got the result on Friday, that everything looked as it should with a newly transplanted kidney. If anyone has any questions on Brandi's transplant, am happy to answer them, but if you want more detailed information than what I have given you are more than welcome to contact our dr's. Dr. Patrick Brophy or Dr. Carla Nester at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, they would be happy to answer any you may have.

Am hoping that this information will be helpful for other families with making such a important decision with the care of their children.

[Heather Still]

Love the great news. Thank you for sharing!

[Kathy Yates]

Thinking the reason Dr. Brophy did the pheresis on Brandi was cause it was part of their protocol, plus she has had pheresis before in the past to treat her aHUS. Am so excited for you Deborah, and your daughter, Alyssa. I wish you all the best in this new journey you are going to be taking. Brandi is doing great, we just got home on Monday, and have a return trip to UHIC on Thursday for a follow-up, and to have her dialysis cathater removed. I am also thankful for this web site, it has helped our family with the wonderful support it has given us. I will continue to post updates on how things are going for Brandi. I look forward to hearing updates on Alyssa. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!!

[Deborah Deffenbaugh]

Thanks so much for sharing your information with us. We are thrilled to hear that Brandi is doing so well and we hope and pray for continued good health and great kidney function! Alyssa's doctors have been in touch with the Iowa doctors and the Soliris protocal sounds virtually identical. They are not doing pherisis as they were concerned about a potential bleeding problem during surgery but I will ask them again about it as it seems most transplant recipients did have pherisis first....especially after Dr. Brophy's comment regarding fluid overload without it. I am so glad to have the a-HUS Foundation "family" to provide invaluable information, support and advice. I don't know where we would be without all of you. Thanks to everyone for their help and support at this very trying time!!!

[Amy Swarbrick]

So glad to hear Brandi is doing so well. We will be praying for a speedy recovery and lasting kidneys!

[Cheryl Biermann]

Kathy,

Wow! You sure know how to surprise us-what wonderful news! Brandi, congratulations!

Thank you for the added information about the pheresis too, it is interesting; I wonder if the pheresis was added based on Brandi's past and individual variations?

It is certainly a blessing to have had you update us. Our prayers are with you all for continued health.

[Linda Burke]

Great news, Kathy, to hear that Brandi's kidney transplant with Soliris has been a success ! It's wonderful to hear that Brandi is doing great, and I'm sure all of you are relieved that you're seeing the labwork/data to back it up. Your family is fortunate to be working with the wonderful docs at the University of Iowa, where expertise and compassionate join to create a knowledgeable, caring team of physicians and support staff. I'm sure that Brittany is thrilled that her twin is doing so well, and am sure that everyone in this online aHUS community joins in to wish Brandi and your family all the best!