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.

stella25 | @stella25 | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share this. I just saw it on the Mayo Clinic Transplant FB Page!

- Kidney donor now on mission to help save even more lives
https://www.news4jax.com/news/kidney-donor-now-on-mission-to-pay-it-forward-help-save-more-lives?linkId=62048033
For FB users - https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinicTransplant

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Amazing story! What an inspiration this young man is. Thank you for sharing.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 9, 2019
In reply to @marvinjsturing "@contentandwell I don't think it's sunk in yet. It doesn't seem real at this time. I..." + (show)
@marvinjsturing

@contentandwell I don't think it's sunk in yet. It doesn't seem real at this time. I have been communicating with her through Messenger because she was at work. She will be home tomorrow night and I will be able to call her. Nothing can happen before June 5. That is the 5 year anniversary of my cancer surgery. If everything works out, things will start happening in the summer. It is very exciting!

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@marvinjsturing I am so excited for you. I literally just got a chill reading your response. I can only imagine how many emotions you must be feeling. Waiting for a deceased donor was difficult but it didn't give me much time to be nervous or excited. I got the call and we headed to the hospital, and that was that!
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 9, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I know that some of you are not on Facebook, so I thought I would share this. I just saw it on the Mayo Clinic Transplant FB Page!

- Kidney donor now on mission to help save even more lives
https://www.news4jax.com/news/kidney-donor-now-on-mission-to-pay-it-forward-help-save-more-lives?linkId=62048033
For FB users - https://www.facebook.com/MayoClinicTransplant

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@rosemarya What a great story, and a great guy to do this and then be inspired to try to get others to follow and do the same. That is truly so selfless.
JK

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jodeej | @jodeej | Jan 9, 2019

@mauraacro I wish you the best of luck with your donation surgery! What a wonderful gift you are giving.
Blessings,
JoDee

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1 reply
mauraacro | @mauraacro | Jan 9, 2019
In reply to @jodeej "@mauraacro I wish you the best of luck with your donation surgery! What a wonderful gift..." + (show)
@jodeej

@mauraacro I wish you the best of luck with your donation surgery! What a wonderful gift you are giving.
Blessings,
JoDee

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@jodeej thank you!
My surgery was almost a year ago but(fortunately) new people are responding, inquiring or donating so that post is getting bumped to the top

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hopefulgirl | @hopefulgirl | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@hopefulgirl Thank you, from the wife of a kidney transplant patient, for your generosity. If you..." + (show)
@gingerw

@hopefulgirl Thank you, from the wife of a kidney transplant patient, for your generosity. If you Haven't been in contact, consider communicating with UNOS [United Network for Organ Sharing]. I don't know where you are located but they may be able to have you as a volunteer, to be an ambassador of sorts for living donor programs. It is thanks to you that a greater percentage of those needing organs can have a better chance for a second chance!
Ginger

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(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to another post? 🙂 I am an NP at Mayo and am in the testing phase of donating a kidney. I completed the first day of testing Friday and it was so good to see what my patient's go through in a busy day!
I was blessed to be able to find my way around, but still found the day a little exhausting. The 18 hour blood pressure testing and the 24 hour urine testing made the day, umm challenging. BTW we went to a movie that night and I thought the bp machine would not be audible to others but of course it seemed to go off when the movie was quiet... the couple in front of us turned around a couple of times at first. I apologized after the movie and he said he is a cancer patient at Mayo and they figured out right away what it was 🙂 They were very nice! So, back to my day.. everyone I met was SO nice and helpful! The process is very thorough and for good reason. So far all of my results are good and I have two more days of testing next Thursday and Friday. When I was asked at what percent I was interested in doing this I said %100!!! I have worked at Mayo for two years (we came here after my sister had been working here for 30 years already!) and feel confident in the care and the people I have met have been amazing!

Enough rambling 🙂 I would love prayers that the rest of my testing turns out good and I am able to proceed with donating!
Thanks!

