December 8, 2015
Hello! It has been a while since I have written an update. Mike has now had his kidney for one year. Today we are one year out from the day of his lung lobe removal. It has been quite a year. We have been able to work together as a team and explore new interests.
We have become leaders of a small group with our church. Mike was involved again with Feed My Starving Children. He has also been able to start mentoring at our local homeless shelter. He is working on putting together a bike giveaway and repair program for single moms.
Our family has been so blessed by this wonderful gift of a kidney. He can take the kids on bike rides and throw the football with Luke. It has been so fun for our family to enjoy all these fun firsts.
We would like to thank you all for your love, prayers, and support this past year. We would not be where we are without them.
Thank you,
The Stetzels
February 1, 2015
Sorry it has been awhile since I have updated this page. I have done most of the updates through Facebook. Mikde has been home from the hospital for about 6 weeks. Life has been so much better since he had the wire removed from his lung. He has been able to actually heal. That has been such a blessing. He started back to work part time about 3 weeks ago. This has done much to improve his mood and outlook on life. He does have a hernia at the transplant site. Now that he is up and moving around it is giving him issues. We have been referred to a surgeon and should be seeing him sometime in February. Thank you so much for the prayers and support.
December 10, 2014
Mike's surgery entry well on Monday. He is recovering well. He took a walk today and sat up in a chair. He hasn't eaten yet but did have a protein shake today. They are thinking the chest tube will come out on Friday. The epidural for pain meds might come out tomorrow. All in all successful progress. So far it does not appear to have taken a toll on his new kidney. He had some interesting numbers yesterday but things have stabilized today. They did an ultrasound of the kidney yesterday and all the vessels are open which is good. Thank you for all the prayers and support.
December 3, 2014
They have started on Mike's Indium test. They came this morning and drew blood. They will look at this under a microscope and separate out good white blood cells. They will infuse them with indium due. They will come put that back in this afternoon. They will let it circulate through his body for 24 hours. They will then scan him tomorrow to see where the infection is. It may or may not light up on the wire since it is a foreign body. It will either show or rule out infection anywhere else in his body. This is just a final step before proceeding with surgery to make sure it is absolutely necessary. They will also do a TEE on him this afternoon. This will rule out infection in hard to see areas. Please help us pray for answers and patience.
December 1, 2014
Mike is back in the hospital. He has another infection. They have now determined it's coming from the piece left in his lung during central line placement when he received his transplant. This will be a major surgery. We should be meeting with the surgeon soon. Praying for surgery in the next day or two so healing can begin. Thanks for all the support.
November 18, 2014
It has been one month since the transplant. We were able to travel to Muncie this past weekend to see Courtney ' s scholarship brunch speech. That was the first time we have been able to go because dialysis was always an issue. What an exciting experience. Mike also had has PICC line removed yesterday. He is off antibiotics for the infection he had. He currently has a negative culture. They will keep testing him for 3 weeks to make sure the infection is gone for good. Please pray for infection free cultures.
November 8, 2014
Mike had his transplant 4 weeks ago today. He is recovering nicely. He has overcome his first infection. He went with me to the grocery today. Pretty exciting to watch him progress each day. Thank you for all the prayers. They are definitely working.
November 5, 2014
Today Mike's infection cultures are still negative. He will be going home. YEAH:) He will continue a course of outpatient IV antibiotics for two weeks at KCH. Please help us pray the infection doesn't return. They will be doing cultures for the coming weeks to make sure the infection is gone for good. Thank you all for blessing us with your love, support, and prayers.
November 4, 2014
Mike is still at Lutheran and continues to improve. His heart valves are free of infection. His latest blood culture is also negative for infection. If it is still negative tomorrow we will be released and he will get a pic line for outpatient IV antibiotics. They will continue to do blood cultures to monitor for infection after release. He will receive two units of blood today for low Hemoglobin. Thanks to all our friends and family for the support and prayers. We are so blessed and we could not do this without your help.
November 3, 2014
Mike has been in the hospital since Friday. He has an infection from somewhere in his body. They haven't been able to identify how he got it but it is internal and not something you get from others or can give to others. He is making improvements each day and may be able to go home tomorrow. Also he has his transplant staples removed today. Thanks to all for prayers and support.
