Drive for Five: Momma Chaz

In the battle with Amyloidosis and its destruction of my kidneys, it’s sometimes easy to forget others are dramatically effected as well.

I recall with surprise the reaction from darling wife after learning we had passed the liver biopsy test. The final frontier the University of Colorado transplant team required for consideration to be placed on the list. My brown-eyed girl burst into tears. Happy ones. It’s hard to fathom trying to deal with the treatments necessary to stay alive without a loving partner. The Illinois native didn’t sign up for this task but a 65-year-old is darn grateful to have the note-taking beauty beside for each step on this unexpected and unwanted journey.

Then there’s the nurses, technicians and doctors at UC Anschutz and Fresenius Kidney Care. The American health care system is an absolute mess but don’t blame the front-line workers. They continue to be angels in my midst. The latest? Chaz Hopkins.

The sharp and direct dynamo was equally excited about learning the news a sarcastic patient had cleared the final transplant list hurdle and was responding well to the peritoneal dialysis shift from hemodialysis, including lessening the nightly dialyzing from nine to seven hours. Positive steps on the way to a transplant. Want to investigate being a donor? Share your spare? Save a life? Here's how.

An ol’ sports guy’s care team. Wife, doctor and the one and only Chaz. I’ll never forget the first time we met. There’s a ton of training and education necessary to switch from hemodialysis to peritoneal. Hemodialysis? The patient just has to show up. Nurses and technicians take care of the rest. Peritoneal? It’s the patient’s responsibility. Permission to move to this less aggressive treatment using saline sprinkled with dextrose to seduce toxins into my abdomen which are then drained from the body requires patient to master the process. There’s many steps. Most important? Maintain a sterile environment to avoid infections. Meticulous stuff.

Chaz was our teacher. There’s none better than the California native. To call her a drill sergeant might be an embellishment, but not much. This much I know about the spunky nurse: She cares deeply about others. The soul-food loving sister proved that very early in our relationship.

On the first day of training, wife and I are getting the scoop on how peritoneal dialysis works. I’m sitting in a chair, vitals have been taken and the medical folks wanted to take a peek at my belly to see how it looked after surgery to place a catheter in my abdomen, the key to this form of dialysis.

Your scribe had made the mistake of looking down at the stitches and zipper-like aftermath of surgery installing the catheter within. Suddenly my blood pressure began to drop. I know from experience, this ol’ fart was about to pass out. I can sense it coming on. It happened again. Scary for everyone in the room, especially my wife. Chaz sprang into action and revived me quickly.

We had another challenge. In these moments history also indicates, as quickly as possible,? your correspondent’s gonna need access to a bathroom. Why? Well, “All hell’s gonna break loose” when it comes to bowel movements.

I had known this incredible woman less than 30 minutes, In an instant, without hesitation, the fit and strong travel buff grabbed me with the force of a linebacker lassoing a running back, directed a groggy dude to a nearby restroom and braced herself against my body to ensure McIntosh didn’t fall off the toilet. Johnson then proceeded to do something nobody has done since days as a helpless baby and a deceased momma caring for her newborn.

This stellar human didn’t hesitate one iota in wiping my butt and cleaning up the mess. In my hazy state, my mind was sharp realizing, “I am in good hands.” This beautiful gal will forever have a special place in my heart. Caregivers. The job ain’t easy. Thank God for superstars like Chaz Hopkins.

Forever more known as “Momma Chaz.” An old man in an infant state with a caregiver whose got my back, butt and everything else covered with love and compassion. What a blessing.