Happy New Year! 🥳🎉☘️
My second chance at life came at the very end of 2024 after knowing for the last 9 years that at some point I would need a Kidney transplant to live. I spent the last 3 years in stage 5 renal failure hooked up to a dialysis machine to stay alive.
I am so excited to see what 2025 has in store for me once I recover from post op. I’m a month out right now and already have more energy then I’ve had in YEARS (even with 103.5 fever!)
To anyone still waiting for their miracle call to come for a transplant, Don’t give up a minute before the miracle. I know how hard the days can be, just feeling physically like crap and fighting mentally to keep going but I promise you warrior, the wait is worth it and you will make it through this dark time and back into the sunshine! ☀️🕶️
#kidneyfailure #pancreastransplant #kidneytransplant #happynewyear #forevergrateful
Getting that call for a kidney transplant was truly a moment I'd been dreaming of for nearly a decade. For the last three years, dialysis became my lifeline, a grueling routine that dictated so much of my life. I remember those days distinctly – the exhaustion, the constant planning around appointments, the way my body just felt heavy and tired, even after a full night's sleep. It wasn't just physical; the mental toll of living with stage 5 renal failure, knowing a transplant was the only long-term solution, was immense. Every day felt like a battle to stay positive, to keep fighting. There were moments of despair, wondering if my miracle would ever come. But then, the call! It came right at the close of 2024, a perfect ending to a challenging chapter and the most hopeful beginning to the next. It really felt like a 'NEW YEAR, NEW ORGANS, NEW ME!' moment, just like I saw on that graphic. The surgery itself was a blur, but waking up with a new organ, a new chance, was indescribable. Now, a month post-op, the recovery journey has its own ups and downs. Even with a fever, the energy surge is real – something I haven't felt in what feels like forever. My body is still adjusting, and there's a strict regimen of medications to follow, but each day brings new strength. I'm learning to listen to my new kidney, so to speak, and to be incredibly mindful of my diet and lifestyle choices. It’s a complete life overhaul, but in the best possible way. For anyone out there still navigating the waiting list, still tethered to dialysis, or simply fighting a chronic illness – please, don't give up hope. I know the feeling of scraping by, physically and mentally. I know the fear and the uncertainty. But I promise you, that moment when your miracle arrives, it makes every single hard day worth it. Keep advocating for yourself, lean on your support system, and visualize your future. You are a warrior, and you will get through this dark time and back into the sunshine. My journey is just beginning, and I can't wait to see all the possibilities 2025 holds with my second chance at life.
