Celebrating Fourteen Years Today!

[JEanes55]

I am so blessed and happy to be celebrating fourteen years of having my kidney transplant today! I was called prior to April 13, 2006, but I had bronchitis. I thought I would never hear from them again, but they called me and I was so glad and happy!! I set my phone back then and up till now as to take my medicine on time. Same time every day and never let anything get in between that time. So to those that are coming out of the hospital, Best Wishes to you! And to those that are waiting, stay patient. They will contact you if you’re on the list and keep up with your labs. You are not forgotten!! Keep the faith!

[kimosabi1961]

That's great! I received mine in February 2019. So far so good, except for a medicine mix up early on. Doctors say I'm doing fine, and I hope mine does as well as yours has.

[JEanes55 in reply to kimosabi1961]

Thank you so much!

[Transplant2018]

I am very happy for you. Congratulations!

[JEanes55 in reply to Transplant2018]

Thank you so much!

[chicago17]

That's fantastic I got mine in 2018 had a few blips a long the way but everything fine now just keep going to the toilet at the moment but I'm certain it's the mycophenolate which maybe getting changed so hopefully that should do the trick.....I hope you stay well & congratulations!!

[JEanes55 in reply to chicago17]

Thank you so much!

[Gardner-NY]

Hello JEanes55, I am happy for your long-standing transplant giving you more freedom to live the life you want. Did you ever have alot of major problems the first 12-14 months after transplant? thanks and take care

[JEanes55 in reply to Gardner-NY]

Thank you! No, I didn’t have any problems that first year. Just kept taking the medicine on time at the same time. And drinking water.

[Gardner-NY in reply to JEanes55]

Thanks for sharing and glad you did not have problems the first year or so. My spouse had his transplant due to having PKD late Nov 2018. From Feb2019 to early Jan 2020 he had many serious problems one right after the other nonstop and just had his first good checkup Jan 21,2020. I am his wife of 42 yrs and only caregiver and work full time, we don't live near family. I am hoping that at some point his recent comment to me "I feel the same" will be alot better as time moves forward with only good lab results and no more problems (rejection, severe low for many months red blood counts and then that resolved, then CMV virus and very low white blood counts) and a few other things all sprinkled in between that were not good. We have yet to feel "joy" over this gift given to him due to so many serious problems. I no longer get excited or anticipate vacations or doing things with him because he is yet walking a distance. He told me recently that when he does our grocery shopping and comes home to put things away while I'm at work (now I 'm working at home due to the virus), he is aching in the incision area for 2 days. He just told me this 4 days ago for the first time. I want so badly for us to take a stroll or something in our yard like we used to; but to me his body is still healing and playing catch up from having almost a year of problems. What do you think? I have read this health weblink for almost a year and no one has experienced anything close to what I write about with his challenges. He just turned 60 summer 2019. I want so much for him to have energy to go and do things he used to.

[JEanes55 in reply to Gardner-NY]

I feel your pain and know how you feel about wanting to do things together. Even though I have a kidney, my husband is still on dialysis and has been for 21 years. We don’t go anywhere and hardly go out to dinner cause certain foods make him itch. Or the seasoning that was used makes him sick. And he hates garlic and I love it. Was brought up on it. So I cook at home. Your husband is going through a lot and it’s good that you’re sticking by him. His symptoms are real and he needs to pay attention to them all. If you have a good doctor that listens to him and guides him, he’ll make it through! Plus you by his side and reading on things and keeping him informed is good too! It’s been 37 years for me and my husband and he’ll be 63 this year. I’m sticking by him and not worrying about not able to go on cruises and vacation trips. Just taking care of him and seeing him happy is joy to me. He couldn’t have lasted this long on dialysis with out me. He says he doesn’t want a kidney and he has a catheter. He takes care of that himself. He goes to treatment MWF and I have dinner ready for him when he comes home on the paratransit. Continue to count your blessings. God is Good.

