October 15th - 23 years later: Today is a... - Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease

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October 15th - 23 years later

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador
10 Replies

Today is a special day for me...23 years ago today I had my kidney transplant! It was all because my donor, Ryan, said "yes" to organ donation. He was 16 years old and was killed in a horrible car accident.

As a result, - I saw both of my daughters marry and I now have 2 buddies, my grandsons.

- I had a rewarding career in the Milwaukee area, helping seniors get the help they needed

- My husband and I traveled to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and visit with friends & family throughout the USA. We moved from WI to our beloved Rocky Mts. in Wyoming.

- I have been able to "give back" as a volunteer and public speaker with the CO/WY Donor Alliance, as an Ambassador here on HealthUnlocked and a Kidney Advocate with the NKF.

One bit of advice I have for all of you, whether you are a CKD patient or have had a transplant like me, is always listen to yourself. You know your body better than anyone. You know when something isn't quite right. Call your doctors' office ASAP. I have avoided big health problems just by knowing myself and when to get help.

When I was first diagnosed with CKD in 1992, a friend gave me this poem.

ATTITUDE

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people say, or think, or do.

It is more important than giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every day regarding the Attitude we will embrace for that day.

I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me, and ninety percent how I react to it.

Charles Swindoll

Flaming Gorge, Wyoming, picture with me.

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WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnne
NKF Ambassador
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10 Replies
S_dillow profile image
S_dillow

right on the nose for sure.whatever happens is whatever happens i m not letting it control my life i have too much i wanna do.

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador in reply to S_dillow

Great ATTITUDE! Life is not always fair, but we have to handle the hand we were dealt!

My CKD came from a "simple" case of strep throat.

Take care!

Herkidney profile image
Herkidney

congratulations!! 4 years for me. Always enjoy reading your posts! Here’s to 23 more years. 🎉

RoxanneKidney profile image
RoxanneKidney

thanks for sharing. I needed that.

Beachgirl32 profile image
Beachgirl32

thank you for sharing your wonderful story. Totally agree (how we react) can make a world of difference.

Jamok profile image
Jamok

Congratulations on your 23rd kidney anniversary! Thank you for sharing your journey. I just found out I have been made active on the transplant list and I can’t tell you how encouraging your story is to me. My dad’s kidney transplant back in 1968 gave him 29 extra years, and his positive and grateful attitude was apparent. He was a great role model as are you. Thank you❤️

Btw, I’m a Wisconsin girl now living in Illinois. I love your shirt!

TopazForests profile image
TopazForests

WYOAnne, what a great post! I love that poem and agree that everything is 10% what happens and rest how you react. When my kids were young and dropped something, I would say "accidents are accidents; what you do next is a choice."

You are a great example of why we should all select "yes" to the organ donor question on our driver's license.

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador in reply to TopazForests

So glad you understand the ATTITUDE poem. Life is not always easy as we all understand. It is how you deal with it.

Take care and hope your weight loss journey continues. Congrats! As you get older, it is harder and harder to lose weight.

Stay well!

Tissybell profile image
Tissybell

What a gorgeous background! I see why to moved back. Congrats on 23 years with a deceased donor kidney! Your positive attitude must have helped. Kudos to you for all that traveling! I hate packing and hauling my cycler and supplies just to my sister's farm 3 1/2 hours away! I'm always afraid to forget something important(and I usually do!) I need to just suck it up if I want to travel more. If I do it more often, I will have my list down pat!Oh! and thank you for helping the CKD community with your speeches that inspire others!

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador

Thank you! Prayers for a transplant soon! Keep me posted...

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