Liver transplant anniversary

[MayMaj]

Hello Liver People, I’m new here. Can you help me? I am looking for a supportive liver transplant community, as I approach another life giving anniversary. Giving thanks to my donor daily and all who contributed to saving my life, I am hugely grateful.

As my anniversary (liversary) approaches, I yet again find myself struggling a lot around this time of year. It’s a time to delight and celebrate, yet I notice I am very sensitive and tearful and many many other things.

In some ways I feel I struggle as transplantation is not an everyday topic and it’s something I also feel I wish related more easily in the world.

There appears to be a lack of representation, knowledge and understanding out in the wider community regarding transplantation (unless I missing something) and with it being such a huge life event that defines a lot of how my life is today. I feel alone and lost at times.

I wonder if anyone has any unique words of support that would enable me to feel more a member of society in a world where liver transplantation is still so rare?

Do other liver transplant recipients feel anything similar at times?

Many thanks for reading this, it would be lovely to get some responses if you feel you are able, as it would be great to feel I have some voices and viewpoints, other than my own, that get it.

Please be kind 🙏😄

[Hidden]

Hi MayMaj and welcome to this friendly forum! There are many members of the forum who will be able to offer support to you but I'll put a link to a transplant (Pre and post) support group which you may find helpful.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Warmest wishes

Trust10

[chugalong]

Hello, congratulations on reaching another milestone. Being a recipient is certainly something to be so very proud, to shout from the roof tops, we were chosen and you can look at that from any direction, and by reaching this milestone, one of many to come I am sure you have been looking after this gift you have been given which demonstrates just how you look after yourself and this chance. We are all so lucky we have so many helping us from all fields. Every day is not always easy but there is always the next and they are better and we can smile. There is so much can go on to say but this forum there is so much support and we are always here, we are never by ourselves. Can always message me. I am five years post transplant . All the best.

[Queens32]

Hello, I’m 3 years post transplant and I always get very emotional in the weeks leading up to the anniversary, and very emotive on the day. Mine was an emergency transplant which saved my life, I was in an induced coma and my family had been called in to say goodbye, so it brings up a lot of feelings. The gratitude is enormous, but then further Gastro complications and other things also contribute towards a feeling of real guilt that I’m not yet living the life I promised myself I would when I was hospital for those long months !! It is incredibly complex, your body has experienced such extreme trauma, and mentally that comes with its own challenges. Congratulations on another anniversary, and I’m always happy to chat xx