Are you “kidneying” me?

Are you “kidneying” me?

I haven’t been on Facebook lately…I think this is what I’ve been like to talk to lately: I am now “DEBBIE DOWNER!” Feels like I’ve been verbally vommitting all over lately; like I’m the “one upper”…”Oh, you think you have it bad….wait til you hear what’s happened to us!!” But seriously, I just read a whole article on nutrition for children with chronic kidney disease…Joubert’s Syndrome parents: help me out here….how long before you feel that you “get this”??? I just realized we’ve been feeding poor Derek all the “wrong” foods (although still healthy foods…just not for him) his whole life!!!!! Think people….how much do you enjoy: bananas, tomatoes, avocados, melon, ….and how often do we eat good burgers or turkey sandwiches with “reckless abandon”? Imagine having to suddenly stop or cut back on such mindless things!! ..and oh….Derek’s been drinking milk, eating peanut butter, etc….all his life. Vickie West, I may need to give you my “15 year notice now”…Feeling like I need to go back to college to earn a degree in nutrition!!! Honestly, I would do it if it slows down the race towards Derek getting a kidney transplant….an uncertain & daunting timeframe for sure. Derek being 17 (and kind of a typical teenager in many ways) likes to buy his lunch at school, so I try to balance it out at dinner….my brain is constantly thinking about food now….hmmm….not really different than any other day, huh? I asked the Nephrologist: “What do Darryl and I need to do to keep our kidneys healthy in hopes we’ll be good donors for Derek and she said,”Well, you’re healthy, you don’t smoke or drink”….I said,”Hold up….we drink a little…”….it felt like confession in a catholic church!!! I felt that prickly, instant sweat feeling like she was suddenly going to say, “Stop…not another drink, ever!!”…..Phew….a little wine now & then doesn’t hurt! So onwards & upwards.