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CiscoKidney07
Forum Leader
Username: Gregg
Post Number: 4365
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 11:03 am: | 
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I am grateful for the love of the woman in my life, which brings me to this:
I was diagnosed in 2006 and I started peritoneal (sp?) dialysis that year. After some complications, I was switched to hemo dialysis where I remained until late October of that year. Thanks to the lady in my life, I got a kidney in October. This completely changed my life. Before transplant, I had hoped that it would just give me some semblance of a normal life. I cannot believe what it did for me and us. I am much more active than I was before transplant in the following ways:
1) Exercise- When I first started to go to the gym, I had to hang onto the front of the treadmill in order to WALK 3 miles per hour. At that time, my body fat percentage was 35%. I weighed 217 pounds. (I actually was 235 before I started working out with my brother in his basement) Now, my body fat percentage is down to 23% and I am looking to eventually be 20% or less. That is an accomplishment for someone who is almost 57.
2) Our orchids. One year, shortly after transplant, I was bopping around at the show, trying to do as much as I could to make sure that things went off without a hitch. All of the sudden, I got really dizzy to the point where I had to sit down with a cold compress on the back of my neck. I no longer have those problems. I also have figured out that I do have limitations.
3) I go to coin auctions with my brother-in-law. Something that I really do like and had to give up for awhile while I was on dialysis. I was always so tired.
4) I cook more now. It is something I really enjoy doing. I have found that it is a challenge to figure out what I can eat and how much. Also, what is the best for me,as we are all different.
5) Joining support groups. I belong to this one and one locally with one of the hospitals in town.
6) Working a little bit. Seven or eight hours a week.
7)Most important--Feeling I finally have gotten back control of my life. How about you?
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Pugmom
Member
Username: Pugmom
Post Number: 21
Registered: 10-2010
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 10:21 pm: |
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Cisco,
Like you, I am grateful for the great love of my life. My husband is amazing.(He married me knowing I would need a heart some day). While I've not yet been down the transplant road...he has traveled every step of my journey and even carried me some of the way. He accepts my limitations, takes advantage of my "good health" days. Picks up my "slack" when I am not able to do the normal daily tasks in life. Helps keep our life as "normal" as possible. Will still argue with me when we disagree....he doesn't treat me like I'm an invalid. I'm am thankful for him and the gift of each day that God gives us to be together.
I can't describe how anxious I am to have the opportunity to be grateful for all of the things that you have mentioned...but in the mean time, life is limited...but life is GOOD! Our children, grandchildren, pugs....all are a joy! When one is chronically ill with a life threatening and life altering disease, the way I see it is...accept, adjust and conquer! I am still blessed!
My health is failing, but....I am still able to work a little! We leave for our 9 day cruise on Fri.(going in-active status with the blessing of tx center for 9 days)! Even if Jesus took me home today....I have had almost every prayer I have ever asked answered. How awesome is that? My only regret would be the sadness of my family....
So this is just one point of view from the opposite end of tx. (A little long winded) But there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for his many blessings. If I am blessed someday to receive that precious gift of life, I know that I will honor that blessing by become the "poster child" of healthy living, (even more so than I am now).
I am so happy to read of the successes and encouraging words that you and so many others on this site provide. So that being said...I am grateful also for everyone, their wisdom, humor and courage that have contributed to this web site.
Thank you everyone!
Awaiting Heart Tx
Ischemic Cardiomyopath/CHF
Listed 7/6/10
California Pacific Medical Center
"Love doesn't make the world go round.....it's what makes the ride worthwhile!!!!! |
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Hostess Meagan
Forum Leader
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 1722
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 - 11:57 pm: |
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Cisco, Wonderful thread. 
I am grateful for many things:
- I am grateful for my wonderful husband, children, and granddaughter.
- I am grateful for all the wonderful friends I have on Transplant Buddies who are so supportive and loving.
- I am grateful I was given a second chance at life.
- I am extremely grateful to my donor and his wonderful mom.
- I am grateful that I can do things without getting tired and short of breath.
- I am grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses who have taken care of me through 20 years of illness.
