Kidney Transplant...Transplant Day Finally Arrives

         

    The   twenty-four hours before my transplant

were more than a roller coaster ride. My daughter's paired-exchange kidney donation was yesterday March 11^th (a day before my kidney transplant). My husband and I waited in the waiting room to hear news of how she was doing. She went in the morning to have a benign  tumor and kidney removed (the kidney was going to be given to a person who had been waiting on the National Kidney Waiting List).



A doctor came out and told us that everything

had gone very well, and she was doing fine. We were
very relieved to hear that. He did say, however, that
they had taken her appendix as well. It was actually
a blessing because evidently, it could have burst at
any time. He also said that he wanted permission to
take her gall bladder out because they found small
gall stones that would eventually give her trouble in
the future. What started out to be a wonderful gesture
of giving someone a kidney (so that I would be able to
receive one) turned into the doctors taking four major
things being removed. She is one strong young woman.

      After waiting fifteen months March 12^th came, and

it was my day to receive a kidney transplant early in

the morning. The surgery went very well, and the

kidney functions worked immediately (a great blessing)

The transplant team from the University of Utah

was wonderful. They are so thorough with everything

they do. I have always felt that I have been in good hands

with my transplant team.

      As the days went on, I had no idea of the pain that

would commence. It was pretty tough physically.

I was very blessed that my daughter was in the room next

door. She gave me wonderful support and encouragement.

We walked around the hospital floor everyday for our

exercise and to accelerate recovery, but it was very painful.

It made it easier having my daughter to walk by my side.

      We did so well that we only stayed in the hospital for

four days. We had been ready to go home for a few hours

when they told me I needed an infusion that would take

an additional two hours before leaving the hospital. The

rollercoaster ride continued. I had the infusion, and finally

went home an hour later.

     Speaking of home, my daughter at the end of 2011

told me she had a very strong feeling she needed to buy

a house during the year. She had no idea why, but knew

she needed to follow through with the feeling that wouldn't

go away. A month later, I found out that I had 11%

kidney function and would need a kidney transplant.

I am so grateful that my daughter listened to the

impression because I have had such a wonderful

and relaxed time staying in her comfortable home

for all of these months. She has been such an angel.