Hope…
Hello friends….
Just finished reading, “When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon”, by Joshua Mezrich and I “screen shotted” one of the many fantastic quotes from this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a behind the scenes view and a history of organ transplantation. There is a wonderful message of hope there.
Once you find yourself with this diagnosis, as things change and decline you start seeing lots of ologists; nephrologists, hematologists, radiologists, urologists, and so forth… all the way thru your medical team. Ologists that start telling you all kinds of things to start & try and it’s easy to be overwhelmed.
To deal with “the ologists” and all their requests; bloodwork, X-rays, CT’s MRI’s, more bloodwork…. the most vital tool you can exercise is your mental resilience. HOPE and acting towards HOPE is a huge piece of that puzzle. Create a go-to list of items that soothe you: tea, petting an animal, walking in nature, writing in a journal. This mental toolbox needs a directory of supportive friends and people you can reach out to in times when you need comfort and reassurance. People that will HOPE with you, cry with you, laugh with you. If you need a group… I’ve found loads of support with my IGAN Foundation Family as well as friends & loved ones.
And while you’re at it write HOPE, GREATFUL and HUMBLE on the outside. These are the Crown Jewels of Resilience.
Finally, NEVER give up HOPE, we who face down the thought of transplanting an organ into our bodies, trying new therapies to delay disease progression, or just making it to the next appointment we must maintain these stores of hope. This journey is bumpy, things and situations change on us.
What I hope, friends and readers…. is that you share my story, forwarding it onto your social media and asking people to share this message. People ask how they can help… SHARE MY MESSAGE.
I need a living kidney donor. I need someone to get tested to see if you are a match. One is out there for me, but we gotta call her in. I’m actively HOPING and so grateful and appreciative to all who can share this message.
Please comment if you enjoy the post today!
Sedona, AZ… still so many adventures ahead.
As always, if you are interested in being tested to see if you are a kidney match, please contact Christina Self at cself2@kumc.edu. University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Organ Transplantation.
Holding around 20% Kidney function, dealing with side effects but remain HOPEFUL!