Kidney Transplant...Donate Life

Today my daughter will be a guest blogger, and because of her (giving one of her kidneys to someone waiting on the list to receive a kidney) I was able to receive a kidney from a "Good Samaritan" donor and am alive today because of it. Being a recipient of a kidney it's hard to
find the words to express my gratitude to both my daughter and my donor.

We wish to spread the word about organ donation and the "Paired Exchange" program at the University of Utah Medical Center. So, she will tell you some of the things she has been involved with since her recovery.

Hello! I am honored to be guest blogging today on the Santa's Gift Shoppe blog. As many of you know, my mom and founder of Santa's Gift Shoppe had a kidney transplant earlier this year. As you also know, I donated a kidney on her behalf (since our kidneys didn't match closely enough) through a miraculous program called the "Paired Exchange Program". This enabled not only my mom to receive a kidney, but another person from the kidney waiting list to also receive one. Paired exchange "chains" can be small or very large, but no matter the chain size, lives are saved and changed forever. It's not just a program, but a gift of life. However, I'll save that post for another day.

First, I wanted to thank all of the Santa's Gift Shoppe readers that have not only supported us through the shoppe, but also through your support and kindness as our family has been moving forward during these life-changing events. Your words of encouragement, prayers, and well wishes have been rays of sunshine as the transplant and recovery process has continued. Thank you so much! The world is a better place because of people like you!

It's easy to get caught up in our day-to-day activities running and dashing about, but I wanted to take a few minutes and recognize a different kind of dash...Dash for Donation. I participated in the 5K event this past August. It was inspiring to see people from all kinds of situations and circumstances come together for organ donation awareness and support. There were organ recipients, donors, family members "dashing" in honor and tribute of loved ones that had passed on, transplant staff from multiple hospitals, small teams, large teams, and individuals unite for a common cause-everyone there understood the importance of organ donation.

Everyone 'dashed' for the cause and many 'dashed' in tribute of a transplant recipient or donor. I dashed in honor of my mom and best friend as well as her Good Samaritan donor (a living donor that donates a kidney to help someone else) who is now a dear family friend.

Here are some memories from the day:

The park animals even seemed to get the message and were "dashing" right along with us.

I talked with many people that shared their stories of receiving a kidney, lung, or liver (or part of one) and how their lives had been saved and significantly improved by the kindness of a donor. I learned of people that passed away and had selflessly chosen to donate their organs before their passing to help someone else they didn't know. I was able to share our own story of hope because of a Good Samaritan donor and a dedicated and knowledgeable transplant staff to whom we will always be grateful.

The spirit of the day was hope, encouragement, love, and compassion-something I believe the world could use more of and from which many of us could benefit. So, thank you family, friends, and blog readers for helping to spread and share your support and encouragement. Let's keep passing it forward in honor of the gift of life.

To learn more about organ donation. click here.





Kidney Transplant...It Wasn't About Me

After being at my daughter's home for some time

improvement came slowly. I had blood tests two days a week

for the first two months, and I saw the doctors every other

week. The 50 to 60 pills I was on slowly decreased to 40 to

50. Now I am taking 31 pills.

I still could not do much and was extremely tired. I

had two iron infusions and waited for weeks for the iron

to kick in. Waiting for increased strength and energy seemed

to take forever.

Since there was little I could do about any of this, I

had a lot of time to think. I knew months before that this

experience was not necessarily about me. Sure, I needed

a kidney transplant, but there was a much bigger picture.

What was truly wonderful was realizing that my daughter

and I had the opportunity to help many more people

because of our experience.

We found out about different community activities

we could participate in (such as a 5K fundraiser) that was

coming up in Aug. of this year. We realized that we could

send articles into publications interested in human experience

stories. My doctor in California requested that I become a

kidney transplant ambassador and share my experience at

educational events helping people learn more about transplants

and organ donation. (My daughter has also been asked to

be an ambassador of sorts for organ donation from the

donor side; stay tuned in the next blog post for ways you

can help in this important effort.) We realized that we could

also help more people just by seeing the needs around us.

