Reunion get together at Rochester

Hi @rosemarya
I actually got registered through the transplant clinic I called and they put me thru to the lady that does the registration for the transplant picnic there at the transplant clinic and yes I will share my experience with you all this we I'll be my 1st time going since my transplant. Wanted to go never had a vehicle or the time as I was taking care of my mom when she was alive oh and I don't drive also and wasn't able to go last year due to my accident and surgery to repair my ostyme and Iliostyme but I am looking forward to it this year but have to admit to being nervous about going but I know it will be fun I try to keep up with all the activity on mayo connect with the transplants. I'm doing good I have finished physical therapy now but I'm back in occupational therapy for my hands again but I go and work out for cardio and strengthening of my legs and upper body at the YMCA here three to four times a week if possible I still need the cane and I have fallen twice but I'm doing good found that my right leg has arthritis in the shin bone now do to the screws that go completely thru the bone and even more arthritis in my right knee plus arthritis in my left thigh and knee now also it a very slow recovery but I'm going to keep fighting to get stronger every day thank you for asking will try and keep you all updated more often
Thanks glinda

My donor daughter, my husband and I went to the Transplant Picnic on Sunday. It was a warm and humid day. Although we had rain on the way down going through St Paul, and rain on the way home, there was no rain at the picnic. The food was good. There was another booth to get ice cream and they had activities like hair painting, bean bag toss, pictures with super heroes and group pictures-different transplant categories, donors and caregivers. It was a good day!

@cmael, Thanks for sharing! That is a beautiful picture of all of you!
I imagine that seeing other transplant recipients and donors was inspiring, and even emotional. I saw a news blip that there was a good crowd there. Did you see anyone that you might have known from when you transplanted? Or did you recognize anyone from their Connect photo like you did me in the lab waiting room!
Hugs.

@rosemarya Yes, I have to admit to getting a bit emotional when we arrived at the picnic, and wasn’t expecting it. The only people I recognized were Dr Prieto, who did my transplant and another dr that both my daughter and I saw at our four month checkup. My daughter saw her surgeon and transplant coordinator. Since staying at the Gift of Life house didn’t work for us, there weren’t too many people that I/we got to know when I had my transplant. Dr Prieto and his wife brought their beautiful boxer dog which my daughter enthusiastically admired, since she has two boxers.💕

-Gift of Life Transplant House has posted some pictures from the picnic.
gift-of-life.org
-There is also a post on the Gift of Life FB page.

@glinda, @jodeej, @mtn_lvr, @cmael, all members, Did you get in the picture?

Yes Rosemarya I did get in the pictures one has me wearing my all to familiar yellow mask I forgot to pull it down that's the one with for the gift of life transplant hour photo I'm the one sitting the the dark blue and white checkered shirt and cane then I'm also in the one for the heat and lung picture that one you can see my face. I had fun at the picnic and I got to meet some new friends and my very first transplant coordinator Jody Hanson that I had before my transplant it was so good to see her and talk to her again I even took a couple of pictures with her and gave her a hug I will be at next year's picnic most definitely I didn't do any games but did stay paint my hair which was only temporary thankfully as I'm allergic to the hair paint talk about itching all afternoon luckily I only live 2 hours away from rochester

I saw the pictures of the picnic. There is one of us at the tee shirt table. I couldn't find the pictures of the different groups. (different types of transplants, donors, caregivers,etc.

My daughter and I had our hair painted, too. We also live about 2 hrs from Rochester, heading north. Which direction do you go?

Hi @cmael I live in Eau Claire Wis so when I go to Rochester I go south

We go south, too, but from 40 miles north of St Paul on 35E.