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Share Your Good News Transplant Stories - Like this One

Posted by joko @joko, Mar 11, 2022

With all the bleak news, we have a lot for which to be grateful. Share your story. In 2021, Georgia helped the nation surpass 41K transplants for the first time in a single year. This milestone is thanks to people like Dawn Martin, who donated a kidney to her first-responder brother and donor mom Charmon Shelnutt. #DonateLife
LifeLink of Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 5, 2023
In reply to @rickherman "I'm doing fine now but I have had a few bumps along the way. In November..." + (show)
@rickherman

I'm doing fine now but I have had a few bumps along the way. In November of 2022 I ended up in the ER with a temperature of almost 103 degrees. To make a long story short, they found that I had developed a blood clot and a small portion of my liver had died. The transplant team told me that the remainder of my liver was functioning fine as all my liver function tests were normal. So we dealt with the infection for a few months and everything is back to normal. Then to make my year complete I developed kidney stones in September and had to have them removed. Now come the strange part is that I am grateful to have had these problems because that means I am still here to be part of my families lives. I have six grandchildren, ( 3 have been born since my transplant) and I tell people because of this gift that I have received they will grow up knowing Grandpa instead of hearing about Grandpa.
So my message is to stay positive your still here.

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@rickherman, I also want to congratulate you on your 3.5 year anniversary. I am thrilled for you that they caught the blood clot when you went to ER with your elevated temperature. You were so blessed that they found the blood clot as a result of your temperature and ER visit. I know that your grandchildren will reap the benefits of your liver transplant, too,

I've had my share of ER visits due to high temperatures with the most memorable being sepsis infection. I understand what you feel when you tell people that you are grateful for the little problems because you are still here! I had an odd experience with a new phlebotomist yesterday morning at my local lab for routine labs. When I introduced myself and told her that I was an organ transplant recipient, she shocked me when she responded, "Oh I'm so sorry." Not me! I'm still alive and enjoying my life and my grandchild!

@rickherman - Here is a transplant group that you might not have seen. I invite you to join the conversation. Will you be with those lovely grandchildren for the holidays?
- Holidays: Celebration or Challenge for Transplant Families
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/holidays-celebration-or-challenge/

REPLY
kim1965 | @kim1965 | Dec 8, 2023
In reply to @rickherman "Don't give up hope. My liver transplant was three and a half years ago and my..." + (show)
@rickherman

Don't give up hope. My liver transplant was three and a half years ago and my liver was slow in starting to function and they were doing the same tests on me. At the time I had the same thoughts as you are going through. I will keep you in my prayers

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@rickherman
I’m a member of the NET group support group for my wife, who more than likely will have a liver transplant in this coming summer after finishing PRRT treatments. She battle through 9 months of chemo, successful surgery on pancreas, now is finishing the treatments to keep NET only in the liver which puts the liver transplant as our best option moving forward. What suggestions or information can you share with us, as we approach this transplant coming up?

REPLY
rickherman | @rickherman | Dec 8, 2023

There are so many things that come to mind but I will give some that jump out at me. first is stay positive because once you get on the active list, the days seem to go by slowly and you wonder if you are ever going to get the call. I don't know how close to the transplant center you live, but in my case we were 80 miles from Rochester so i was able to stay home until I got the call. But I made a list of everything I wanted to bring so when it was time I checked each item off as I packed and that went very smooth. Also make a list of family and friends that you want to keep updated on your wife's progress. My wife had set up groups and sent out text message as we went along. If you are financially able pay bills out as far as you can so when you go to the hospital you don't have to worry about that for awhile. The first couple weeks will seem like a whirlwind as you learn about all the things that will become part of your lifestyle as a transplant family. If you are going to Rochester I would recommend staying at the Gift of Life Transplant House, we found it was a very supportive environment as you are with other people that are or have gone through the same process. I hope this helps, I will keep you in my prayers and best wishes.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Mar 1 9:22am

Here is a feature from Mayo Newsfeed !

Mayo Clinic Minute: Expanding the living kidney donor pool to those with Type 2 diabetes
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-expanding-the-living-kidney-donor-pool-to-those-with-type-2-diabetes/
.
Type 2 diabetes no longer a barrier to becoming a living kidney donor
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/type-2-diabetes-no-longer-a-barrier-to-becoming-a-living-kidney-donor/

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