I think we have more empathy and can be of greater

service to our fellow human beings because of what we have

experienced. I know for myself and my daughter, we have

such a passion to spread the word about organ donation and

all the many ways people can help save lives.

This started out as a trail, it then became a journey,

and  now an eye opening adventure. I have learned many

things about myself, my life's mission, and the goodness

that is still in people (despite the chaos out in the world),

and especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the

eternal love of a Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for all that has happened to me, to

help me understand better where I need to go with my life

and better serve the needs of family, friends, and people

around me. It has been a wonderful learning opportunity

for all of us.

Kidney Transplant...The Test After The Test

        

         We got home and got settled in. My daughter was

comfortable lying on the couch, and I was comfortable

in my recliner. My husband had been here in Utah for

a week and needed to get back to work in California, so

he had to leave...that was hard. My other daughter and

my brother were here for a few weeks to help both of

us during recovery. We were very blessed to have them

sacrifice their time and energy to help us.

           It was very difficult to even walk at all. The pain

was much more than I ever thought. Thank goodness for

the pain pills; that helped some. I thought that once I

received the kidney I would have a lot more energy and

feel great. I forgot I was in my early sixties, and my body

would need a lot longer to heal then my daughter who is

twenty-five years my junior.

          Unfortunately, my right leg was bothering me.

While I was in the hospital, I complained of pain and

numbness from my right hip to my knee. The doctors told

me not to worry, and it was likely from the surgery. It

would eventually go away. I also had pain in my foot, but

they did not seem too worried about that either. To ease

the leg pain, even a little bit, the only place I could stay

was in the recliner chair. I slept there, too. Little did I

know I would be sleeping in that chair for a month, only

sleeping about two–three hours each night. I knew that

I needed more sleep for my body to heal properly, but that

was the only place I could be comfortable at all. My

daughter was able to sleep in her own bed, which was a

blessing for her and her recovery.

          Early the next morning I had an appt. with the

surgeon. That was extremely difficult to go and do all

that moving around. The pain was terrible! The doctors

said that the pain in my right hip, thigh, and leg were

from the nerve. It was likely stretched during surgery

and would take a long time to heal. It felt like the numbness

of Novocaine that you might get at the dentist's office, but

with hot needles stabbing continually at the same time.

The staples and stitches from the kidney transplant

were painful as well. However, one bright note...the kidney

was functioning great! There are blessings even in the worst

of circumstances...we just have to look for them.

          Weeks went by, and I still couldn't do anything but

stay in my recliner. (Thank goodness it was comfortable.)

I was very surprised by how tired and weak I felt. I had

to take between 50-60 pills (result of the transplant) which

were giving me terrible side effects: tremors, hot flashes,

weakness, feeling tired, insomnia, and un-steadiness, to

name a few symptoms plus, we found out the pain in the

bottom of my left foot was actually gout. It felt like I was

stepping on shards of glass each time I put pressure on my

left foot. So, the pain was excruciating! I stayed on pain

pills longer than expected because of it, although, even the

pain pills didn't seem to help.

         I kept wondering why I had to go through so much

pain and suffering after the transplant when I had felt so

much better before the transplant even with my kidney

function as low as 7%...at least I had energy. During this

journey of pain and suffering (with so much time to ponder

life), I learned a few things.

         I had a few epiphanies that have impacted my life.

I found that all sadness, pain, suffering (physical and

mental) connect with the atonement (that Jesus Christ

suffered on our behalf.) During the first part of my journey,

I learned to listen to Him and let Him “drive the bus” so

to speak. Stop trying to take the steering wheel away from

Him. He knows so much better what is best for each of us.

I learned to depend on Him more and have patience.

You cannot force a tulip to come up in December...you need

to let nature take its course and be patient until the Spring

when it has had the time needed to grow, and then blossom.

         During the second part of my journey, I found the

principle of acceptance was key in my learning process.

It's amazing to me that when we accept what the Lord has

in our path, it is much easier to follow Him than resist or

try to force a 'square peg into a round hole'. He always

knows what will help us learn and grow the most. Through

this journey, I have learned so much about empathy and

want to help others more.

