1. < Transplants
Mentor

Snapshots of hope: Life on the other side of transplant.

Posted by Lori, Volunteer Mentor @loribmt, Feb 24, 2022

My husband snapped a photo of me walking on a beach this morning. I was running through the surf, picking up shells, smiling and feeling on top of the world with unabashed joy for being alive and healthy. So what?
Well, it’s a photo that wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t had a bone marrow transplant. It’s a snapshot of hope!

Three years ago today I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer and fighting for my life. Prospects of ever being able to walk a beach again seemed beyond reach.
With a lot of chemo, I achieved remission, but my only hope for a future would be a bone marrow/stem cell transplant as the cancer would likely return. Let’s just say, that procedure isn’t a walk on the beach but it gave me a second chance at life and well worth the arduous journey it took to get here!

Along this journey, I’ve been able to help inspire and give hope to others who have faced my same battle. I’m alive, surviving and thriving because of a gift of life from my anonymous donor.

When facing a transplant, whether it’s stem cells, or a solid organ, it can be a daunting prospect. I think a gift we can give, as transplant survivors, is to share our positive transplant stories with anyone who is about to undergo the procedure or is in need of reassurance in their recovery.

Show me your Snapshot of hope! What photo do you have that wouldn’t exist without your transplant?

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

Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Mar 11, 2022

Hi to All those that have been given a new phase of their lives thru the greatest gift of all organ donation. I myself am so in debt to some ones act of kindness and during a very painful time for any family the passing of a Loved one. But to further decide to Help others thru Organ Donation just means so much to those who may not have been able to see those special moments we all sometimes take for granted . The Pictures I have added below were taken at a Veterans Day Event I was invited too November 2018 after receiving my new Heart January of that same year. The 3 kids you see are 3 of my 10 Grandchildren and one of them (in uniform) is also in the Jr ROTC at Her High School. Her Brother my Oldest Grandchild just Blessed me with my first Great Grandchild this past year.
What other words are needed, but to say I Thank God and my Donor every day for a chance to continue Helping Give back some of the blessings I have received and to further see my Children, Grandchildren and Now Great Grandchildren Grow Up.

My story began when a virus caused my Heart to enlarge, 10 years of different treatments, pacemakers and operations led to the Night of Jan 4th 2018 when the Heart Surgeon came to our room to let My wife and I know he had a potential Heart for me. I wanted to just mention this part as I was told after I returned to my Home and Church families the comments that really struck me was WOW you look great, You were so ashen looking before and now so healthy. I had not realized I was basically waking death prior to the transplant. So that's my story in a nut shell.

I have now retired due to the transplant but have moved on to volunteering Here on Connect and At my Church Giving back to my community.

My other activates are hiking, golfing, walking 3-5 miles at least 5 days a week and enjoying time eating out with friends when the weather is nice
( I'm still avoiding crowded restaurant's due to covid ).

I would like to ask the following fellow heart transplant recipients to come and share their Life after Transplant @estrada53 @jackiez and @azdan99

REPLY
1 reply
jackiez | @jackiez | Mar 15, 2022
In reply to @danab "Hi to All those that have been given a new phase of their lives thru the..." + (show)
@danab

Hi to All those that have been given a new phase of their lives thru the greatest gift of all organ donation. I myself am so in debt to some ones act of kindness and during a very painful time for any family the passing of a Loved one. But to further decide to Help others thru Organ Donation just means so much to those who may not have been able to see those special moments we all sometimes take for granted . The Pictures I have added below were taken at a Veterans Day Event I was invited too November 2018 after receiving my new Heart January of that same year. The 3 kids you see are 3 of my 10 Grandchildren and one of them (in uniform) is also in the Jr ROTC at Her High School. Her Brother my Oldest Grandchild just Blessed me with my first Great Grandchild this past year.
What other words are needed, but to say I Thank God and my Donor every day for a chance to continue Helping Give back some of the blessings I have received and to further see my Children, Grandchildren and Now Great Grandchildren Grow Up.

My story began when a virus caused my Heart to enlarge, 10 years of different treatments, pacemakers and operations led to the Night of Jan 4th 2018 when the Heart Surgeon came to our room to let My wife and I know he had a potential Heart for me. I wanted to just mention this part as I was told after I returned to my Home and Church families the comments that really struck me was WOW you look great, You were so ashen looking before and now so healthy. I had not realized I was basically waking death prior to the transplant. So that's my story in a nut shell.

I have now retired due to the transplant but have moved on to volunteering Here on Connect and At my Church Giving back to my community.

My other activates are hiking, golfing, walking 3-5 miles at least 5 days a week and enjoying time eating out with friends when the weather is nice
( I'm still avoiding crowded restaurant's due to covid ).

