1. < Transplants

Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side

Posted by mauraacro @mauraacro, Jan 2, 2018

I'm headed to Rochester on the 10th for surgery on the 12th. I'm excited and nervous! I didn't know the recipient but have gotten to "meet" her and some of her daughters through phone calls and emails.
I've had labs done at my doctor's office and went to Mayo a few weeks ago for a million more tests. My case was presented to the donor board a few days before Christmas and I was approved and notified the same day. It seems like everything took so long and now is going so fast.
I'm interested in hearing from donors but haven't had a lot of luck. It seems like the recipients are the ones who post the most, which gives me some info and reassurance but it would be nice to hear from the other side too.

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

beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018

Realist
It is a waste of resources to give up a perfectly good kidney to anyone who does not have enough self respect to care about the consequences of their negative harmful behavior. Furthermore this shows a gross neglect of concern for resources in general & lack of appreciation for our greatest resource - caring people.

REPLY
jodeej | @jodeej | May 30, 2018

@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours so that they get the notification.

You are going to make someone very happy with your donation! It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Prayers that you are able to get a surgery scheduled over the summer.

Blessings,
JoDee

REPLY
3 replies
beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours..." + (show)
@jodeej

@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours so that they get the notification.

You are going to make someone very happy with your donation! It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Prayers that you are able to get a surgery scheduled over the summer.

Blessings,
JoDee

Jump to this post

@jodeej

REPLY
beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours..." + (show)
@jodeej

@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours so that they get the notification.

You are going to make someone very happy with your donation! It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Prayers that you are able to get a surgery scheduled over the summer.

Blessings,
JoDee

Jump to this post

This was the result of the "

REPLY
beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018
In reply to @beckyjohnson "I decided to be a donor this week although I've considered it at least 2 yrs...." + (show)
@beckyjohnson

I decided to be a donor this week although I've considered it at least 2 yrs. & have done some research. Because I need to do this during the FL primary school year summer break I'm concerned with timely progress. I did the online health questionnaire as well as left a voicemail message yesterday morning stating my intention.
Is donating during this summer break a realistic goal?

Jump to this post

@kellysmith1215
Even though I have not been approved as an donor yet perhaps we (you & I) are the match you have been waiting for.

REPLY
jodeej | @jodeej | May 30, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours..." + (show)
@jodeej

@beckyjohnson put the @ sign in front of the person's name like I did with yours so that they get the notification.

You are going to make someone very happy with your donation! It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Prayers that you are able to get a surgery scheduled over the summer.

Blessings,
JoDee

Jump to this post

@beckyjohnson you got it!

REPLY
beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018
In reply to @onecentwalsh "Officially accepted as a non directed donor this past Wednesday!!! Everything looks good for me health..." + (show)
@onecentwalsh

Officially accepted as a non directed donor this past Wednesday!!! Everything looks good for me health wise. I will be donating in may, as I'm a teacher and will be finishing out my spring as to not take too much time off of work for recovery.
They will be now doing their job to find a match and create a, hopefully, long string of paired donations starting with mine! I'm excited and really can't wait to see what God has in store for this process. Will post again as I get closer to surgery.
In the meantime, I'm working on a few diet changes- less salt intake especially!!!

Jump to this post

Day 2, I received a call back from the FL clinic requesting I feel out the online application "Health Questionnaire" which I did yesterday. Hopefully I will be accepted as an O+ donor.

REPLY
beckyjohnson | @beckyjohnson | May 30, 2018
In reply to @beckyjohnson "I decided to be a donor this week although I've considered it at least 2 yrs...." + (show)
@beckyjohnson

I decided to be a donor this week although I've considered it at least 2 yrs. & have done some research. Because I need to do this during the FL primary school year summer break I'm concerned with timely progress. I did the online health questionnaire as well as left a voicemail message yesterday morning stating my intention.
Is donating during this summer break a realistic goal?

Jump to this post

Day 2, I received a call back from the FL clinic requesting I feel out the online application "Health Questionnaire" which I did yesterday. Hopefully I will be accepted as an O+ donor.

REPLY
mauraacro | @mauraacro | May 30, 2018

@beckyjohnson I had labs sent to my home in November and went to Mayo for evaluation/testing in December. Surgery was Jan 12 and I was back to work on the 29th, so it is possible. It could have been shorter but because of holidays & my schedule the evaluation was delayed a few weeks. I got some routine things out of the way before I went for the that trip. Routine was yearly exam, mammogram, colonoscopy & flu shot.

REPLY
4 replies
mauraacro | @mauraacro | May 30, 2018
In reply to @onecentwalsh "Officially accepted as a non directed donor this past Wednesday!!! Everything looks good for me health..." + (show)
@onecentwalsh

Officially accepted as a non directed donor this past Wednesday!!! Everything looks good for me health wise. I will be donating in may, as I'm a teacher and will be finishing out my spring as to not take too much time off of work for recovery.
They will be now doing their job to find a match and create a, hopefully, long string of paired donations starting with mine! I'm excited and really can't wait to see what God has in store for this process. Will post again as I get closer to surgery.
In the meantime, I'm working on a few diet changes- less salt intake especially!!!

Jump to this post

@onecentwalsh Yay, I'm so happy for you! Isn't it amazing?!
The hard part for me was not lifting more than 10#, for what seemed like, forever. I felt like such a dork at the grocery store asking for help to my car when I looked exactly the same as a did a few weeks before.
I'm so glad things went well for you and know there are so many people grateful for your gift.

REPLY
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