         I thought that getting the transplant would be the

end of the waiting and the physical and mental roller-

coaster but that was not to be the case. As my daughter

has said, “This is the test after the test.” There were

more important tests yet to come during this journey

of a kidneytransplant.

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.

Kidney Transplant...Waiting with Patience

       Still waiting in the wings was my wonderful Good

Samaritan Donor. She was being patient waiting eight

months to see when she would donate her kidney.
That in itself was a miracle. Most Good Samaritan
Donor's are matched pretty quickly with a person needing
a kidney.

       My percentage rate of kidney function was still 

at 7% for both kidneys (normal being 60-100%). I

knew the Lord was carrying me because I still wasn't

on dialysis, that was a miracle. Also, I felt pretty well

most of the time - another blessing (with the exception
of being extremely tired most of the time).

     The doctors stopped testing the third donor, and

continued with my daughter's testing. It took some time

but finally we got a date for the transplant – news that

we had been waiting to hear for so long. The date was

planned for March 12, 2014. This meant we would be

participating in the Paired-Exchange Transplant Program

at the University of Utah. My daughter's kidney would

be given to someone else (in this case someone from the

National Transplant Registry, one of 110,00 people

waiting for a kidney). This exchange would make it

possible for me to receive the Good Samaritan's kidney.

We were finally on our way to a kidney transplant!

Kidney Transplant...A Roller Coaster Ride

      

  After going back to Utah in Oct. 2014, I thought

things would move fast. We had donors ready to go, and

the hospital was ready as well. What I did not know was

that each donor took about two months to complete all the

necessary tests ensuring the best match for me. The waiting

game and roller coaster ride was about to begin. I waited

for someone to call me from the hospital and tell me

what was happening. It took two weeks to receive a call,
however, I was ready to move forward immediately..

            
          I felt extremely humbled by family and friends that

had signed up months before to donate a kidney on my

behalf. I had five donors to be tested, and I felt blessed.

            The first donor was my daughter. I had always felt

she would be the match or play a very important part in all

of this. It took a few months of testing to find out she was

about a 51% match...the hospital felt we could get a closer

match.

   
            Although this appeared be a setback, we found out

about the “Paired Exchange Program”. A wonderful

opportunity where more people can be helped by receiving

a kidney. Anyone (family member, friend) can donate a

kidney on behalf of the person who needs a transplant. The

person who needs a transplant can then receive one from a

“Good Samaritan Donor” (a person who voluntarily donates

a kidney) all dependant upon sharing a good match.

           My daughter decided to start the Paired-Exchange

Program process. She had gone through just about all of the

tests needed when we found out that there was a Good Samaritan

Donor that was a perfect match for me. We were very excited

to find this out! But in order to receive the kidney, one of my

donors needed to donate their kidney to someone else. So, my

daughter stepped forward.

    
          It was the week before Thanksgiving when my daughter

had one of the last tests needed (a CT scan) showing a mass.

That was quite a shock to all of us! I just wanted my daughter

to be okay. We were all concerned about the possibility of

cancer. Her chances of being a donor had stopped. As she went

for additional tests to find out what should be done, it took a

number of weeks before we found out it was most likely not

cancer. We were extremely thankful!

         While we waited, the hospital started testing the second

donor, my brother. He did the required testing and found

out that he was a good match. We were all thinking I might

receive a kidney by the end of 2013. To my surprise we

found out the hospital had reserved the operating room

for Dec. 31^st New Year's Eve. We were extremely happy

until we heard the news that my brother had high blood

pressure and needed a month of monitoring. After the

monitoring, it was decided that it would not be in his best

interest to proceed as a donor. Thankfully, my brother could

now take care of a previously unidentified health issue.
Another blessing in disguise. Again we were extremely
grateful.

          Then donor #3, a dear family friend began the donor
testing. But, before she got too far, a miracle happened, the
doctors agreed to not only remove the kidney from my daughter,
but the benign mass as well. The Paired-Exchange program

looked to be the hope for which we were looking.

         Again, the rollercoaster of highs and lows continued.

Patience was needed, that has been a life lesson I have

learned through this process.

