Transplant anniversary

Posted by cromme50 @cromme50, Jul 18, 2023

Today I celebrate the 25th anniversary of my liver transplant at Mayo Rochester. There have been peaks and valleys but I am alive and have good quality of life. There are no words to express enough thankfulness to the donor and to the family of the donor as well as to Mayo Arizona who has kept the candle lit for all these years. Most of all I am thankful for an amazing husband who never wavered, no matter how hopeless some of those valleys were over 25 years. I hope my post makes you all realize that YES! it is doable, one day at a time and one foot in front of the other. A transplant truly is a second chance at life, don't squander it. Be a good steward to your donated organ, treat it with respect and appreciation for the second chance it is giving you.

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Happy Happy Happy 25th Anniversary !!!!

@cromme50, Thank you for sharing this exciting event with us here on Connect ! Your message is a tribute to the miracle of organ transplantation, with all of its ups and downs that can occur over the years. Your words are a source of hope and encouragement for patients at all stages of the transplant journey.

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Hi @cromme50
Happy “25th” Anniversary!!!
How exciting .

At 17 I had my first liver transplant and as I was approaching my 20th anniversary my liver went through rejection. I thought it would last me forever but was grateful to find and have a second successful surgery. I am approaching 3 years in August but this time it’s for Liver and Kidney. I 100% agree that we have to treat our organs and bodies like a temple. It what’s keeping us alive and with our loved ones. I wish you many more healthy anniversaries to come.

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Congratulations. I'm approaching my 3 Rd transversary. 25 years so far away, but I'm sure the time will pass quickly. Your post has been such a comfort to know it really is possible. Thank you and again CONGRATULATIONS 🎉👏

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Congratulations @cromme50! That is a wonderful and wonderful and inspiring post! So happy for you. As a 2+ year heart-double lung recipient, it is so great to hear your success story! Thanks for sharing.

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On July 22, I will celebrate my 3rd “Rebirthday” after having an allogeneic bone marrow transplant! I am so thankful to the 20-something anonymous woman who generously donated her bone marrow, a perfect match! I am also so thankful for the wonderful BMT team at Mayo-Rochester for giving me the best care possible! I’m back to living my normal life and enjoying activities with family and friends, ❤️

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@jinja320

Hi @cromme50
Happy “25th” Anniversary!!!
How exciting .

At 17 I had my first liver transplant and as I was approaching my 20th anniversary my liver went through rejection. I thought it would last me forever but was grateful to find and have a second successful surgery. I am approaching 3 years in August but this time it’s for Liver and Kidney. I 100% agree that we have to treat our organs and bodies like a temple. It what’s keeping us alive and with our loved ones. I wish you many more healthy anniversaries to come.

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Ginjah the second transplant was done immediately or you have to wait the common process, list according to MELD SCORE and then wait until you name is first on the list?

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Congratulations, that’s great to hear

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@jinja320

Hi @cromme50
Happy “25th” Anniversary!!!
How exciting .

At 17 I had my first liver transplant and as I was approaching my 20th anniversary my liver went through rejection. I thought it would last me forever but was grateful to find and have a second successful surgery. I am approaching 3 years in August but this time it’s for Liver and Kidney. I 100% agree that we have to treat our organs and bodies like a temple. It what’s keeping us alive and with our loved ones. I wish you many more healthy anniversaries to come.

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Hello Ginjah! Thank you for your kind wishes. I am intrigued by how it is that you went into rejection after 20 years. I did not think that was even possible, provided the level of immuno suppression is monitored. Would you mind sharing the circumstances? Thank you again!

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@jackiez

Congratulations @cromme50! That is a wonderful and wonderful and inspiring post! So happy for you. As a 2+ year heart-double lung recipient, it is so great to hear your success story! Thanks for sharing.

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Thank you Jackie! I see from the picture that we share a passion and that is horses. For historical perspective, when I received the Gift 25 years ago I was instructed to have no contact with animals, especially outdoor animals. Well, at the time, we had 3 horses, a mini donkey, a goat and 3 cats so that was a tall order! I did not touch any of them for the first 6 months and then a friend who happens to be a neurologist who has horses explained to me that for people in the medical profession, because their profession requires a sterile environment, the thought of horses/donkeys/goats was equivalent to a pig sty and full of germs, bacteria and filth, therefore an open ticket to illness. She put me at ease that I would be ok provided I used common sense of hygiene and that is how I have lived my life, loving them all. What rules were you given? Did you have CF?

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@cromme50

Thank you Jackie! I see from the picture that we share a passion and that is horses. For historical perspective, when I received the Gift 25 years ago I was instructed to have no contact with animals, especially outdoor animals. Well, at the time, we had 3 horses, a mini donkey, a goat and 3 cats so that was a tall order! I did not touch any of them for the first 6 months and then a friend who happens to be a neurologist who has horses explained to me that for people in the medical profession, because their profession requires a sterile environment, the thought of horses/donkeys/goats was equivalent to a pig sty and full of germs, bacteria and filth, therefore an open ticket to illness. She put me at ease that I would be ok provided I used common sense of hygiene and that is how I have lived my life, loving them all. What rules were you given? Did you have CF?

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Maybe they have evolved over the 20 years, as I was not given any of those restrictions. They were more worried about dust and hay. I was back in the saddle 5 months after transplant. I could not have given up my horses (or dogs). They aided in my recovery immensely-whether it was riding or walking my dogs to get my strength and stamina back and to feel like the old me.
I had a congenital heart issue with related pulmonary hypertension that caused the need for the heart-double lung transplant.

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