- I am grateful for all my senses, my sight so I can see the beauty in the world, My hearing so that I can hear my granddaughter's beautiful laughter, unfortunately I don't have my sense of smell, but maybe that's not such a bad thing, especially when you have a roommate in the hospital who may have a bad case of gas. I guess I really have no sense because I can't remember the other sense(s).
- I am grateful for every day.
- I know I have a lot more things I am grateful for, but it was a long day today, so I hope to continue my list on another day.
Forum Leader
Heart-Liver Transplant - February 14, 2008
Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy 1991 and CHF
- Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed to be no hope at all - Dale Carnegie
- Bumps in the road can sometimes be mountains, so I have learned to climb mountains - Meagan
Meagan's Blog |
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Hostess Meagan
Forum Leader
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 1724
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 12:36 am: |
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PS To Pugmom Mary,
Have a wonderful cruising holiday. Stay healthy enough to have tons and tons of fun. I would love to hear all about it when you return. I love cruising. And once you return, I hope you get "the call" very quickly.
Hugs, Meagan
Forum Leader
Heart-Liver Transplant - February 14, 2008
Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy 1991 and CHF
- Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed to be no hope at all - Dale Carnegie
- Bumps in the road can sometimes be mountains, so I have learned to climb mountains - Meagan
Meagan's Blog |
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nana
Member
Username: Nana
Post Number: 62
Registered: 12-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 - 03:09 am: |
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Im grateful for my children that God allowed me to live to see them as adults. Im also grateful that I did not lose my mind 12 years ago on that dailysis machine at the age of 22.
| A God of Second Chance 1-21-99 |
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CiscoKidney07
Forum Leader
Username: Gregg
Post Number: 4377
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 09:16 am: |
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I forgot to include a couple of things in my original post that I am also grateful for:
1) This forum. I would like to think that in some small way, I contribute to the people who visit this forum and that I give back at least as much as it has given me. That might be a pretty tall order.
2) The ability to be able to contribute to society in the normal ways that people do, but also to be able to add something to the lives of people who do not have much. I have always tried to contribute my time and money to the developmentally disabled. They are important to me because they take nothing for granted like some others do. They don't even take for granted that you will take the time out to come and see them, because in many cases, their families don't come to see them. They are people just like we are and they have feelings just like we do. Unfortunately, like some of the senior population, they are closed off from society and forgotten. It makes my heart bleed to see this happen.
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papillonbleu
Forum Leader
Username: Papillonbleu
Post Number: 1849
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 09:49 am: |
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I am thankful for (in no particular order):
1)my family with whom my transplant has allowed me to spend more time and who are so kind in their support
2)my parents' cat Tiger
3)my older sister who is both my mentor and best friend
4)the support forums of which I am a part because it allows me to know that I am not alone and a chance to also give back through sharing my own experience
5)the ability to eat again by mouth after not being able to do so for several years before my transplant
6)the pink and white dogwoods in my front yard that remind me of my coming home from my transplant surgery but also the final coming home
7)my violin which I hope to start playing again soon and the ability to enjoy music in general
8)the ability to read and all the many different languages that can be read
9)the ability to breath, made dearer to me by my almost four month stay in the ICU and on the ventilator
10)all the times people have noticed my transplant buttons and asked me about them such that I could share
11)the ability to laugh about the hard and good times and just in general
12)the ability to walk without a wheelchair
13)nature and its beauties which I am constantly amazed by and continue to find new reasons to marvel in it
14)all the stickers I have collected and can use to decorate the cards that I send out as a means in a way to say thank you for all the cards that have been sent to me in my roughest times
15)all my doctors who try and do their best to treat me and help me reach my optimum health
16)my donor family who made such a selfless decision at what must have been a difficult time
17)my multivisceral transplant which I had never thought possible and yet it came as my 25th birthday gift from God and here I am more than five years later
18)my parents' old rocking chair (born to rock and swing!)
19)all the extra time I get to spend with my father since he went into retirement
20)the Bible and God's love for me
Bobbiejo
Forum Leader-Multivisceral
dx: GERD 1995, gastroparesis 2002, pseudo-obstruction of the bowel 2004
multivisceral transplant, 6 organs, 10/06/05
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
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Rita
Forum Leader
Username: Rita
Post Number: 521
Registered: 06-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 08:52 pm: |
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The people in my life, and the gifts they have given my by their presence.
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