Today marks my 2 year kidneyversary! The days, weeks, months, and years leading up to my transplant were difficult. There were a lot of setbacks, and at times I really didn’t even think it would happen. At times I wondered if it was even “meant to be”. But then, when my brother and I actually received a transplant date, everything became “real” again. But the date was more than a month away. I was still afraid that something would happen beforehand which would cause the surgery to be cancelled…or perhaps an emergency would come up and my surgery would need to be cancelled.
Sure enough, about 3 weeks or so before the scheduled date of my transplant…I caught a cold and my sinuses went crazy. Perhaps not the best thing to do, but I was afraid to go to the doctor to get it checked out because I didn’t want my surgery to be cancelled. So, I went on a mission to heal myself. Neti Pot, over the counter cold medicine, pain medicine, lemon+honey+hot water…you name it, I had it. Miraculously, I got over my symptoms about a week before my scheduled surgery. *whew*!
I’m glad, as I was counting down the days before I’d no longer need to insert large needles into my arm. Counting down the days before I wouldn’t have to “plan ahead” before going to the washroom in the middle of the night. That was one of my least favourite parts-having to stop my machine, disconnect myself, flush my lines, and recirculate my machine because I had to go to the washroom…and my machine would beep every 15-30 seconds while recirculating. Disconnecting didn’t take TOO long, but anything more than getting up and heading straight to the wash room is a LONG time when you REALLY. NEED. TO. GO.
But alas, I’ve managed, thank God, to make it through 2 years with little to no issues related directly to my kidney. I am so thankful to my brother for giving me this amazing gift.
Here’s to many, many more kidneyversaries.