@garyandrade If you’ve ever delved into this topic, you may have come across stories about how a transplant recipient had memories of the donor’s past traumas or perhaps read the book A Change of Heart by Claire Sylvia, a memoir about her heart transplant and how she experienced the donor’s love of certain food and drink. Each and every one of these stories can be dismissed as hocum. Personally, I think it’s a matter of what do you want to see or believe. How can any of these things be explained with full certainty? Are the changes physiological or psychological or both? Is cell memory a real “thing”? Who knows? I *do* know it’s a fascinating subject.

@garyandrade, Good Morning and Welcome to Connect. I am happy that you have joined our discussion. You can add me to the group of recipients who have changes with my taste for foods. I think that your Big Mac taste is great because it is to your benefit! Wouldn't it be great if all of our post transplant changes were towards better diet!
I am a liver/kidney recipient. I transplanted in 2009, and I, too, have learned to be alert to 'listening' to my body for sign of any changes.

Now, the most important part or my post:
!!! Congratulations on your transplant in 2015. Isn't it amazing how much life has changed:-)

garyandrade, As a volunteer mentor, I want to invite you to look thru our list of transplant discussions. I want you to feel welcome to join into any of the conversations and to join in anywhere. With your background as a recipient, I feel that you have a lot of experience in the listing, the waiting, and the recovering process that can be encouraging and helpful to our members who are currently going thru those events.

Can I ask which organ you received?
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Rosemary

@bexhall and @garyandrade I originally posted this question because I do feel that I have the influence of my donor on my attitudes and opinions. I do not believe there is at "test" to prove the existence of such a thing, just like you cannot "prove" that God exists. I do not have any memories, but I am experiencing some changes in attitudes about subjects that previously did not interest me. I have lost some of my zeal for previous passions, which I can associate with the fact that my donor did not share those interests. But, basically, underneath it all, like a hypnotic suggestion, you will not act against your firmly held beliefs and basic personality and choices.

I think my experiences are supported by the fact that I have always and still do have a deep, abiding and living faith; as well as believing in the spiritual world and that God is of the spiritual realm. Our souls are the spiritual part of our being that attaches us to God and return to him once our physical being is spent.

My faith is why I was not extremely stressed during the time I waited for my transplant. I have turned my life and my will over to God and I did the same with the outcome of my transplant experience. Once I was on the transplant waiting list and knew that the average wait was 2-3 years, I put the entire issue of transplant (so to speak) on the top shelf in the back. That meant that I continued to do the best I could for the body I had and continued to search, research and learn what was and was not working and adapt as necessary. What a wonderful blessing and surprise for me that I received the call within 6 months and it was almost a 100% match! It was at that point that I realized I was more ready than my friends and family; and identified how different it was to live with my life in the hands of God. It disappointed me that my friends and family could not accept and move forward with the confidence of having God in charge.

Please understand that I am sharing my experiences, not trying to preach, convince or convert anyone else. i do know and understand just how controversial my discussion of faith and God can be, so please accept my apologies if you are uncomfortable with this topic. Blessings to all in your transplant journey.

@garyandrade Shortly after my liver transplant my husband walked into the family room where I was and the sports network was on the TV. He immediately thought my liver donor must have been male! Actually I was not watching the TV, he had left it on. 😉 I just recently received a letter from the parents of my donor and it was a young woman. I have noticed I enjoy some "hot" foods more than I used to but that's probably because as I age my taste buds have diminished a bit. I do not believe a new liver could influence anything about me.
JK

I was lucky enough to receive a Liver Transplant at Scripps hospital in San Diego. I contemplated being dually listed by I decided that staying in San Diego and fighting my HCC (cancer) to buy time was my best option. It worked out but my two-plus years on the waiting list was trying at times. I'm sure I could share some helpful experiences. I'm looking forward to participating in discussions as my time permits.

Wow! That sounds super interesting. I'm sure there is more going on in Transplantation experiences, things that current science can't explain or has even researched!

@garyandrade I had in my mind that when my MELD went over 28 I would dual list at Mayo in MN. My home hospital was Mass General. I had spoken to people in the Transplant department at Mayo and they felt with my B blood type I would probably see a transplant at 28. Out of the blue one day, about 2 months prior to when I was told I would probably get called by MGH, I got the call and the rest is history. I too was happy to be able to do it at a hospital fairly close (55 miles), it sure simplifies things, and Mass General has in some ratings been rated at the best hospital in the country! Generally I have seen it at #3 behind Mayo and Cleveland Clinic. I could not have been happier than I have been with MGH though. It seems like the transplant departments in all of the hospitals are truly top-notch, and from what I have heard, everyone has been very happy with their experience.
On a divergent note, how lucky are you to live in SD? I love it there, hope to get back there one of these days.
JK

@garyandrade, If you want to address your response or question to a particular member, you can copy and paste their @name as I just did with you.
FYI for you and any of our new members: There is a "Get Started on Connect" active link in the grey box at the bottom left of this page. Lots of helpful hints!

PS - I think my niece is a nurse at Scripps in San Diego:-)
Rosemary

@2011panc, I want to thank you for sharing your personal experience with our members. That is lone of the reasons why Mayo Connect exists. - We are an online community where you can share your experiences and find support from people like ourselves.
It is very clear that you are, "Not trying to preach, convince or convert anyone else".
Blessings to you, too.
Rosemary

@2011panc what a wonderful testimony. Faith is what is getting my husband and I through this journey. I've told a lot of people that I am getting through with prayer and yoga! Lol We still have the why us moments, but they are fewer and farther between. Letting go and letting God is hard sometimes, but we are still works in progress.
Thank you for this post,
JoDee