Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families

Last year I had just had my liver transplant and I was still recuperating at my mom’s. I was very very careful and kept everything small. This year I’m still being careful but not isolating very much. These days I do most everything I want to do as long as I can mask the entire time. I asked the minister of my church- a big downtown church- if we could have a mask mandate at church Christmas Eve and she readily said yes. Given that flu and RSV are swirling around in spades where I live it makes sense to mask in big crowds and not be the only one masking. I have started hugging people again, but only if we’re both masked!

Thank you for all of your tips for the holidays. This is my first post transplant and I find it hard to say NO, or please wear a mask, or wash your hands and use sanitizer. And this is my job now to set limits even with my small grandson who is very active at 1 1/2 yo. I am still in recovery. And thank you for the ideas for treating a cold if I get one. I also asked my doc about the Evusheld, if I need it. I find my transplant center does not give much info about staying safe. I find strength from you all, thanks. BB

@blbird33 This morning I skipped out to a local craft show, held at the grange. They were very accommodating with me and my cane. However, I was literally the only one there wearing a mask. Speaking to one gentleman, he reminded me that I need to take care of myself, and if I am alone in the crowd wearing a mask, there is nothing wrong with that. Bless his heart!

Having to say "no" to those who would grace our houses without wearing a mask, who fuss at the thought we insist on it, well, it is in our best interest, isn't it? No one will do it for us. As my dad would say, "Take a stand, even if you stand alone."
Ginger

Ginger, thank you so much, BB

I have spent almost all my Chritmases by myself for the past 50 years of my adult life. I found solutions for the day:
1. I didn't like opening presents alone so for about 8 years my friend Rita would bring her 2 children over and we would open presents.
2. I would plan ahead and get materials to build something. Planters and a railing 1 year, a desk another year.
3. I am a fan of holiday action movies so I would snuggle with my pups and watch Lethal Wrapon, A Long Kiss Goodnight and the 2 Die Hards that happen during Christmas.
4. Last year and this year I treated a few friends to Christmas brunch at a local trstaurant.
5. My favorite part of my childhood Christmas was the stocking. My parents saved our dental visit toothbrushes then gave us each our favorite color toothbrush in our stocking. Little treats from the five and dime store and other goodies. Johnny would get a toy metal car from the time when dad drove a new car and the toy was the test drive gift. I got the little parasols from mom's fancy cocktails. And thete was a tangerine in the toe of the stocking. Remembering the treats from childhood I now gather similar items in the weeks and months before Christmas and save them for my stocking. (I make stockings for the pups too.) When cooking my turkey this year I realized I lost both my baster and pastry brush so new ones are waiting to fill this year's stocking. I mention this as an example of remembering favorite parts of the holiday that bring you joy and creatively adapting the tradition for this moment.
6. I just finished a weekend of holiday workshops for my neighbors and friends. This is the 6th year I have done the workshops. Card making and printing Saturday; ornament, gift and garland msking today Sunday. Not only does everyone have fun, I can now imagine their creative holiday gifts being celebrated with their families and friends.
So if you find yourself alone for the holidays for health and safety reasons or if you and your pets are your only family there are alot of creative solutions. Hope this helps. Barbara

Hi there Rosemary. Just want to wish you and everyone else a very merry Christmas ⛄ and of course goes without saying a very healthy new year!! Love n
Hugs..Jackie in cold new joisy

@ajdo129, This is a fantastic list of solutions when spending a holiday alone! I plan to bookmark it as a reference for future holidays or special 'alone' days to share with some of my friends as we look for ideas to spend special quiet times together!
I had to smile as I read #5. "My favorite part of my childhood Christmas was the stocking...! We have a delayed Christmas at our home this year, (planned before the storm) and when talking to our 9 year old granddaughter on the phone, her biggest concern about a post-Christmas Family Christmas at our house was, "But grandma, What about my stocking? "I assured her that her stocking would be here waiting for her. Her sigh of relief was priceless!
Barbara, How was your day?

Hi, @jackie421blfdgurl! Happy Healthy Holidays and New Year to you, too. I think this current artic blast has been a challenge to everybody this holiday season. Hope you are warm and able to stay indoors and not travel. Our day was quiet, with our family event planned for January. A happy surprise was that one of our sons announced late Christmas morning that the roads were clear from his home to ours and that he would come for the afternoon!
Jackie, What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

Well I can tell you it won't be in Paris!!!!!!
It was so cold here xmas eve 5 degrees I could not bring myself to go to midnight mass .so I ventured out the nx day which was 23...hard time during that weekend to get my little doggie out for his business..he put his face out the door and ran back inside.......wishing u all a wonderful healthy..
Happy...sexy ..no trama new year ....💕💕

Hi Rosemary. I am very happy that my creative solutions for holidays alone will help others.

The week of Christmas brought a scare when Mayo asked for an immediate biopsy for Monday the 19th. The blood draw results from the previous week's blood draw had spiked liver enzymes and Mayo was concerned about liver rejection. Happily the biopsy report said the results were "unremarkable". The doctors used to call me "an anomaly" and now I am proud to say that I am "unremarkable"!
So I entered Christmas with renewed hope to see my next visit at Mayo on my 1st anniversary of my April 20th transplant.

Breakfast was with a friend and her daughter as I mentioned in my last post. To my delight, my neighbor invited me to dinner to meet many of the original community members who have lived here 20 or more years. I who have lived here less than 3 years was honored to meet them all.

I was gifted so many sweets and homemade goodies that I fear the results of this morning's blood draw and hope that Mayo takes holiday feasting into account when reading the results.

Thank you for keeping communication flowing. I wish you a happy and healthy new year. Barbara

Happy New Year to you as well. And a healthy new year too! Peace and blessings, BB