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← Return to Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families
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Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families
Transplants | Last Active: Dec 27, 2024 | Replies (60)Comment receiving replies
To All: Let's reactivate this conversation! ⛄❄️
Holiday celebrations and festivities can be a challenge for transplant patients and their families. The twinkling lights and music are everywhere enticing us to get out to shop and celebrate while we consider invitations to family and social gatherings with special foods and beverages. It is no wonder that whatever stage of some of us approach the holidays with a hint of uncertainty and trepidation during the season that is supposed to bring joy and cheer.
- How will you navigate the holidays? What are your plans?
- If you are a new recipient, what questions do you want to ask if the experienced recipients?
- Share a Holiday wish!
Replies to "To All: Let's reactivate this conversation! ⛄❄️ Holiday celebrations and festivities can be a challenge for..."
Hi, @rosemarya.
No special plans outside of home for the holidays. I'm just one year post kidney transplant and, over the past few months, have been slowly adding back a few activities into my life as transplant team restrictions have been eased. But whatever I do, I take recommended precautions. Some may think I go overboard, but I mask up, keep a good social distance, avoid crowds and sick people (as much as possible), wash hands frequently, hand sanitize, get my vaccinations, etc. And I do these things year round. I am trying to see how I can safely incorporate travel back into my life. I probably won't do anything special during the winter but maybe I'll be able to "get moving" in the spring. My main concern is to be careful and safe.
So, with that in mind, my question for the experienced recipients is what precautions do you take on various modes of transport? In particular, how do you stay safe on airplanes full of strangers that you will be in close contact with and who may be sick and infectious and are not wearing masks?
My holiday wish is for everyone to have a joyous holiday season and enjoy life!
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I had my double lung transplant May 2022. I will be traveling for the holidays. The first thing I do is to wear my mask all the time unless I can find a place away from everyone else (not easy to do) or if I need to take meds and therefore will need to take down my mask. I also have my son on one side and my husband on the other side on the plane. I will be visiting friends and family who know if they even have a tickle in their throat not to come near me. I also need to be careful to not eat any raw vegetables or at any buffet style places, only drink bottled water and no ice in any drinks,
Just a little side note to anyone that is traveling and is unaware. You are able to bring a medical bag with you that doesn't count as a carry on or personal item. You do need to make sure that everything is allowable as medical. If there is one item that is not medical in the bag, it is not considered a medical bag. You should make sure that the bag stays with you at all times. You don't want to check your meds just in case.