I've been pondering writing about this for the past few months, but wanted to wait until additional testing was done and other affairs were in order. As some of you may have noticed, I haven't been posting much lately; in fact, I haven't even been online much lately. I have not drawn anything for months, though not for lack of trying.
As some of you may know, I got a kidney and pancreas transplant in 2007. Despite a strict diet, consistent exercise program, and careful monitoring of weight and medications, the kidney started giving up the ghost back in 2012 (remember when I started having all those problems?), and is failing. The doctors believe it was due to an unknown auto-immune virus hidden in the donor kidney, as only the kidney has been affected.
My current weight is 153 pounds, which is pretty normal. I've started rebuilding muscles lost over the past year (multiple surgeries did not permit me to continue my exercise program), as the doctors plan on grafting an arteriovenous fistula into my left arm at the beginning of August. Once healed (and built up), this will allow IV's to be inserted to allow dialysis, which will probably be starting later this fall/early winter.
At the last check-up, my Creatinine level was 7.66 mg/dL. The acceptable range is 0.67-1.17 mg/dL, so I'm obviously WAY over the line. Blood Urea Nitrogen levels should be between 7-18 mg/dL, but mine was 91 mg/dL. Again, way out of the park. Protein concentration in the urine should be between 0.0-11.9 mg/dL, but mine was 305.4 mg.dL, which means the filters in the kidney aren't doing their job. The doctor said my kidney function is at approximately 8%, much to my surprise, as you'd never know it by looking at me or by asking how I felt. No swelling, no nausea, none of the shit usually associated with reduced renal function. The only problems I've been having are hand tremors (cause currently unknown) and a short supply of energy.
I've submitted information to the transplant center to apply for another transplant. The doctors and I are hoping my excellent clean health record and impeccable monitoring of my diet, weight and other such factors will play a big part in moving me up the line. I'm otherwise in excellent health (remember, I was on the waiting list for the kidney and pancreas for only 3 weeks before I received my first call due to my otherwise excellent health), and am a far cry from most of the patients I see at the doctor's office (sickly, old, or morbidly obese people who pay little mind to what they are putting into their bodies). If I'm lucky, a suitable match will be found and I'll be able to get the defective kidney replaced.
Before anyone says "Hope you get better!", let me just state that this is NOT something you "get better" from. You either get a transplant, or you die. Pretty simply math. The best I can do is try to keep my system as stable for as long as possible, at its current state, pending dialysis or a new transplant.
Since most of this year, and a fat chunk of last year, was spent working or going to the hospital for various invasive surgeries, I haven't done any drawing for quite some time (aside from that little comic I drew a few weeks ago, which was pretty crudely-drawn despite taking a damn week to draw). Because of my hands acting up, any fine motor skills are pretty much impossible with them now. I totally botched the Lori outline picture for the dakimakura, but recently sent off two new, penciled versions of the picture to a fellow artist of mine in Florida who does excellent inking work. I've known him since high school, and have seen him perfectly pull off Jim Lee and Todd MacFarlane's art styles. I included copies of the other B&W dakimakura pictures so he could see how the inks are done. He told me to give him a few weeks and he should have it done (he works a regular job and is doing this as a favor for me).
So until either my health situation improves or my hands quit acting like epileptic Parkinson's patients, I'm afraid I won't have any sort of new artwork to offer. There are two chapters and several other individual pages from the Skunkworks compilation which may have met their demise in the shredder a couple years ago (without me realizing it). I have not been able to locate these pages. I will likely try to redraw them, but may have to have someone else ink them. I might ask my friend Adam to do that if he doesn't mind (and is available).
So that's what's been going on, and why I've been so quiet lately. I've already got my funeral shit taken care of, and my living will is done, but I'm still working on some of the stuff in my Last Will. Just in case, you know. Might as well take the opportunity to get all that shit done now so I don't have to worry about it later.
While sorting through things, I've also set aside some more unpublished art from years gone by, which I'll likely post and/or auction off. Still waiting to refresh my Furbuy account, as the M.O. I sent them went to the wrong address and another one has to be sent out.
So stay cool, enjoy the days and nights, and I'll try to get something up here soon. My friend Brian suggested some art tips to help me with my hands, so I'm gonna try those out to see if they'll do any good. Here's to hoping!
--JMH, still not dead yet, but damn if the ol' Reaper isn't trying his best!
Received on Fri Jul 11 2014 - 22:15:12 CDT