I would like to ask the following fellow heart transplant recipients to come and share their Life after Transplant @estrada53 @jackiez and @azdan99

Jump to this post

Thanks to you and your family for your service. Your story is a wonderful example of the benefits of organ transplant and hope for many others.

One year ago my husband and I had driven from IL to FL for our two week vacation. Despite Covid we took this trip with the encouragement of my Mayo transplant docs, as I was going to be placed on the list as soon as I returned. Being down here in Florida this week really hits home about how different I felt just a year ago. I had an infusion pump of metroprolol 24/7 with a PIC line. I could hardly walk more than a few blocks. I received my heart/lung transplant less than a month after returning back to the Midwest.
Today I am spending my days walking at least an hour every day, lifting weights each day and doing yoga several times a week. What a difference the transplant and a year made! I feel pretty much normal and am able to walk at a quick pace and enjoy all aspects of life. The journey was more than worth it as I look forward to upcoming events with family and friends.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Mar 16, 2022
In reply to @jackiez "Thanks to you and your family for your service. Your story is a wonderful example of..." + (show)
@jackiez

Thanks to you and your family for your service. Your story is a wonderful example of the benefits of organ transplant and hope for many others.

One year ago my husband and I had driven from IL to FL for our two week vacation. Despite Covid we took this trip with the encouragement of my Mayo transplant docs, as I was going to be placed on the list as soon as I returned. Being down here in Florida this week really hits home about how different I felt just a year ago. I had an infusion pump of metroprolol 24/7 with a PIC line. I could hardly walk more than a few blocks. I received my heart/lung transplant less than a month after returning back to the Midwest.
Today I am spending my days walking at least an hour every day, lifting weights each day and doing yoga several times a week. What a difference the transplant and a year made! I feel pretty much normal and am able to walk at a quick pace and enjoy all aspects of life. The journey was more than worth it as I look forward to upcoming events with family and friends.

Jump to this post

Thank you Jackie for sharing, sounds like you have the kind of Life we all dreamed of prior to Transplant

REPLY
jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Mar 27, 2022

There r days I just get up and don't pay attention to or remember I am a
Transplant patient and how lucky I am and should b! Lv the beach. Need to get moving and actually do things I love. But also remember what I went thru and thanking God for that life opportunity everyday for the rest of my life

REPLY
jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Mar 30, 2022

P.s. my surgery was 10/20/20..hopefully my friend and I will make a trip on that anniversary a cruise I hope....

REPLY
alive | @alive | Mar 31, 2022

Congratulations on your rebirthday! My SCT was 5.5 years ago. I wouldn’t be here without it. Since my transplant I became a grandma and now have four grandkids! In the beginning of this year I got a Westie puppy. These dogs live 16+ years, so now I have to be around at least that much longer to take care of my pup! Lol
REPLY
Jeff | @jeff22 | May 31, 2022

Hello everyone! I am almost 5 months post liver transplant. I am forever grateful for the gift of life! This picture is of me and my youngest daughter at the beginning of May. Life is back to pretty much normal at this point, feeling the best I have felt in many years prior to getting sick. Dad to four awesome kids, starting in their early 20's to my youngest at 7, so happy and thankful to continue to experience all the milestones in life.
REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | May 31, 2022
In reply to @jeff22 "Hello everyone! I am almost 5 months post liver transplant. I am forever grateful for the..." + (show)
@jeff22

Hello everyone! I am almost 5 months post liver transplant. I am forever grateful for the gift of life! This picture is of me and my youngest daughter at the beginning of May. Life is back to pretty much normal at this point, feeling the best I have felt in many years prior to getting sick. Dad to four awesome kids, starting in their early 20's to my youngest at 7, so happy and thankful to continue to experience all the milestones in life.

Jump to this post

What a wonderful photo! Your daughter is beautiful and you look great! Congratulations on your successful transplant and this second chance at life. Makes these moments all the more special, doesn’t it? 💕

REPLY
1 reply
Jeff | @jeff22 | May 31, 2022
In reply to @jeff22 "Hello everyone! I am almost 5 months post liver transplant. I am forever grateful for the..." + (show)
@jeff22

Hello everyone! I am almost 5 months post liver transplant. I am forever grateful for the gift of life! This picture is of me and my youngest daughter at the beginning of May. Life is back to pretty much normal at this point, feeling the best I have felt in many years prior to getting sick. Dad to four awesome kids, starting in their early 20's to my youngest at 7, so happy and thankful to continue to experience all the milestones in life.

Jump to this post

Below is me and my wife, I could not get it to upload earlier!
REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.