Cruz has had several Dr.'s appointments in the past couple of weeks. After recent blood tests, his creatinine level has gone up. Last month it was 2.6, now it's 3.4. When it reaches 5, Cruz will need a kidney transplant. Cruz will have more blood tests in about 2 weeks.
Cruz will be getting his tonsils and adenoids removed, and tubes placed in his ears on the 24th of Sept. at Hershey Medical Center. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
9/12/08: Cruz's creatinine level has gone up to 3.8. The doctors are getting in touch with the Transplant Team!! Keep Cruz in your thoughts and prayers and visithttp://www.donors1.org/ to see how you can help now and in the future!!
9/19/08: Today Cruz was admitted to Hershey Medical Center due to extreme high BP and to rule out pneumonia. He is expected to be there through the weekend.
9/21/08: Cruz's creatinine level has gone up to 4.4. He will be starting dialysis soon!!
9/23/08: Cruz spent the weekend at Hershey Medical Center and came home 9/21 only to return the next day to be re-evaluated due to his high blood pressure!! The surgery scheduled for 9/24 has been rescheduled for 10/15. Cruz is home now and his blood pressure seems to be stable.
10/7/08: Cruz will be going to HMC this Thursday (10/9) to have a port placed in his belly to start dialysis!! He is scheduled to come home Sunday, and will hopefully feel up to an appearance at Naylors Benefit!! Keep Cruz in your thoughts and prayers!!
Make a Wish Foundation has also been in contact with Cruz and the family.
10/12: Well, Cruz made it to the Naylors Winery event!! Stayed to see his dad play and was heading back to Hershey Medical Center for more dialysis!! It was great to see you there Cruz!! All of those people were there for you!! You are one special kid!!
10/17: Cruz has had a rough week. Since 10/9, Cruz has been at HMC. This week, Cruz was not eating or drinking, and had been on oxygen. On 10/16, a procedure was done to see if his trachea was inflamed causing him not to eat or drink!! Later on 10/16, Cruz did have an appetite and the family was hopeful to come home today.
10/22: Cruz had surgery (10/21)to remove his tonsils and adniods. Cruz is now home and anxiously awaiting the Halloween Parade!!!
12/24: Cruz has been back to school since Nov. Doing well!! Enjoying his friends in 2nd grade!!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!!
2/04/09: Since the last update in Oct., Cruz and his family has been very busy. Cruz has remained on dialysis every night for 10 hours and is doing very well with it!! Mike and Tina were tested to be kidney donors and are both matches. They chose Tina because of her small size.
On Jan. 28th, Tina had a CT scan and they shot dye into her kidneys to make sure they are both functioning properly. Tina will be giving her kidney to Cruz!! They also met with the transplant team and the transplant is scheduled for February 10th!!!!! The transplant will take place at Hershey Medical Center. Send your thoughts, prayers and love to Cruz and his family!!
A message from Tina:
We want to thank EVERYONE for their love and support for our family. Also for their continued, much needed prayers. We are so blessed to have such great friends, family and a community to help us through this journey.
Thanks Tina
02/12/09: Spoke with Mike last evening. He said both Cruz and Tina are doing well after their surgeries. Both are a little sore, but are able to rest comfortably. He hopes to bring them both home by Monday.
02/14/09: Cruz had exploratory surgery yesterday (2/13). Doctors thought his bowel was blocked, and found that it was not. His kidney looks good and is working well!! Cruz was doing some walking this morning! Tina was discharged yesterday and spent the night in Cruz's room!! They still hope to come home by Monday!!
Camp Kyndie will be visiting the family today, offering support and information, as the family wishes to volunteer over the summer!!
At Cruz's request, Johnny Star of the Love Haters will also be visiting today to sing the 'Marshmallow' song to the kids!!!
02/19/09: Cruz remains at HMC. He continues to have some issues with his bowel. Doctors placed a PICC line today, which is an intravenous access line that can be used for a long period of time. It can be used to give antibiotics and other medicines, and it can be used as a feeding tube to provide extra nutrients. Please keep Cruz and his family in your thoughts and prayers!!!!
03/05/09: Correction: Cruz's surgery was on 2/10/09!!(Sorry). Cruz came home on 2/25 and is doing well, Tina is doing well also. Cruz had his picc line removed on 3/2 at home. The staples will be removed next week, and the stint will be removed on 3/25. The family has a busy year ahead of them with follow-up appointments at Hershey. For the next 6 months, they have to go to HMC twice a week. Then once a week for the next 6 months.
**Tina and Mike would like to thank the Dallastown Elementary School staff for providing dinner every night since they got home from HMC!!!**
**Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth at the Dallastown Carnival!! Thank you for your donations and for purchasing T-shirts to show your support!!
What a great community we live in!!!
**Well, Snooz did it!!! She reached and exceeded her goal!!!! Got a mohawk, went bald, and got a tattoo!! Several others shaved their heads too!!!! Thanks to everyone for the support!!! Cruz and his family thanks you very much!!!!!
**Local business employees of Sieling And Jones held their own benefit for Cruz. They sold raffle tickets amongst themselves, and the winner gave the company owner, Biff Jones, his birthday pie--in theFACE!!! (Biff's birthday was Thursday 8/28). Thank you Sieling and Jones!!!
**A Big Thank you to Garrett, Dylan, and Gaige (Classmates and friends of Cruz) for holding a bake sale.
**Thanks to Mike Guerrini and Friends for selling Mickey's pizza's, and to all who purchased!! Thanks for the support!!
**Many thanks to Sophia & Layne Heiniger for putting together the Lemonade and Kisses 4 Cruz (9/20). And to all who stopped by showing their support!!
**Thanks to Shawn, Lori, Cody, and Dakota, for putting together a bake sale at Jerry's on 10/11. You guys rock!!!
**Naylors Winery Benefit was a huge success!! Good food, good drinks, good fun, great bands, and GREATpeople out showing their support!!
**Thanks to CCSC, YCHDOA, and NDHP for the HUGE show of support at Naylors!!
**Thanks to Snake and Carol G. for sharing pictures from Naylors!!
