The Beginning of Anniversaries
This month marks the beginnings of one-year anniversaries of intense moments and the graying of my hair. It was a year ago in January my blood work revealed the disease had progressed. By February, the docs said I was sick enough to begin the transplant evaluation. It was a year ago this month the docs said I was well enough to survive a transplant. It was an odd time – having to be sick enough, yet well enough to endure what was ahead!
This month is the anniversary of when Dan, my friend, started the process as Donor #1. It was one of the most amazing times in my life to hear my friends genuinely pour out their care and concern for me. It was the hardest time in my life to make a decision of who would be first to begin the evaluation process.
Nonetheless, this is a year to celebrate.
Dialysis Clinic Visits
I went back to visit the dialysis clinic about a month ago. Things had settled at the office and I promised my friends at the clinic I would return as soon as I could after the transplant to say hello.
Driving up and parking was not a problem. However, touching the automatic door opener and stepping into the clinic was another deal. It was the most bizarre feeling of relief that I could walk in and walk out without having to give four hours in the place and then this feeling of OH MY! I was really in this place and really this sick. (Denial runs deep in my veins.) It was overwhelming and I almost had to turn around and leave.
I pushed through the urge to turn and run and pushed the automatic lever to open the door into the clinic. Instinctively, I went to the right to weigh myself and then the charge nurse saw me.
It was a good reunion with the staff and then I spent the next three hours visiting chair to chair with my former fellow patients. It was sad that a couple of them had died as their bodies finally just gave up, but the more common experience was going chair to chair visiting, getting caught up and encouraging. One lady did not recognize me. She said I looked familiar, but she had only seen me in my sick days and was amazed I had color.
I went back again the following week. It was still a little odd, but I had a mission to accomplish. I had sixteen quilts to give to patients. UBC has a quilting ministry called “Stitches of Love” and one person in this group heard me complain about how cold the dialysis clinic was kept. They had plans to give me a quilt to take to dialysis, but it arrived the day of my transplant. (And yes, hospitals are cold, too.) Over the past several months while I was recovering, this group of ladies was glued to their sewing machines and cranking out the quilts. It was a kick to take sixteen quilts and give them out to my dialysis friends. My friends could not believe these ladies made the quilts and then wanted them to have them. Every person was appreciative and happy to have the warmth!
April is Donate Life Month
April is Donate Life
MonthThe transplant community has moved from one week of emphasis to a whole month!
I think it is appropriate that Donate Life and Easter are in the same month. Transplant recipients know a little bit about substitutionary atonement. If Jerry had not donated, it would have been a much longer wait for me. Because of his donation, I am able to pursue an almost normal life.
If you have not considered organ donation (or even blood donation), please evaluate the reasons for why you have not taken the initiative. A simple act can have huge results.
When you decide to be a donor, you need to let your family know your decision. If you click on the “Donate Life” logo above, it will take you to a website that can teach you how to communicate your desire.
Digging Out
I have been back to the office for about two months. It has been a time of “digging out” from under all the backed up work that could not be done from home. Emails are down in the 1700 range and slowly reducing.
I was supposed to head to the hospital next week, but there was a scheduling “glitch” and the next visit will be in May. I suppose things are going well enough to postpone a month. I caught some bug and have been fighting it for almost a month. I now understand why there is so much caution. Being immune suppressed, the best strategy is to not get sick in the first place! I should buy stock in Purell.
It has been interesting being back. So far, several people have called asking me to talk with their friends or families who are facing ESRD. Those conversations have been very fruitful and fulfilling.
