My sister

[PoppyMott]

My sister is having a kidney transplant next Friday...oddly enough the donor is her husband...what is the best thing I can do for her or bring her?

[Dara3351]

Stay positive! I did so well I got to go home a day early. The first two weeks I felt week but each day got better and better. Make sure to have her do those breathing exercises and walk each day so she doesn’t get any blood clots. There will be a lot of meds to take and make she drinks at least 2/3 liters of water a day. Each day will get better and better.

[Ladybug_05]

Stay positive, and make sure that she has some comfort items from home! It can definitely help to have some familiarity while undergoing such change. Also, just being there and present for her! This process can be overwhelming with all of the medications and changes that she will be going through over the next year, so having support and a helping hand can make all the difference! Good luck to them both!

[alimesoda]

I was the donor to my husband a year ago. As the donor I had very little pain except gas evacuation pains and recovery from anesthesia. Some great gifts for your brother in law are throat lozenges, heating pad, and I loved lavender scented room spray! The recipient, your sister, will feel better immediately, when kidney starts to work, but based on our experience may have a little more pain day 2 or 3 as the anesthesia wanes and she adjusts to the post transplant oral meds. She too may appreciate throat lozenges, lavender spray, and maybe cute socks or cozy slippers for walking the halls.

More important after they come home, they will be sleeping lots so help with food prep would be great.

Best of luck to your sister and husband! It’s a wonderful opportunity! We are both doing better than before surgery!!

[DexterLab]

Congratulations to your sister and brother-in-law. Her kidney function is going to be so much better before she even leaves the hospital. He should be home in a day. However, they need to not overdo it, especially her. She will have a big abdominal incision, and can't lift much for a while, and won't be allowed to drive until the staples are out. So, being a driver and grocery shopper while she is on the mend will help a lot. My wife was not my donor, do she did all of it. He will probably feel pretty ok, but shouldn't go crazy on doing right away.

I got my living donor kidney 6 months ago, and it has been an unmitigated blessing. I hope it goes as well for your sister.

[Jayhawker]

Emotional support and being there physically as much as possible. Maybe a year subscription to a grocery delivery group like INSTACART or another similar group so they can easily get the groceries, toilet paper and such that they need as soon as they need it. Similarly, perhaps someone to come and clean for them once a week for the first 3-4 weeks when she gets back home. And possibly organizing a group of volunteers to drive her to/from the many follow-up appointments she’ll have with her transplant nephrologist/team. I’m sure her husband will be involved in a lot of this but he’ll need some recovery time too.

Jayhawker

[mhawk123]

The most important thing you can bring your sister is your PRESENCE. I can remember my two sisters coming diligently every day even though they had to drive over 45 minutes to get there. The love they gave me was the best! I was so weak so my little sister combed my hair so I would not frightened any one that came to see me. My other sister help bathe me and applied the moisturizers to my face, hands and body. They both helped me fill out the menu as I was not in the mood to eat. They walked me in the halls, so that I would feel connected to the world. My one sister brought my mail and lil gifts that I just enjoyed. It was the longest fifteen days of my life, but I knew my family cared deeply about my survival since I stayed with my oldest sister for six weeks after kidney transplant. TAKE CARE OF FAMILY!

[lkhenderson]

Errands, meals, comfort, prayers and lots of patience as she finds her new normal and adjusts to her meds which can cause some initial unpleasant moodiness. I’m 1 year out and doing great and living a normal life. Encourage her to do everything per doctors orders and never miss or be late with meds and she will do great! Will be praying for her!

[Gardner-NY]

Hi PoppyMott, My husband's brother Ron had a kidney transplant due to PKD and his wife donated her kidney which functioned 17 yrs very well. My husband inherited PKD also and I was not able to donate, but 9 months ago he received his kidney donation. I would say as the caregiver for my husband your sister would enjoy the most "your time to help her when she and her husband come home to help them in recovering from the surgery". Personal thing but I would wear a mask around them as they heal if you even think you have been around others that have a cold or whatever to be on the safe side. What a wonderful blessing to hear this news!