Hi, @beanie2024,

Congratulations on your recent transplant and having completed the first six months on this new incredible journey! And I'm glad that things are going well. My experience is similar to yours in that I also didn't have time to do much research on kidney transplants. I received my first call just 26 days after being listed and was put on standby. I didn't get that kidney but that was okay because in no way was I ready. I received the final call 3 months later (which was 4 months after being listed). I still wasn't ready and had just touched the tip of the iceberg as far as my research was concerned. But I was thankful for this wonderful blessing. I am now 15 months post transplant, and am so grateful to a kind and generous donor and donor family for this awesome gift of life. After that first call, I made a list of things I'd need to take to the hospital with me if and when the next call came but had only packed a few of them.

What especially caught my attention in your post was your saying: "...her name is Beanie!" This struck me because I named my new kidney Maisha (which means life). I originally thought that I was the only person who named their transplanted organ but have been pleasantly surprised to learn that there are others...like you. I am thrilled every time I meet someone else who has named their organ. I could be wrong, but did you name her Beanie because of kidney bean? I think that's pretty cool if you did. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, Maisha and I wish you and Beanie all the best as you continue on this journey. 😊