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Mentor

This and That and Talk - My Transplant

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 9, 2017

As our Mayo Connect community grows, I am constantly meeting organ transplant members on a wide variety of forums with a wide range of issues that are not directly transplant specific. However, because we are all transplant recipients, we have a special connection: a unique journey and best of all - a new life! We don't always need help or advice. Many times we just want to chat with someone like us! That is my purpose in starting This and That and Talk.

Drop in and say 'Hi'. You are welcome anytime.

What do you want t to talk about? What words can you offer to someone who is on the journey? Do you have any questions for another recipient?

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

JK | @contentandwell | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @chetfreeman "I am new to this group. I am a heart/liver transplant recipient (July 4, 2017). All..." + (show)
@chetfreeman

I am new to this group. I am a heart/liver transplant recipient (July 4, 2017). All is going well for me physically. I do think a lot about my donor and donor family. I have reached out to them but have not gotten a response. I am truly blessed.

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@chetfreeman if you followed the links provided by Rosemary, you know that these correspondences tend take a while. It really is such an emotional thing for both sides. The family of my donor will always be in my heart and prayers.
JK

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @fauneconner "Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney..." + (show)
@fauneconner

Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney transplant Monday, Nov 5 in Rochester. We just returned from there after additional testing. His GFR has dropped to 11 per cent so it is time to proceed. I am still the donor so we have been making double arrangements in terms of support people, rooms at the Gift of Life Transplant House, etc. We return to Mayo on Nov 1 for pre surgery tests on Nov 2. Excited to make this happen and grateful for the large Mayo team that makes it possible.

Faune Conner

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@fauneconner - Faune, Thank you for sharing your good news! This is wonderful. I am excited for both you and your husband. I will be remembering you on these November dates. I look forward to hearing from you after you are recovered and rested:-) Hugs.

I know that this is a really busy time for you, however I want you to be aware that there are some other members who have posted about their own preparations and experiences with being a living kidney donor. If you have any questions, I am certain that they would be delighted to assist you. Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@colleenyoung I'm always promoting Connect when we are there! I actually got to meet @jerrydrennan when..." + (show)
@jodeej

@colleenyoung I'm always promoting Connect when we are there! I actually got to meet @jerrydrennan when we were there in July. It's so great to actually meet in person.
Blessings,
JoDee

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I know, @jodeej, so I'm looking to you to show Faune how it's done. Tee hee. I very much appreciate your participation on Connect and promotion of it. This is once instance when making something go viral is a positive effect even for the immunosuppressed.

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jodeej | @jodeej | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "My thoughts are with you and your husband, @fauneconner. If at any point you have questions,..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

My thoughts are with you and your husband, @fauneconner. If at any point you have questions, don't hesitate to ask them on the forum. As you know we have members who have been donors and recipients, and many who have been residents of the Gift of Life Transplant house.

I hope you and @jodeej can meetup in person. Should you wish to exchange personal contact information, please use the secure private message function. We recommend not sharing contact info on the forum because we don't want you to get unwanted spam, etc.

Naturally, Faune and JoDee, you know your mission, right. Tell everyone at the GoL and the transplant unit (patients, families and medical professionals alike) about Connect. Word of mouth is the best. Tell every receptionist, nurse and chimney sweeper (lol), so that they too will tell other patients. Keep me posted. 😉

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@colleenyoung I'm always promoting Connect when we are there! I actually got to meet @jerrydrennan when we were there in July. It's so great to actually meet in person.
Blessings,
JoDee

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @fauneconner "Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney..." + (show)
@fauneconner

Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney transplant Monday, Nov 5 in Rochester. We just returned from there after additional testing. His GFR has dropped to 11 per cent so it is time to proceed. I am still the donor so we have been making double arrangements in terms of support people, rooms at the Gift of Life Transplant House, etc. We return to Mayo on Nov 1 for pre surgery tests on Nov 2. Excited to make this happen and grateful for the large Mayo team that makes it possible.

Faune Conner

Jump to this post

My thoughts are with you and your husband, @fauneconner. If at any point you have questions, don't hesitate to ask them on the forum. As you know we have members who have been donors and recipients, and many who have been residents of the Gift of Life Transplant house.

I hope you and @jodeej can meetup in person. Should you wish to exchange personal contact information, please use the secure private message function. We recommend not sharing contact info on the forum because we don't want you to get unwanted spam, etc.

Naturally, Faune and JoDee, you know your mission, right. Tell everyone at the GoL and the transplant unit (patients, families and medical professionals alike) about Connect. Word of mouth is the best. Tell every receptionist, nurse and chimney sweeper (lol), so that they too will tell other patients. Keep me posted. 😉

REPLY
1 reply
fauneconner | @fauneconner | Oct 15, 2018

Thanks, JoDee. Looking forward to it.

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jodeej | @jodeej | Oct 15, 2018

@fauneconner we will be in Rochester at that time for my husband's 4 month check after his liver transplant. We are hoping to stay in one of the GOL houses. Maybe we will see you there!
Blessings,
JoDee

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fauneconner | @fauneconner | Oct 15, 2018
In reply to @rosemarya "Are you a transplant patient or recipient? Have you had to deal with weight issues pre..." + (show)
@rosemarya

Are you a transplant patient or recipient? Have you had to deal with weight issues pre or post transplant?

Myself, I was wearing x-large sweat suits pre transplant due to ascites. And post transplant I could wear regular clothes in a small size. Now I have migrated back to my 'normal' medium size. For me it is a constant struggle to maintain that weight. I am a liver/kidney recipient, but I think that this issue relates to all of us. Sound familiar to anyone?
Please join and add your experiences.

@chattykathy, @contentandwell, @2011panc, have already shared some information on another forum. I extend the invitation to continue your conversation here on Transplant group.
Rosemary

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Hi, Rosemary. Wanted to let you know my husband and I are scheduled for our kidney transplant Monday, Nov 5 in Rochester. We just returned from there after additional testing. His GFR has dropped to 11 per cent so it is time to proceed. I am still the donor so we have been making double arrangements in terms of support people, rooms at the Gift of Life Transplant House, etc. We return to Mayo on Nov 1 for pre surgery tests on Nov 2. Excited to make this happen and grateful for the large Mayo team that makes it possible.

Faune Conner

REPLY
5 replies
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 15, 2018

@chetfreeman, Good Morning and Welcome to Connect. I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your transplant. I am honored to meet you - In a sense we are 'related' because I also have a two organ transplant (liver/kidney). I understand what you mean when you say that you think a lot about your donor. I am going on 10 years, and that holds true for me, even today.

I want to share with you a discussion where other members have shared similar feelings and their experiences about writing to their donors. I invite you take a look and feel free to join right in. We all learn so much by sharing with each other.
- Writing to Your Donor's Family.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/writing-to-your-donors-family/
Some months ago I was asked to write about my own experience. Here is where you can connect to the article that was published.
TransplantsPS: Enjoy your life – Experts by Experience
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ps-enjoy-your-life-experts-by-experience-1/
I invite you to share here or at the links that I provided.
What are your thoughts?

REPLY
chetfreeman | @chetfreeman | Oct 15, 2018

I am new to this group. I am a heart/liver transplant recipient (July 4, 2017). All is going well for me physically. I do think a lot about my donor and donor family. I have reached out to them but have not gotten a response. I am truly blessed.

REPLY
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