Looking for long-term Transplant success stories

My husband celebrated 9 years last October 1, of his new-to-him kidney, who we named Kermit. In Gaelic, the name means "free man", which he was, getting off dialysis for almost 6 years before receiving the call. He is doing great!
Ginger

@footballmum So happy for you!!!!

Thank you 💗💗💗

My sister gave me a kidney in 1980 in San Francisco at the UCSF Moffitt hospital. I was 23 and she was 35. I am now going on 46 years! Back then there wasn't a lot of information on nutrition like there is now so weight gain was an issue. I had never had a weight problem before so when they told me to go easy on the sodium I switched from chips to cookies! I learned to stay away from junk food, fast food, greasy food and sugar as much as possible. I was never one to exercise (like at the gym) but I used to play a lot of sports. These days though it's mostly just walking and stretching. I always try to stay hydrated and drink lo6s of water not soda!

@luckee Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Simply, wow! 46 years! That is difficult to imagine. How far the transplant community has come in that time! I hope your medical team is holding you up as an example of what can be accomplished, and that your case is written up somewhere.
Ginger

@gingerw
As I always say, "I'm the LUCKIEST unlucky person I know!" : ) . . . and there is something to be said for a BIG family! We joke that we share EVERYTHING!! Ha! Ha! PS: I didn't have a medical team because I lived in Alaska. I was supposed to have it done in Seattle and the surgeon was fired so I ended up in San Francisco and glad I did!

I am two years post liver transplant. It gets better and better every day. I know two years isn't that long, but every single day means so much to me. Living fully to honor my donor is a miracle. There were times I struggled, but I am still here. Organ donation is amazing, and I pray for your SIL.

@tiabean
You are on your way to your own long term transplant success story! Two years with your new liver is fantastic, especially hearing that, "It gets better and better every day."

As for each of us with a transplant, there were struggles and hard times that we experienced along the way. Was there anything that you wished that you would have known ahead of time that might have helped prepare you for post transplant living?

@rosemarya I think knowing about communities, like this one, are our there is immense. I would have taken the hardest times with more confidence that others had done it. The feeling that you are alone going through it is really rough.

I may not be long term but almost 2 years. I will say this. Pre-op was miserable but I finally focused on myself and what is important. I met a wonderful woman while I was at the worst of it. The day of our first date or supposed to be was the day I got the call for my Transplant. A year to the day we got married almost been married a year. I have a great family now and something to live for. For most people this is the one of the worst things that has happened them but for me it was the best. I now have direction, love and hope. All those I never had before, I was selfish and static. I know this isn't super inspirational but hey eat good, exercise and don't forget your meds. FYI your young if they go to take you off Cellcept have them heavily monitor you. They took me off for a month before a blood test and my levels took almost 6 months to regulate.