Wanted: Organ Transplant Recipients Who Have Been Hit By a Car

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Feb 26, 2018

"Are there any transplant recipients of any organ who have been hit by a car? How did you recover? What helped you to recover from the multiple injuries?
I am posting this discussion question on behalf of one of our members,
@glinda who has recently been hit by a car and asked me to do it for her. Due to multiple injuries, she may not be able to respond right now and can read your messages.
Your support and encouragement will be appreciated as she recovers.

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

@tbirdmunchkin | @glinda | Mar 3, 2018

In reply to @glinda "Thank you Rosemary I really appreciate it" + (show)

Thank you Rosemary they really do brighten my day as I really love flowers and plants my big kitchen table isn't used for a table at all it holds ALL OF MY PLANTS

andtridd63 | @andtridd63 | Mar 5, 2018

Hello,
It was 1 yr. after I had lost my 2nd kidney transplant when I was side swiped by another car back in 2014. The accident wasn't that bad and after giving the police our statements we all went our separate ways. I went home and told my wife about what had happened. After a shower I notice a thin abrasion over the area of the transplant. I told my wife that it was most likely from the seat belt. After a couple of hours a began to feel a very slight pain where the abrasion was and we decided that I should got to the ER. After a cat scan it was determined that my Gal Bladder had been badly damaged and had to be removed ASAP. After a 4 hour surgery and one week in the hospital I went home. I began to have some mild abdominal pain that got worse day after day. I told my wife that something wasn't right. After a week of this pain getting worse I ended up in the ER again. Another cat scan showed severe internal bleeding. Now the same surgeon that did the 1st surgery was doing this one. The 1st one was done Lapcriscopically, but not this time. This surgery was akin to a liver transplant as far as the incision goes. I was in the hospital for another 2 weeks. When having a transplant that goes anywhere in the abdomen you have to be vary mindful of seat belts whether you're the driver or passenger. There is no way to get around this other than not wearing a seat belt. I had a doctor give me a note stating that it was too dangerous for me to wear one. This was supposed to get me off the hook if I ever got pulled over, but I wouldn't recommend doing that. In the end the kidney wasn't damaged, but it didn't matter because I was back on dialysis anyway. I hope this helps, good luck......Andy

@tbirdmunchkin | @glinda | Mar 5, 2018

In reply to @andtridd63 "Hello, It was 1 yr. after I had lost my 2nd kidney transplant when I was..." + (show)

Thank you it does help me a lot glinda

JK | @contentandwell | Mar 5, 2018

In reply to @andtridd63 "Hello, It was 1 yr. after I had lost my 2nd kidney transplant when I was..." + (show)

@anntandtridd63 What a lot to go through! I can't imagine why the incision is so big, there must have been bleeding from multiple places, or perhaps they weren't sure exactly what was bleeding in there. I am glad your kidney was not damaged. Seatbelts are something most of us would not even think about being potentially dangerous to an transplant. I wonder if liver transplants are as susceptible to injury. I would sure hate for them to have to make another incision, the one I have already is 25".
If you were off dialysis and the kidney was not damaged why did you have to resume dialysis?
JK

rose999 | @rose999 | Mar 5, 2018

In reply to @andtridd63 "Hello, It was 1 yr. after I had lost my 2nd kidney transplant when I was..." + (show)

I wonder if you got one of those sheepskin covers for your seatbelt. Several years ago I had a driver tbone me then push me into two other cars. I am very short so the seatbelt was high. It slit my neck open. My head broke the windshield and driver’s window. The seatbelt probably saved my life but didn’t keep me in place well. I now have a cushion and the seatbelt covers. I don’t plan on testing it, though. But if I were you, I would do something to cushion that incision.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 5, 2018

Hello @glinda

I'm so happy that you are out of the hospital - it's like a graduation to go into rehab! I wish you good PT and lots of rest and recovery.

I have no flowers to send you (I'm less technical than most)!

Teresa

@tbirdmunchkin | @glinda | Mar 5, 2018

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @glinda I'm so happy that you are out of the hospital - it's like a..." + (show)

That's ok just being able to talk to you and everyone helps as I don't know how long it will be before I can walk and I still have one more surgery to go to put my intestines back together but that won't be for 6 weeks to 6months from now I thank you all for helping to keep my spirits up it really does help me thruogh this THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH