A kidney for Steve

In today's edition of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS, there was an update about Steve Colvin, of Camano Island, who is waiting to receive his kidney transplant. ("Continued support needed for kidney patient" on page 11). His transplant surgery is scheduled for June 23. Here is the article that was originally printed in the April 7 edition, called "Kidney transplant could happen soon."

By KRISTI PIHL
Staff Reporter

Steve Colvin of Camano Island is being positive about his kidney disease and upcoming transplant.
With a B+ blood type, he could have waited at least three years before a new kidney was available.
But because of a “one in God chance,” his best friend, Zebb Seabrook, of Monroe, turned out to be a match for a donor organ.
And instead of waiting three years, Steve might have a new kidney as early as the end of April.
Steve was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a condition where the kidney no longer filters the blood properly.
For Steve, the disease is a particular problem because he was only born with one kidney.
While living in Spokane 10 years ago, Steve said he failed a urine test for a physical that was part of a job application. His protein levels were extremely high, and he was sent to a kidney specialist.
After many tests, including an ultrasound and a biopsy, his single kidney’s disease was revealed.
At the time, Steve said his kidney was still operating at about 80 percent efficiency. He wasn’t experimenting any symptoms.
Kidney disease doesn’t tend to reveal itself through symptoms until the end of the disease, when the body starts to retain fluid, said Heather Colvin, his wife.
“It’s kind of a silent killer,” she said.
At the time, the specialist estimated Steve would be in need of a transplant in another 10 years or so, at the age of 35.
The specialist was close. Steve is now 34.
Early last spring, Steve said he started to develop noticeable symptoms. He had frequent nausea because he could smell the unfiltered toxins on himself. Steve didn’t have any energy, and his short-term memory started to go, Heather said. He was also constantly cold.
They started to see how the kidney was connected to everything. When the kidney doesn’t filter, toxins build up in the body, she said. Those toxins can lead to heart issues.
People who develop kidney disease can also get diabetes, and some lose limbs to that disease.
At first, their daughter, Lydia, age 4, had a hard time understanding why her dad didn’t have any energy. Now she does, Heather said.
In December, Steve was put on dialysis, which happens only when someone is at the end stage of kidney failure. That generally means the kidney is only operating at 10 to 20 percent, Steve said.
“It filters and cleans your blood like your kidney is supposed to,” he said.
At first, Steve did peritoneal dialysis at home, where a tube is placed in the lining of the abdomen, and fluid is placed in the abdomen and later sucked out. After learning how to do it manually, it’s a procedure a machine did for Steve while he slept.
However, Steve said the extra weight in his abdomen caused him to develop two hernias. He had to stop and switch to hemodialysis, which required a catheter port in the right side of his chest so an artificial kidney can filter his blood. Three times a week, he and Heather go to the Puget Sound Kidney Center in Smokey Point for the four-hour procedure.
Heather and Steve consider themselves blessed. Community members have anonymously helped them out by sending gift cards and putting money on their PUD account.
“God has just walked with us through everything,” Heather said.
Steve’s medical expenses have been pretty much covered with a combination of private insurance and Medicare.
Quite a few people got tested to see if they could donate a kidney to Steve, including his parents, members from their church and even one of Steve’s customers from Washington Mutual.
For the moment, Steve’s transplant is scheduled for April 28.
However, the family isn’t putting much stock in the date. Two scheduled transplants have already been canceled, since both Steve and Seabrook have to be in the peak of health for the transplant to occur.
After the transplant, Steve will be taking anti-rejection medication, which will lower his immune system. For a couple months, he will have to be isolated from the public, Heather said.
What will happen after the transplant? Well, that’s a different ball game, Steve said. He’ll spend five to seven days in Virginia Mason in Seattle, and then stay near the hospital for a couple weeks for frequent checks.
“They don’t know until post-surgery how your body’s going to react,” Heather said.
With a kidney from a live donor, the transplant is expected to last twice as long, she said.
Steve does intend to return to work at the Stanwood branch of Washington Mutual, but what he does will likely require some adjustment, since his position as teller requires so much contact with the public.
At the very least, Steve said he will have to embrace the use of hand sanitizers and Lysol.

Donations to Steve Colvin's medical fund at WAMU/soon to be Chase are appreciated. Steve plans to use the fund to pay for the increased price in his medical premiums from when he goes on long-term disability at the end of May until he is able to return to work.