Kidney recipients who are EMT/FireFighters

Posted by amandajeffersaz @amandajeffersaz, Aug 22, 2017

Hi! I have a friend who's son is getting his dad's kidney at the end of September. He's in his early 20's and intends on doing EMT/Fire Fighter training starting in January. Are there any transplant patients who are EMT/Fire Fighter son here who could provide any guidance or advice here? Thanks

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Hi Amanda,
I'm sure you have valuable transplant and recovery experience to share with your friend's son and his father as you yourself are a kidney transplant recipient from a living donor by a family member. They must appreciate what knowledge you are offering.

May I ask what EMT or Fire Fighter specific questions they may have or information they're looking for. Are they specifically wondering about recovery and/or capability of pursuing a career in fire fighting post transplant?

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Thank you Colleen. They are wondering aboutthe recovery and/or capability of pursuing a career in fire fighting post transplant? He seems rather cavalier about everything and being at 8 years post transplant, and in very good health myself, I think hed be putting himself at risk for these professions. Any thoughts?

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@amandajeffersaz

Thank you Colleen. They are wondering aboutthe recovery and/or capability of pursuing a career in fire fighting post transplant? He seems rather cavalier about everything and being at 8 years post transplant, and in very good health myself, I think hed be putting himself at risk for these professions. Any thoughts?

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@amandajeffersaz, Good morning! I am Kristin, and I work with the transplant physicians at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. I asked our kidney transplant surgical director about career choices post-kidney transplant and he said that getting a transplant should not prevent your friend from pursuing his career goals. In fact, we have had a couple of firefighters who received transplants and went back to work. You can read about their stories here:

http://intheloop.mayoclinic.org/2015/10/22/persistence-in-finding-an-answer-pays-off-for-firefighter-with-failing-heart/http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2017/01/05/you-never-think-about-a-living-donor-until-someone-you-love-needs-one/

Best of luck to you and to your friend! - Kristin

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Thank you Kristin for the infirmation and hoid tidings. I appreciate the info. Have a great day!

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