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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.

ghayden777 | @ghayden777 | Oct 16, 2018

Hello I am going to be a donor for my twin brother. I am very excited to be able to give him a better life as we are very close as most twins are I guess. It has been a 3 year journey as I decided I wanted to do this for him. He started testing and found he had to have open heart surge. Scared the heck out of all of us. Heart trouble does run in the family. After that was done he found he had prostate cancer. Ugh!!! So now finally 3 years later he is good to go. Now up to me to get my testing done. Praying this all goes well and we can get this done.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @fauneconner "Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney..." + (show)
@fauneconner

Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney transplant Monday, Nov 5 in Rochester. We just returned from there after additional testing. His GFR has dropped to 11 per cent so it is time to proceed. I am still the donor so we have been making double arrangements in terms of support people, rooms at the Gift of Life Transplant House, etc. We return to Mayo on Nov 1 for pre surgery tests on Nov 2. Excited to make this happen and grateful for the large Mayo team that makes it possible.

Faune Conner

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@fauneconner We will keep you both in our prayers from now up through, and beyond 5 Nov. What a way to become even closer! Good luck to you!
Ginger

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 16, 2018

@ghayden777

How wonderful that you can help your twin brother!

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @ghayden777 "Hello I am going to be a donor for my twin brother. I am very excited..." + (show)
@ghayden777

Hello I am going to be a donor for my twin brother. I am very excited to be able to give him a better life as we are very close as most twins are I guess. It has been a 3 year journey as I decided I wanted to do this for him. He started testing and found he had to have open heart surge. Scared the heck out of all of us. Heart trouble does run in the family. After that was done he found he had prostate cancer. Ugh!!! So now finally 3 years later he is good to go. Now up to me to get my testing done. Praying this all goes well and we can get this done.

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@ghayden777 Congratulations to you both! They do say that twins seem to be closer than regular siblings. I know that certainly is true for my two older sisters. We will keep you in prayer for success. Please let us know how you are doing as it goes along.
Ginger

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fauneconner | @fauneconner | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @fauneconner While I'm not a transplant recipient nor donor, I love to follow the transplant..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @fauneconner

While I'm not a transplant recipient nor donor, I love to follow the transplant discussions. You are all such amazing people who have incredible strengths! I really admire you all. Just wanted you to know that I'd be praying and thinking about you and your husband in November.

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Thank you so much!

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fauneconner | @fauneconner | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@fauneconner We will keep you both in our prayers from now up through, and beyond 5..." + (show)
@gingerw

@fauneconner We will keep you both in our prayers from now up through, and beyond 5 Nov. What a way to become even closer! Good luck to you!
Ginger

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Thank you Ginger!

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fauneconner | @fauneconner | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "@fauneconner how wonderful for you and your husband that you were able to be his donor...." + (show)
@contentandwell

@fauneconner how wonderful for you and your husband that you were able to be his donor. I hope all goes well for both of you. When you have a living donor do you still have to wait until your GFR, or in the case of liver, MELD, gets to a certain number? Please keep us informed, we will waiting to hear how you both are doing. Prayers will be with the both of you.
JK

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JK, for kidney transplant 20 or below on the GFR seems to be the magic number. My husband took a plunge to 11 per cent so we knew it was time. Thank you! Faune

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 16, 2018
In reply to @ghayden777 "Hello I am going to be a donor for my twin brother. I am very excited..." + (show)
@ghayden777

Hello I am going to be a donor for my twin brother. I am very excited to be able to give him a better life as we are very close as most twins are I guess. It has been a 3 year journey as I decided I wanted to do this for him. He started testing and found he had to have open heart surge. Scared the heck out of all of us. Heart trouble does run in the family. After that was done he found he had prostate cancer. Ugh!!! So now finally 3 years later he is good to go. Now up to me to get my testing done. Praying this all goes well and we can get this done.

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Good Morning, @ghayden777
My favorite role as a volunteer mentor is to welcome new members! I am happy to extend my hand in a virtual welcome handshake. I can see that you have already found out that the transplant folks - patients, donors, caregivers, friends are supportive and understanding.
I would like to introduce you to the Transplant Pages where you will discover a wealth of living donor information as well as resources and a newsfeed section that is regularly updated. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/

I found this especially for you!
Identical Twins Transplant - Mayo Clinic.


I invite you to join in any of the discussions on Connect. Here is one that will get you started! Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/
I know this is a lot of information at one time. Take your time checking it out. Let me know how I can ever be of assistance to you. I look forward journeying with you and your brother. Hugs to both of you.

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mauraacro | @mauraacro | Oct 16, 2018

@fauneconner I'm so happy for you and your husband! If you have any non medical donor questions, I probably asked them myself so feel free to ask.
My recipient is doing well enough that we just met up for a vacation! She has had a few bumps in the past 9 months but is doing so much better than when I 1st met her.
I have not had 1 regret since donating. With as crazy as things got at times, I am 100% sure I would do it again if I could.

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abel | @abel | Oct 17, 2018

Hello everyone, I have a question how is the proccess of getting a kidney transplant in another state? I was going to get one but my brother is not able to donated his kidney due to a disease. Do they help you with a place to stay until you recover or everything is out of pocket. Another question what state has the less amount of time to wait for a kidney transplant?

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