The Call We Had Been Waiting For: Max’s Kidney Transplant

There are some phone calls you know you will remember for the rest of your life.

For us, it was the 4:00am call telling us that they had found a kidney for Max.

After all the waiting, hoping, worrying, planning, and praying, suddenly everything was happening—and it was happening fast.

We were told that the kidney was a really good one. In fact, Max’s surgeon said it was just as good as—and possibly even better than—the living-donor kidney we had hoped for.

Max was going to get his kidney.

It Was Finally Happening

We headed to the hospital, where Max began the process of getting registered and prepared for surgery. The plan was to start around 4:00pm, although we knew that could change. Because his transplant was being performed robotically, the surgery was expected to take about four hours.

There was excitement, relief, nervousness, and probably every other emotion imaginable.

Then, right before surgery, Max’s surgeon asked him a very important question:

“What are you going to name your new kidney?”

Of course, Max had an answer.

Dolly Partner.

Why Dolly Partner?

First, because the new kidney would be partnering with Max’s other kidney.

And second, because there can only be ONE Dolly Parton!

Even in the middle of something as serious as a kidney transplant, Max managed to make us laugh.

And just like that, Dolly Partner officially joined Team Max.

The News We Had Prayed For

After several long hours of waiting, we finally received the update we desperately wanted to hear:

The surgery had gone very well.

In fact, the surgical team told us that, as far as they were concerned, it could not have gone any better.

They took Max upstairs and performed another ultrasound to make sure there was good blood flow to his new kidney. We still had to wait a little longer before we could see him, but hearing that the transplant itself had gone so well was an enormous relief.

Dolly Partner was officially on the job.

Recovery Isn’t Always a Straight Line

The days following surgery brought plenty of ups and downs.

There were ultrasounds, blood draws, lab work, medications, monitoring, and more waiting. At one point, Max developed a fever, so blood cultures were drawn to rule out an infection.

He eventually moved to Peds 3, a step down from the ICU—a very welcome sign of progress.

Then came the IV anti-rejection medication.

We had been warned that the infusion could cause side effects such as nausea and fever, and unfortunately, it hit Max pretty hard. His temperature reached 102 degrees, and for the first time since surgery, he truly felt awful.

It was difficult to watch.

But once again, Max showed us exactly what we have seen from him throughout this entire journey: an incredible ability to handle whatever is put in front of him.

Even on one of his hardest days, he amazed us.

And Then Came the Best Update of All

After everything he had been through, we finally got to share the update everyone had been waiting for:

Max was coming home!

There is something very different about walking through your own front door after spending days in a hospital.

He was tired, but he was so happy to be home—and we were even happier to have him here.

Of course, coming home doesn’t mean the journey is over.

For the next few months, protecting Max’s new kidney means protecting Max. Because of the medications needed to prevent rejection, his immune system is suppressed, so we have to be extremely cautious about germs and exposure.

In many ways, it feels like going back to the days of COVID. We will be avoiding crowds, limiting his contact with other people, and being very careful about where he goes.

For now, most of his trips outside the house will be for clinic appointments twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He will also be doing school from home with the help of a homebound teacher.

Visitors inside the house will have to wait a while, too. Thankfully, though, his doctors have said that when the weather cooperates, Max can sit outside and visit with people from a safe distance.

And we definitely don’t want anyone to think he doesn’t want to see them.

After being stuck inside, we have a feeling Max will be just as happy to see everyone as everyone will be to see him.

Our Village

Throughout this entire experience, one thing has become incredibly clear:

We have an amazing village.

Max has read the messages people have sent him. He has seen the encouragement, prayers, and words of support. He appreciates the gifts and cards—and, of course, the gift cards, which we suspect will result in quite a few trips to Starbucks and Chick-fil-A once he is able.

He isn’t quite ready to start posting updates himself yet, but we know that will come. Eventually, we suspect there will be plenty of texts and video chats, too.

To everyone who has prayed, sent a message, checked on us, brought something, donated, supported COTA for Team Max, or simply kept our family in your thoughts: thank you.

Those words don’t seem big enough, but we hope you know how much your support has meant to us.

A Gift We Will Never Forget

Through all of our happiness, there is another family who remains very much in our hearts:

Max’s donor and the donor’s family.

Our family’s joy came through an extraordinary gift made possible during another family’s unimaginable loss.

There are no words that can adequately express what that means.

Because of that donor, Max has been given something priceless: another chance at health, another chapter, and a future that suddenly looks very different.

We will carry that gratitude with us always.

There will still be appointments, medications, precautions, blood work, and plenty of unknowns ahead. Transplant doesn’t mean the journey is finished.

But today, Max is home.

His new kidney is working.

And our family gets to move forward into the next chapter.

After everything it took to get here, that feels pretty incredible.

So, one more time:

Welcome home, Max.

And welcome to Team Max, Dolly Partner. 💚