October 29, 2014
Mike got his catheter removed yesterday. Such a blessing. It definitely helps him feel more "normal." We will get a scope of his bladder on Friday to see if it is working normally. His labs are still doing good. He is walking more each day. Thanks for all the prayers and support.
October 25, 2014
Mike has been home for one week today. It has been a week of mostly ups and a few downs. Mike still has the catheter, but his JP drain has been removed. He is getting around well. His labs on Thursday were amazing!! We will meet with a urologist on Tuesday and see when the catheter can be removed. Thank you for all the prayers and support. Mike really loves visits. They bolster his spirit.
October 19, 2014
Mike is home now and recovering well for the most part. He was released late Friday afternoon. Once we got home he had trouble making a stream of urine. We went back to Lutheran yesterday and he had a catheter put in. It was instant relief and he was finally able to get a good nights sleep. I think this will help tremendously with his recovery. Hopefully he will be able to have the catheter removed at clinic tomorrow. Thank you again for all the prayers, visits, and cards. They really help! We love you all.
October 17, 2014
Mike is doing even better today. He is moving around and not even using tylenol. They were unable to remove the metal shaving from his lung. It was too far down and the tool could not pull it out. He may be released tomorrow. He has some more medication training tomorrow and he needs his central line removed and he can go. Praise God. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support
October 16, 2014
Today Mike got his catheter out and is moving around well. He is off of the pain meds and only taking Tylenol for pain. He is a trooper. He is going to need surgery to remove a metal shaving in his lung tomorrow or friday. That is about the only thing keeping him from release.
October 13, 2014
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. We truly appreciate them. Mike is having a bit of a tough day today but they said today is often the toughest. In spite of that he has been setting fluid output records, taken two walks, and sat up quite a bit today. He is resting peacefully now.
October 11, 2014
Mike has successfully come through his transplant. we are so blessed to be surrounded with loved ones and prayers. Thank you for all the support.
October 11, 2014
We are looking at a surgery time of 3 today at Lutheran
October 11, 2014
Hello! Today is the day. We are checking in at 10:30 at Lutheran hospital. They will do a chest X ray and EKG and some labs on Mike and prep him for surgery early this afternoon. Praise God!
September 30, 2014
The kidney on Sunday evening that Mike was offered did not work out.We now know we are approaching the top of the list. We also have living donors that have been calling. We really appreciate all the prayers and support. We feel our time is soon.
September 28, 2014
Need some fast prayers! I am SO excited! I have had a donor offer from Lutheran just 30 minutes ago. We are getting ready to leave to go to Lutheran for a chest xray, EKG, and blood work. My blood is then rushed to Indy for analysis with and against the donor's blood. if my two tests are good and the blood antigens don't fight then I will be on for surgery tomorrow morning around 8 or mid morning. God bless us and God is good.
September 25, 2014
As of this morning my change to Lutheran Hospital from IU Health is complete. I got the call this morning to say it is official.
September 24, 2014
Hi all. This is Mike. I just wanted to clarify that I do not have a transplant scheduled at this point. We are just trying to be prepared for the (soon to come hopefully) event. I have been on the list over 4 years now and the current wait time is 3-5 years. Also, we are in the process of getting listed at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne instead of IU Health in Indianapolis. This will be much closer for us for post transplant visits and for a potential donor hopefully. I really appreciate everyone's support over this long journey.
September 23, 2014
If you are interested in being a living donor please contact Melissa Skalicky at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Her phone number is 260-435-7208 or email mskalicky@lhn.net. All calls are confidential. All costs for testing are covered by Lutheran transplant insurance.
September 14, 2014
Mike has been on the national list for kidney donation since June of 2010. We have had the support of our family and friends for the past four years, for which we are extremely blessed. Mike is in the process of switching from transplant at IU in Indianapolis to getting his transplant at Lutheran Hospital. This is something we have prayed about and thought about for sometime. We feel this will be much more convenient for follow up care which involves lots of clinics and labs for 3 months after transplant. Also, in the last few years we have spent much time at Lutheran and feel very comfortable with the staff there.