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4 replies
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to another post? 🙂 I am an NP at Mayo and am in the testing phase of donating a kidney. I completed the first day of testing Friday and it was so good to see what my patient's go through in a busy day!
I was blessed to be able to find my way around, but still found the day a little exhausting. The 18 hour blood pressure testing and the 24 hour urine testing made the day, umm challenging. BTW we went to a movie that night and I thought the bp machine would not be audible to others but of course it seemed to go off when the movie was quiet... the couple in front of us turned around a couple of times at first. I apologized after the movie and he said he is a cancer patient at Mayo and they figured out right away what it was 🙂 They were very nice! So, back to my day.. everyone I met was SO nice and helpful! The process is very thorough and for good reason. So far all of my results are good and I have two more days of testing next Thursday and Friday. When I was asked at what percent I was interested in doing this I said %100!!! I have worked at Mayo for two years (we came here after my sister had been working here for 30 years already!) and feel confident in the care and the people I have met have been amazing!

Enough rambling 🙂 I would love prayers that the rest of my testing turns out good and I am able to proceed with donating!
Thanks!

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hopeful, if you want to post to a discussion without it being a reply (as you have done here by replying to gingerw) you can go to top of this page where you will see a blue shaded area where the Discussion is first posted. You just click the Reply and it won't show as a reply to a particular individual, but rather a free standing comment. Does that make sense?

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to another post? 🙂 I am an NP at Mayo and am in the testing phase of donating a kidney. I completed the first day of testing Friday and it was so good to see what my patient's go through in a busy day!
I was blessed to be able to find my way around, but still found the day a little exhausting. The 18 hour blood pressure testing and the 24 hour urine testing made the day, umm challenging. BTW we went to a movie that night and I thought the bp machine would not be audible to others but of course it seemed to go off when the movie was quiet... the couple in front of us turned around a couple of times at first. I apologized after the movie and he said he is a cancer patient at Mayo and they figured out right away what it was 🙂 They were very nice! So, back to my day.. everyone I met was SO nice and helpful! The process is very thorough and for good reason. So far all of my results are good and I have two more days of testing next Thursday and Friday. When I was asked at what percent I was interested in doing this I said %100!!! I have worked at Mayo for two years (we came here after my sister had been working here for 30 years already!) and feel confident in the care and the people I have met have been amazing!

Enough rambling 🙂 I would love prayers that the rest of my testing turns out good and I am able to proceed with donating!
Thanks!

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@hopefulgirl Just go to the bottom of the page and there is a blank box to start your post. No need to do an "@" or anything. Glad to hear you have started the testing. Thank you, again!
Ginger

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hopefulgirl | @hopefulgirl | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "hopeful, if you want to post to a discussion without it being a reply (as you..." + (show)
@rosemarya

hopeful, if you want to post to a discussion without it being a reply (as you have done here by replying to gingerw) you can go to top of this page where you will see a blue shaded area where the Discussion is first posted. You just click the Reply and it won't show as a reply to a particular individual, but rather a free standing comment. Does that make sense?

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Rosemary, yes thank you!

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to another post? 🙂 I am an NP at Mayo and am in the testing phase of donating a kidney. I completed the first day of testing Friday and it was so good to see what my patient's go through in a busy day!
I was blessed to be able to find my way around, but still found the day a little exhausting. The 18 hour blood pressure testing and the 24 hour urine testing made the day, umm challenging. BTW we went to a movie that night and I thought the bp machine would not be audible to others but of course it seemed to go off when the movie was quiet... the couple in front of us turned around a couple of times at first. I apologized after the movie and he said he is a cancer patient at Mayo and they figured out right away what it was 🙂 They were very nice! So, back to my day.. everyone I met was SO nice and helpful! The process is very thorough and for good reason. So far all of my results are good and I have two more days of testing next Thursday and Friday. When I was asked at what percent I was interested in doing this I said %100!!! I have worked at Mayo for two years (we came here after my sister had been working here for 30 years already!) and feel confident in the care and the people I have met have been amazing!

Enough rambling 🙂 I would love prayers that the rest of my testing turns out good and I am able to proceed with donating!
Thanks!

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I am a recipient of liver/kidney from deceased donor. So I assure you that your intention to donate a kidney is a prime example of human goodness. I would be honored to include you in my prayer intentions.
I am a very non medical person, and I was amazed at the compassion and the skill that was demonstrated by all who took care of me at Mayo.
I love your experience with the 18hr Blood Pressure cuff! I usually get caught in the middle of crossing a street when mine goes off.

I hope you will continue to update your progress here on Connect. Anytime that you want to read, or join into any of the discussions, or even begin a new discussion, I extend you a sincere welcome.
Have you visited the Transplant Pages? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/

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