Its Been A While

Hello all. Its been a while since we've sent an update....what can we say....????
Ben, myself and Chelbe are all doing well.
Oh and Peedie is back too. (he's been at my mom's in the 'burbs)

Ben is now able to leave the house and go into public. Until now its been home...doctors...home for him. Its perfect timing with the great warm weather.
He is slowly getting his groove back...he says 70% recovered!
As for me..I've had my groove back for quite sometime now..back to work and life in general.

Overall, the transplant was and is a success and he is responding well to Chelbe's presence.

All of OURS/YOUR prayers have and continue to be answered.

weekend update

Ben and Chelbe are doing so well that they are
now on a bi-weekly check up schedule. Also, they
have reduced one of his medications!

This is quite extraordinary. Most transplant patients take
a few months to get to this point.

Chelbe and Ben..the bionic duo!

CHELBE IS DOING HER THANG!!!

HEY GUYS...
BEN'S CREATNINE LEVEL IS DOWN TO 2.8!!!!!! (down from a deadly 16!)
The target is 2.5!!!! Almost there...Go Chelbe Go....show them how ANTIGUAN KIDNEYS DO IT!

Announcing the arrival of BABY CHELBE

...pronounced SHELBY....but spelled CHELBE

Thats right we have officially and finally named the new kidney.

Its time for all to welcome Chelbe Duncan into her new life/role.

Date of Birth: March 24th, 2008

Place: Hackensack Hospital New Jersey

Time: @2pm

Proud Parents: Benjamin And Michelle Duncan




p.s...disclaimer: Ben was not involved in this announcement!

Keeping up with Ben, Michelle And the Kidney!

First things first...Ben, myself, and the KIDNEY(who still remains nameless:) are all doing well.
Initially, the Kidney( what should we call her?) was a bit home sick and wasn't fully adjusting to her new home. After a week or so of clever trickery by the amazing Dr. Shapiro, she decided to except her new fate and started behaving like a good little kidney should.

Its been a full three weeks and each day we are feeling stronger and as Ben just put it "GOOD"!
Thanks to modern science and technology, we are up and around (still at home) and feeling almost back to normal minus a bit of soreness. For those wondering, the scars are not too bad either. Considering what was being cut, moved, shoved, clamped,removed and implanted, we look quite normal. Although whenever we overdo it our bodies reminds us that we are not
quite back to normal as yet...so we are still taking it easy.

Thank you to our family and friends for being there/here to support us over the past three weeks. Thank you to all for your prayers, thoughts, emails, cards, gifts, and visits. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. Words cannot express our gratitude and awe for the support we've recieved.

We will try to keep you all updated with our progress and also the progress of the kidney...which I think we should call Chelbe..pronounced Shelby....short for Michelle and Ben.

What do you think?

ITS ALMOST TIME....

Well Ladies and Gents, we are about three days away from the transplant surgery.


Ben says he's not nervous!

As for me, I am not nervous...(yet)but in reality there is so

much going on, that I'm extremely distracted from the actual procedure.

Lets hope it stays that way..I tend to have a delayed reaction to major events..

I may freak out afterwards..when its all over and I have time to digest it everything.



But either way....

The next time you see us, Ben will have THREE KIDNEYS, ONE in particular that will be working AMAZINGLY!(it better be!)



the surgery is going to be at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey.



In case you dont have it ...here is our contact information:

Ben and Michelle Duncan

380 Lenox Avenue #3A (at 129th st)

New York, N.Y. 10027

212-280-1281

or send us a text message...

michelle(917)733-4160

Ben(917)733-8266