Kidney Transplant...Footprints in the Sand

Once I realized that Heaven's answer to my prayer

was a transplant, it became a lot easier to go along for the

ride. Even though there were many tests and pain through

2013, I consider myself very fortunate not to be on dialysis.

I know so many more people who were far worse off than

I am.

The waiting was the hardest (being extremely tired

much of the time). As time went on, I saw that I had

enough energy to get up, get dressed, go to my many

doctors appointments and sit in a recliner most of the

day. I know that does not sound like much, but being

at 10% kidney function and not on dialysis was highly

unusual for someone in my position. I was so fortunate

to also have a daughter that took time off work each week

to take me to and from appointments.

I also missed my friends at church and doing the

many things I once did, but I realized I needed to put

my health first or I would not be here very long. I needed

to slow my life down. Listening to my body more I found

out a lot about what it needed from me. As I listened I felt

a strength that was not my own. I also never had a specific

feeling that I was in jeopardy of losing my life.

I felt like someone else was taking care of me, like

in the “Footprints in the Sand” poem. The narrator in the

poem wonder's why the Lord had not helped them in their

time of need. The Lord replied “During your times of

trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I Carried You.” I feel that I have been living
that poem since I was first diagnosed w/renal (kidney) failure

in Jan. 2013. I feel the Lord carrying me daily. I don't

believe I could feel as good as I do with now only 7%

kidney function without His help. It is the best kind of

strength I have ever felt.

After much prayer, I decided to go to Utah to get

the transplant. They were on top of everything, rated

highly in the medical community, and I felt confirmation

that the University of Utah was the right place for me to

go. I left California in Oct. 2013 for Salt Lake City to

beat the snow. I found being in Utah a wonderful experience

and noticed an improvement in how I felt. All the while

acknowledging that the “Footprints in the Sand” poem

was playing out in my life on a daily basis.

I have grown and learned so many things of

significance through this experience. Do I wish this

experience had not happened? Surprisingly the

answer would be “No”. I feel like I have received

a college degree worth of knowledge and growth

through this journey. There are so many benefits

from what has happened for myself, my family,

friends (both new and old) and even strangers with

whom I have shared my story.

I feel a more intense desire to help people. I feel
more empathy for them than ever before. If I

can get through something like this, then maybe I

can give someone encouragement or help them get

through a struggle, or share the universal message
of hope.

Waiting for a Kidney Transplant...Faith precedes the miracle

      
            It was March 2013 (three months since I found

out my kidneys had only 10% function; kidney function

for a healthy person is 60-100%). I had been praying for

a miracle which wasn't going to happen in the way I had

hoped. I had to come to grips with that. I felt my prayers

were not being heard. My daughter suggested that I pray

for the Spirit to guide me (validation #1). I agreed, and

that night was a turning point in this life changing journey.

Finally, the answers started coming one after the other.

        The next evening a friend of my husband's visited

unexpectedly and when he left, my husband told me

of the informative discussion they had. His wife previously

had a kidney transplant a few years ago and was doing

fantastic (validation #2). I told my husband that I was

happy for her, but I really did not want a kidney transplant.

I was adamant about it.

          The next day I received a call at lunch from my

husband telling me he bumped into another close friend.

She is a nurse who works at many schools. It had been

months since he had seen her last. I asked if he had

told her about the kidney situation..at that time he said

he had not. He called me again later that day, and said that 

he bumped into her again. He told her about my 10% kidney

function. She said she had a very strong feeling that I

needed to get a kidney transplant before the end of the

year (validation #3). When my husband mentioned that, I

knew in my heart that the Lord was answering my prayers...

I needed a kidney transplant. Up to that point I had thought

a kidney transplant was the closest thing to death...not the

answer to my prayers.

            The following day I got up and turned on the

television. I was so surprised to hear the word donor

coming from it. It intrigued me because I usually never

watched that station. The show was about three different

people waiting for a kidney transplant (validation #4).  

I was glued to the set. I felt it was another answer to

prayer...for me to learn about kidney disease and

transplants... and I did.

