Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families

I have certainly enjoyed being together with all of you here on Connect for the Thanksgiving Holidays!
Our family Thanksgiving Dinner was on the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day. Good food, good conversation, sharing memories, and everyone was healthy made for a cherished time together. I am blessed to have a family that gets along. I am blessed to have a family who was my support during my transplant journey, and who support me today as I approach year 15.

Let's meet again during the next Holiday!
- In the meantime, does anyone have any shopping or gifting tips? Are you a shopper? or like me dreading the gift buying aspect of holidays? Will you take special precautions when out shopping?

Hi to all my TP friends, it sounds like we all are a grateful thankful group.
I am so happy to hear you all had a happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁 I as well did to. I am bursting with so much happiness in my life since my LTP, I have 3yrs. I hope we all stay healthy to..💚😊

I am 5 1/2 years post transplant. This year we will be hosting our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Not all of them will come, which is a good thing, since we now have 12 great grandchildren. All four of our children will come. There will be 10-15 of us. My husband has dementia and is not able to be much help to me and will most likely be extra work. Most of my family is gluten free so it adds a bit to planning. Hoping it goes well.

@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

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.. 😊🍁💕