[Gardner-NY in reply to JEanes55]

Hello, I am confused by what you wrote and need to ask: do you have the transplant kidney and your spouse is on dialysis? Thanks for your caring spirit. My spouse and I are both retired military members and while he was on active duty at age 30 he had hodgekins lymphoma cancer diagnosis. He had 9 mos of chemo 2X a month and while doing so a cat scan showed he had this genetic kidney disease (PKD). He told his kidney dr oct 2019 that going through 9 mos of chemo was a picnic compared to what he had gone through already after transplant with so many many problems. I just thought after he was feeling better for over 2 months , he would like to take a short walk with me or something simple, but nope. I read him first and go by how he feels. We have gone through alot since transplant. Thanks for taking the time to write me

[JEanes55 in reply to Gardner-NY]

Yes that’s right. I have a transplant and my husband is on dialysis. And has been for 21 years.

[Gardner-NY in reply to JEanes55]

Thanks for explaining your marriage and 'both ' of you have kidney issues for a long time. My spouse never was on dialysis. He was 13% GFR when he had the transplant Nov2018 and now it is mid 40's and creatinine is 1.8 to 2.1 which for him is good. Thanks for your caring spirit and the love you have for your spouse. You both are fortunate to have one another.

[Ynnep in reply to Gardner-NY]

My heart is breaking for you both. I will pray for you all.

[Gardner-NY in reply to Ynnep]

Thank you Ynnep. It's like my spouse' new kidney is 'finally' working all its functions after over a year waiting, and now he is not moving /walking alot. He usually is in our backyard checking out the trees he needs to prune and putter doing all kinds of garden type stuff or in his work barn, he does zero. He sits most of the day watching movies and puttering on his computer. He does make us supper every night and i do the cleanup. I just keep waiting for his body to turn the switch on to 'go'. He's not a lazy person at all and how he feels is how he feels and i respect that. I want so much for him, for us. We could not have children and its always been 'just us 2' to conquer the world.

[pops81]

Congratulations, taking all the medications and staying to a consistent schedule is as important as hydration...its worked for me since 1981, and still going..but above all else keep that positive sounding attitude..stay well.

[JEanes55 in reply to pops81]

Thank you so much! And you are so right!! Was your kidney a cadaver or live donor? You’ve been going along for a long while! Congratulations to you!!

[ninaporter]

Congratulations!!!!

[JEanes55 in reply to ninaporter]

Thank you so much!

[pops81]

It was my sister and the match was as close as it could be without being biological twins. I was fortunate with that and that my entire family lined up to be tested..both parents and siblings that were of legal..my baby sister was only 13 and mad as hell that she wouldnt be tested without a court order...since then i watched my sister become a mother to two and grandmother of one..the same goes for me with a grandson of 10 years old...and the miracle is that i knew my wife was carrying our first child when i was admitted to the hospital for the transplant..talk about motivation to get well and home to help her out..sorry about going off track, but i just think it is so amazing what i have witnessed because of my sister`s unselfish act at only 19 years old.

[JEanes55 in reply to pops81]

I kind of figured you had a live donor for having sustained for so long. I have a cadaver donor and one doctor told me it will last. But the doctor I have now says it’s just a matter of time. She doesn’t give me any hope. I’m not that happy with her.

[pops81]

Sorry to hear about that with your new Doctor, but stay positive! Don't forget who is responsible for getting to your 14th anniversary, you are! Don't let her discourage you. enjoy it!

[JEanes55]

Thank you! You are so right!! I won't let her spoil it for me.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Congratulations on your very special anniversary!!!

For most of us, you are right, consistency is the key - taking your meds, labs and doctor appts. I had my transplant in October 1999! Everyday is a miracle.

[JEanes55]

Good For You! Keep up the consistency!

[Dara3351]

Congratulations! 14 months past transplant and counting!

[JEanes55]

Best wishes to you! Keep it up!

[Charity23]

Congratulations on your 14th year transplant.l am 7mths post transplant a gift from my husband of 40 years.its a wonderful life and keeping positive everyday helps everyone in our family!!!keep safe at this time.x

[JEanes55]

Thank you

[anne627]

Congratulations m!

[239227]

Congratulations! Keep well

[Ynnep]

Congrats!!

[JEanes55 in reply to Ynnep]

Thanks so much

[Ish123]

Congratulations!! May God bless u more..