Yes you are in the right place this page is for donors and ttansplant recipients I myself am a heart transplant recipent but I think rosemary might be able to help you you can teply to her at @rosemaya she is a mentor of oir group and I think she can help you

@mauraacro, I would like to welcome you to the Mayo Clinic Connect. It is an honor to meet you. I understand your "being brand new and technologically challenged" statement. I am still learning!
You have posted in a great place.
Here is a link to the Living Donation discussion where we have some other members who are actively involved in the process of living kidney donation. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor/

To make it easier, I am also going to introduce you to the members, and you should receive a notification shortly.
I will look forward to continuing our conversation there.
Rosemary

@glinda, Thanks for your support! We transplant folks do stick together to help each other, don't we?

I also welcome you to take a look at the living donor discussion- it is an amazing conversation by some amazing people aka "Living Heroes".
Rosemary

@mauraacro, Will you be doing this transplant long distance?
I offer a recommendation of lodging if you are at Mayo Rochester - The Gift of Life Transplant House.

My husband and I spent 11 weeks there from Feb - May in 2999. We had the opportunity to meet many others waiting for, and recovering from transplants - living donors, too. I was always impressed with the recovery and the encouragement I felt by seeing the living donors. Their stay was usually brief, and I never did get to know any of them.

It is our preferred lodging when we return annually. I know that the other Mayo Campuses also have transplant housing that are equally rated. Here is information if you need it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/transplant-center/sections/locations-travel-lodging/ptc-20203900
Rosemary (Liver/kidney 2009)

@glinda,, How far did you travel to Rochester for your heart transplant? Are you familiar with the Gift of Life House in Rochester?

I know that a large number of the Mayo transplant patients choose to stay at the Mayo associated lodgings. We would love to hear from them.
Rosemary

Hi Rosemary and i am only 2 hours from rochester and yes i did stay at the gift of life transplant house from january 2011 to april 2011 i stay in the south house which is the older house I went straight from the hospital to the gift of life house. I am getting ready to go back to rochester on the 2nd thru the 4th for my annual but i won't be staying at the gift of life house i will be staying at the kahler grand which is okay with me that leaves a room open for another transplant patient that needs it more then me but if I ever have go through another transplant I will go and stay back at the gift of life i enjoyed my time there and its a beautiful place to stay

@glinda, First, I want to send you to Mayo for your "annual" with my prayers and hopes that everything, especially your beautiful heart, are happy!

I have stayed at there, too. Had a great room that overlooked the Clinic and I enjoyed watching the activity of people in and out. In fact, I cried, because I remembered when I needed one of those wheelchairs (have you ever seen so many?) when I used to arrive by the shuttle. Depending on the length of our stay and availability, we may or may not stay at GOL.

I will be thinking of you as you take on the appointment marathon! It still amazes me how Mayo can be so efficient with the schedule and results.

I once had a doctor in Liver transplant, who stayed later one day to see me, so we could begin our drive home to Kentucky before a predicted morning snowstorm:-)
Rosemary

@fauneconner, I want to introduce you to @mauraacro. Like you, she is about to donate one of her kidneys. And is also preparing for her trip to Mayo Rochester.
Do you have any firsthand information that you can share with her? Or any suggestions?
Rosemary

@rosemaya, thank you and yeah this year I am a little worried as I'm due to have my right heart catheterization and angiogram and am a little worried as have not been doing my greatest this year have had 3 rounds of amtibiotics and 2 rounds of prednisone due to uti's which I never ever had in my life until this year and due to my asthma being so bad I don't normally worry about the angiogramor the right heart catheterization but with taking the preds it has a tendency of drop my natural cortisone levels way below normal and i have a tendency to get sick even more then with kust having a suppressed immune system and i also REMEMBER having having to use a wheelchair before and after my transplant but I never give up on myself and never will at anytime so even though I am worried I do know in my heart that everything will be fine with my yearly I just happen to be a worrier simetimes but am always an optimist also will keep you posted on how things go at my yearly
Glinda

@glinda, I want to check in with you before you begin to pack and get busy with your week. I know what you mean about worrying, I do too before my routine annual evaluation. And I worry even more on those 'special event' years. I am always so-o-o relieved when I get that final, "See you next year" from the transplant dept!

I'll be thinking of you, and I'll say a prayer for your safe travel and good results. However, I will still be sound asleep when you have to get those predawn labs drawn!

Unplug! Take yourself offline, and get some rest between your appointments. We will look forward to hearing from you when you get back home:-)
Hugs,
Rosemary