Happy "Transplantiversary"!

@rosemarya Great idea. Last week we had three excellent doctor appointments, two for me, the one for PH and the one for malignancies, and one for my husband who has a slowly increasing PSA (he had prostrate cancer in 2004). The oncologist said he figures my husband will live to be 400! All appointments were good so he wanted to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate but I had already bought stuff for dinner. Plus I am really trying to be good and having a hard time at it and let's face, it's tougher in restaurants. I gained five pounds since Christmas and I want them off, plus 2 or 3 more pounds.
JK

@contentandwell, Congratulations on 3 excellent appointments. I love to celebrate good news and I think that you deserve three celebrations of some sort - even a good strong "Yippee" will work. It is amazing, isn't it how much we celebrate with food?

When my husband and I were deep into the transplant journey, a friend told us that we should celebrate every year on our transplant anniversary, just as we might celebrate our anniversary. I would like to pass this suggestion on to you and your husband. When that 1st year anniversary comes, do something special together. I will be looking forward to hear from you about that in September. It does not need to involve food.
Rosemary

I have seen many creative ways that recipients celebrate this occasion.

To all recipients who read this: How will you celebrate your transplantiversary?

@rosemarya I agree, this second chance at life should definitely be commemorated. We are going to Hawaii in October with our son and his girlfriend, something he suggested since he is going there for a wedding. I think that will be a our celebration, albeit a bit late. I am so excited to go! My husband and son both feel that I have gone so long without a vacation that I (husband too) deserve this splurge.
It's hard to believe that it's been seven months already!
JK

I am going on 12 years post pancreas transplant. I mark it on the calendar and mention it on Facebook. The past year I've got stage 4 CKD and will be needing a kidney transplant. I've been preoccupied with that lately and looking for a living kidney donor.

@cehunt57, good luck in your quest for a live donor. My niece's husband has been getting dialysis for four years now. He thought he had a live donor, a brother, but that didn't work out. He has about 10 brothers but only one stepped forward.
I hope you will find someone who can do this for you.
JK

@cehunt57, Thank you for taking the time to share how you remember and honor your pancreas transplant anniversary. If you feel up to it, would you be comfortable to share how your facebook mention of your anniversary is received by others? In addition to celebrating, this is a powerful testimony to encourage organ donation.

I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis and your future need for a kidney transplant. I can understand your preoccupation with that. That is why I included, "if you feel up to it" earlier in my message.
I wish for you to receive a living donor.

Sending you prayers for strength,
Rosemary

In April, I celebrated my 8th anniversary of my liver and kidney transplant. So hubby and I went out to a nice dinner. I wanted lobster tail, and then enjoyed a real gooey desert! I think that we were the only patrons, with exception of high school prom dates, who were toasting with iced tea!! Rosemary

How did you celebrate?

I'm not exactly a social butterfly and don't really have a large group of friends on Facebook. I rarely post anything on Facebook and don't have followers. Most people that know me know I had a pancreas transplant and some know that I am now in need of a kidney transplant. I welcome the opportunity to tell my story any chance I get. Most people know very little about Transplantation and are curious. People never heard of pancreas transplants and aren't aware that kidney transplants can be done with a living donor. In my quest for a living kidney donor I would appreciate any advice or suggestions of search strategies from others who have been there or are there now.
Cheryl. @cehunt57

Great question, Cheryl.
You might wish to ask Josh about the resources and tools he's using to help find a living donor. See this discussion thead:
- My plea for a donor http://mayocl.in/2rrKt1U

You can also learn some strategies from the Recipient Toolkit in the Transplant page that our transplant team has put together: http://mayocl.in/2lSxf7C

I agree that very few people know about transplantation. How do we make average Joe public understand? Big question.

@colleenyoung Colleen, I think even those who do realize the importance tend to feel there is no rush and procrastinate, probably not knowing how simple it is. Also, let's face it they do not want to think they might die unexpectedly. No one wants to think about that, particularly young people. I know a few people who said they would sign up but I think they have not yet despite being given the web address where they can go to sign up. I really do not want to nag either but knowing how close I came to not being here and that I "dodged the bullet" thanks to the caring of some person out there, I am thankful all the time and really feel the need to "pay it forward".
JK