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Mentor

This and That and Talk - My Transplant

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 9, 2017

As our Mayo Connect community grows, I am constantly meeting organ transplant members on a wide variety of forums with a wide range of issues that are not directly transplant specific. However, because we are all transplant recipients, we have a special connection: a unique journey and best of all - a new life! We don't always need help or advice. Many times we just want to chat with someone like us! That is my purpose in starting This and That and Talk.

Drop in and say 'Hi'. You are welcome anytime.

What do you want t to talk about? What words can you offer to someone who is on the journey? Do you have any questions for another recipient?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

IWantToBelieve | @IWantToBelieve | Nov 20, 2017

@davidgenbarnes - So great to hear from you, and better yet to hear that, although not totally healed, you are feeling much better. What a blessing to feel good enough to be able to become active in a church community - a bonus for others and you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

REPLY
9 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 20, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

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David, Thank you for the offer to share your email with others. We don't share personal contact information between patients, but we do @mention people on Connect when we know someone is willing to share their experiences. I'd like to add you to our list of "helpers" and have taken note of your area of expertise by experience. I love your acceptance speech, LOL and would love to use your message to share with the transplant staff as a testament to their care, and with the Connect team and staff to demonstrate the magic that happens here in the community. CONNECTions matter.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Nov 20, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

Jump to this post

@davidgenebarnes, I am happy for you, and with you! Thank you for sharing this update. I wish for you and your wife to enjoy many more happy years together!
Rosemary

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Nov 20, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung At this point I have never heard of anyone who did not feel the care they have gotten for their transplant has not been well beyond anything they expected. I know I feel so cared for and watched over by the transplant team at Mass General, they are wonderful. They are still having me do weekly lab tests because not everything is quite where they would like it to be and even today they gave me a call for a small adjustment to my immunosuppressants. It's such a good feeling to know they are there for me.
JK

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 21, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

Jump to this post

Hello Dave @davidgenebarnes

So good to hear from you - your acceptance speech was right-on! You did receive a tremendous award and I can tell you appreciate all of the folks who helped make it possible. I'm pleased to hear that you are feeling well enough to begin to give-back to others through your church.

Keep in touch with us as you are able and have a lovely Thanksgiving.

Teresa

REPLY
davidgenebarnes | @davidgenebarnes | Nov 21, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

Jump to this post

Thank you Colleen. Yes, you can use my comments in CONNECTions. Have a great day !

REPLY
davidgenebarnes | @davidgenebarnes | Nov 21, 2017
In reply to @IWantToBelieve "@davidgenbarnes - So great to hear from you, and better yet to hear that, although not..." + (show)
@IWantToBelieve

@davidgenbarnes - So great to hear from you, and better yet to hear that, although not totally healed, you are feeling much better. What a blessing to feel good enough to be able to become active in a church community - a bonus for others and you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Jump to this post

Thanks Lynn. For me, I am flying home to my Wife, house and dogs. This past few years have been tough on me and my Wife. If you recall, we live in Northern California, but I work in Phoenix. This turned out to be a blessing since I was diagnosed in Phoenix and have an apartment just a few miles from Mayo. My Wife really took care of me during the surgery. She put her life on hold and flew out here to care for me for two month. While I won't make Thanksgiving, I am taking a week off around Christmas and flying home for 12 days! Now that I am 85% healed (in my mind) I intend to put her on a pedestal and thank her the whole time. I hope your holidays goes as well as the plan for mine!
Dave
P.S. My scar didn't really end up looking like a Mercedes logo, well maybe if it was in wreck. 🙂

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Nov 21, 2017
In reply to @IWantToBelieve "@davidgenbarnes - So great to hear from you, and better yet to hear that, although not..." + (show)
@IWantToBelieve

@davidgenbarnes - So great to hear from you, and better yet to hear that, although not totally healed, you are feeling much better. What a blessing to feel good enough to be able to become active in a church community - a bonus for others and you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Jump to this post

After transplant, when my sense of humor returned, my husband told me that it would have been a lot easier to buy me a Mercedes!
Rosemary
FYI to non-liver recipients - The incision/scar from a liver transplant is often described as a Mercedes symbol because that is what it looks like:-)

REPLY
IWantToBelieve | @IWantToBelieve | Nov 21, 2017

@rosemarya - thanks for the Mercedes explanation!

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Nov 21, 2017
In reply to @davidgenebarnes "Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the..." + (show)
@davidgenebarnes

Hello Teresa! My life has done a complete 180! It has been 10 weeks since the surgeries (4) and they tell me it will take another 4 to 5 months to heal, I feel like I did three years ago, FANTASTIC! My energy level is back up, dizziness maybe once a week, appetite is good, blood work almost perfect, sugar is low (off insulin) and life in general is once again, wonderful. While I am still recovering and have to deal with some pain, I feel truly blessed. I owe to: God, my Wife and the wonderful/fantastic doctors, nurses and staff at MAYO. I found a new church near my new place and have begun volunteering for events that fit my capabilities.
I would like to thank yourself and all the many people on Mayo Clinic Connect. (I feel like I am accepting an award and making my acceptance speech).
Best Wishes to you and yours during the upcoming holidays.

Dave Barnes
P.S. Please feel free to give my email contact information to anyone who would like to discuss both pre and post surgeries and symptoms.

Jump to this post

My friends tease me that they are jealous because I have so many people looking after me 🙂 Rosemary

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