          My mind and heart were making a complete 180

degree turn-around. Then, the next day our friend, the

school nurse (mentioned above) stopped by our house

with flowers and dinner. We had a great discussion. She

helped educate me about kidney transplants and their

benefits. She shared with me some things in her life

which connected to what she was telling me about

kidney transplants. (validation #5) Consequently, she

felt she was being helped by our discussion as well.

           I thought my prayers were not being heard. 

However, I realized that they were indeed being heard; 

the answers were coming through other people to me, 

one right after another. There were five validations that

the Lord was letting me know His will for me to receive

a transplant.

           Now that I knew what He wanted for me, I

researched the Internet and talked with doctors. My

nephrologist (kidney doctor) could hardly believe it.

When she asked what happened, I pointed to the

heavens and said I finally found out what He wanted.

I have been at peace with my decision ever since.

The next phase of growing and understanding was

about to begin.

Kidney Disease...The Power of Prayer

          Looking back to January 2013 I could hardly

believe the words out of the doctor's mouth. “You have

stage five renal failure with 10% of your kidneys

functioning.” He said it was not “life-threatening,” but

that was not true. After researching it on the internet I

found that it was indeed life threatening, and if I did

not go on dialysis the disease would be fatal. Something

needed to be done immediately.

          I was sent to a kidney specialist. A true God-send

for me. She is one of the best in her field, and I was truly

blessed the day she came into my life. She did a lot of

tests from head to toe to rule out causes. She immediately

had me get an iron infusion and a Procrit shot to help do

what my kidneys could no longer do.

         During this time I prayed for a miracle and expected

one. I believed I had faith to have one, since I had

previously experienced major health scares. Maybe

I was praying for the wrong thing.

         My prayers for a miracle were ongoing. I had

Priesthood blessings which gave me much peace and

comfort. I had many people praying for me which filled

me with gratitude for such love, support, and being

alive.

          However, I did not feel my prayers were being

heard. That was one of the hardest times through this

experience. I had previously received fast answers to

my prayers that I was shocked when I felt I wasn't

receiving any answers. That went on for three months

with no answers. It felt dark, and I hated that void in

my life...not feeling that my Heavenly Father was right

there with me. During that time I had some depressed

days; Let's call them “pity party” days. Thank goodness

they were few and far between, but I learned and grew

through them all.

           One thing I discovered was that I needed to

mourn the loss of my kidneys like the death of a loved

one. I was going through the emotions without realizing

it, essentially experiencing the five stages of grief.

            I was lucky. I went through the denial, some

depression, and then acceptance. Most of the time, I

just wanted to know what Heavenly Father wanted me

to learn from this so that I could move on. However,

I quickly learned that my time was different than His,

things were on His timetable, he had numerous things

for me to experience. It was going to be an interesting

journey..,

       

Kidney Transplant: A Journey of Hope

             










             
It has been a long time (approximately 1 year) since I

have updated or written on my blog. The reason being, I found

out January 2013 that my total kidney function was at 10%;

normal is between 60-100%. When your kidney function goes

down to 15% or less you usually need dialysis to function on a

more normal level. My kidney function is currently at 7%, and

miraculously I am still not receiving dialysis. I consider it a

blessing.

              

             Most people know little about kidney disease...I was

one of those people. However I changed that! I researched and

educated myself, and am now in the process of preparing to
receive a kidney transplant in the near future.

               

               That's the good news! The bad news is knowing that

the majority of people do not know that high blood pressure,

diabetes, and Ibuprofen contribute greatly to the chances of

kidney (or renal) failure, that more than a 100,000 people are

on a waiting list for a deceased donor's kidney or that you only

need one kidney to function and live a normal life.

               

                I am one of the lucky ones with five living donors

(family and friends) offering me one of their kidneys so that

I can live. This is one of the most humbling and wonderful 
blessings that has come into my life. I will continue writing

on my blog about the high and lows of the journey and what

I have learned from this challenge in my life.

               

                 It is my hope that by writing about this experience, 

people everywhere will become well informed about this disease...

to help you, your family, friends and maybe even inspire some

changes in thinking about and considering organ donation that

saves lives.

              

                I invite you to come and join me in this journey of hope and enlightenment...