Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families

That’s wonderful to hear ❤️

The Holiday Season is fast approaching
- Are Holidays a Challeng or a Celebration for you as a transplant patient?
What are some of your plans for celebrating?
What are some challenges that you are anticipating?
What questions do you have as you get ready for your holiday activities?

All members are invited. To get us into the holiday mood, I am tagging members who participated last year:
@cehunt57 @myfablife @blbird33 @chickytina @cmael @katebw @gingerw @ajdo129 @jackie421blfdgurl - I hope to see you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!to all. Hope what ever u cook comes out yummy. I no cook going to my friend's house..yes...no dishes!!! There is nothing different but since I am gluten free no stuffing..but I can have vegetables.and all the wine that is available..haha kidding I might have half glass.no skimping on desserts..if I pay for the price tomorrow then it's
Imodium time. Best wishes to all.lv jackie

Hi to all, I feel like Thanksgiving is everyday for me, I had my 3year Liverversary, 1year ago my liver rejection, what a celebration 🥳 I am now on monthly labs and if my numbers stay stable i may be able to decrease some of my meds “ YAY” I have been in touch w/my donor family when I had my 3yr. Liverversary , just met so much to me. I am so grateful and thankful 💚🍁
I want to wish you all a Happy Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁 enjoy every moment w/family and friends. Enjoy all the turkey gravy stuffing u can eat and all the adds one to🍁🦃🏈💚
This is my favorite holiday since I was a kid.. 😊🍁💕

Thanksgiving will be quiet for me, just my husband, son and myself. However, I did get my free ham (my husband and son don't like turkey) that I will make with some sides. The best part will be the coquito that I will make. I don't put rum in it so both my son and I can drink it. We will watch the parade and dog show. There are too many tourists for us to go in person and it really gets cold standing out on the street for hours. I will be writing another letter to my donor family and getting Christmas cards ready to be sent out.

Chickytina, sounds perfect, I myself will have a very small one also my brother is in from Fla. we will have prime rib w/sides also not sure about dessert yet. I to will be in touch w/my donor family. We will be watching lots of football. Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🌼 so grateful.

Yes Thanksgiving should be an everyday sentiment. Something I am thankful for is family. I have 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 6 grandkids (ages 7 - 18). These families are busy (college, dance, music, sports, theater …etc.) We will get together during the weekend of 12/1 - 12/3 for a “holiday meal” at my house. People will come and go at different times. There will be overnight stays, other meals and possibly Christmas presents also. On the official Thanksgiving Day it’ll be just me & my husband. We’ll watch parades, some dog show and football (We grew up in Wisconsin and will watch Packers vs Lions.) At some point we’ll go out to eat; Denny’s, Perkins nothing fancy.

My big holiday is Christmas and the celebrations preceding it (and I love the season of Advent). I’m working this Thanksgiving to cover my mental health outreach team. I’ll be visiting some folks who’re alone on that holiday. The next day I’ll go with my mom to visit my daughter who has flown the nest post college! My main concerns around holidays are crowds and wanting to stay well. Since it’s been 2 years since my liver transplant I now worry less but I am still careful. I don’t drink any alcohol anymore and those I celebrate with aren’t especially boozy so I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I will indulge in the rest of the deliciousness.

Holidays for me have long been heavy in the face of my losses and there’s a new set of feelings about my good fortune to be alive and well after all that illness and fear. It’s a very contemplative time for me, especially Advent and Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!!
My husband is 5 weeks post transplant surgery. We plan on a small quiet dinner with our daughter and her husband. So much to be thankful for. His diet is not really restricted. Foods they told him to stay away from, he doesn't eat anyway. I am looking forward to a day off and just eating and relaxing!! No stress!!
I hope everyone enjoys the day!!!

@rosemarya My husband is a kidney transplant recipient. I myself am a kidney disease patient, on daily peritoneal dialysis, along with being an active blood cancer patient.

This year, rather than heading north 4 hours to my bonus son's house/family, we will be staying home. We will fix a turkey meal and have invited the neighbors across the street, their son and his girlfriend. So, six adults for dinner, and they are contributing a few things.

For me, it is a time to be thankful for all we have, all we have been given, thankful for our medical teams. A time to be gentle and not feel we have to do everything, and not beat ourselves up for wanting to have a quiet day.
Ginger