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TransplantBuddies.org Forums » Buddies Blogs » Friends of TransplantBuddies Blogs » About to turn 29, waiting for a heart « Previous Next »
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Andrea
Member
Username: Aef616

Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2010
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 01:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

My name is Andrea. A virus attacked my heart in October of 2009, causing heart failure, which led to liver, kidney and bone marrow failure. I was previously a totally healthy 28-year-old woman. My liver, kidneys and bone marrow recovered, but my heart has not improved. I'm now waiting for a heart to become available for transplant.

I started a blog several months ago to inject some humor into my situation and sort of lift the veil behind living with heart disease. If you want to check it out, the url is http://www.eclipseoftheheartgirl.blogspot.com}.

I look forward to learning from all of the inspiring stories on TransplantBuddies.
29 year old female
dx with cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure october 2009
waiting for heart tx (1B)

blog: www.eclipseoftheheartgirl.blogspot.com
Heather
Forum Leader
Username: Heather

Post Number: 2947
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 05:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Andrea! Welcome to the site. My goodness...that is a lot for someone to have happen at such a young age. I am so glad your other organs recovered. Are they all working normally now or were they damaged? I hope you get a heart soon. I am going to check out your blog in a bit but wondered if you could still continue to blog here with us?..maybe that is too much blogging? Anyway..I am happy you found us.
Heather

Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
EC Illinois, USA
Kidney donor to dad 12/1/99
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes, Chicago

DONATE LIFE
Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13356
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 05:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome Andrea,

Wishing you the best and that you receive your new heart soon.

I will check out your blog right now.

Please join us when you have the time.
Rise'
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05 JMH

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience

Transplant Friends.com

Questions- Contactl Hostess Rise'
Andrea
Member
Username: Aef616

Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2010
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 06:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks for the response! I am very fortunate that my other organs recovered completely while I was in the hospital. Here's some more about my story...

I had bronchitis or something like it for a couple of weeks. I took a Z-Pack and felt much better for a couple of days before becoming sick again. My symptoms were different this second time - my belly was swollen, which made eating and drinking very unappealing and uncomfortable. As a result, I became very weak and dehydrated.

I went to an urgent care facility, where I was told I had indigestion. My mom flew to town and took me to the ER, where I was again told I had indigestion. She insisted we return to the ER the next day, which saved my life. I was admitted for observation - the doctors now knew something was wrong but not what.

Late that night I coded with heart, liver, kidney and bone marrow failure. I was sent to the ICU and remained there for three weeks. During that time, I had all kinds of tests and treatments. After a couple of weeks, my other organs resumed almost full function. I was discharged after spending a week in a step-down unit, getting set up for home infusion care and being listed for transplant.

When I went home, we still had hope that my heart would recover. However, seven months later, it has not budged. So I am fortunate to have all of my non-heart organs functioning and am grateful to have transplant as an option so that I can hopefully go on to live a relatively normal life.

I am a single professional and look forward to resuming pursuit of my career and hopefully dating again and one day having a family.
29 year old female
dx with cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure october 2009
waiting for heart tx (1B)

blog: www.eclipseoftheheartgirl.blogspot.com
Meagan
Forum Leader
Username: Newheart14

Post Number: 1203
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 10:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Andrea,

Welcome to Transplant Buddies. You have the same heart disease I had but mine was idiopathic (of unknown origin).

Feel free to ask questions. We hope to hear more from you. I will read your blog soon.

I hope you get your heart soon.

Meagan
Forum Leader
First Combined Heart-Liver Transplant
Performed at Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
February 14, 2008
Diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy 1991 and eventual 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
DAP1122
Forum Leader
Username: Dap1122

Post Number: 1774
Registered: 05-2008
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 07:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome Andrea,

This is the BEST site in the world for transplant patients, donors and their families. We are one big family here and we have each other's backs.

Feel free to ask & answer questions, vent or scream if you need to. We hope you visit often. Your blog indicates you enjoy humor ...... we are always ready to hear a good joke.

Hugs, DAP (Don)
New blog/web page -
My2ndHeartBeat
Dap's Email

Heart Tx - 5/11/2007
DAP
Ohio, USA

Join our Transplant Buddies Calendar
deb.k
Member
Username: Debdotk

Post Number: 5
Registered: 06-2010
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 08:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Andrea, Thank you for sharing your story. It is interesting to hear how other people became a transplantee. You seem to be a very compelling writer, I adore the name of your blog.
Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 13362
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 04:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Andrea,
your blog link in your signature should be clickable now.
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05 JMH

Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience

Transplant Friends.com

Questions- Contactl Hostess Rise'
Andrea
Member
Username: Aef616

Post Number: 3
Registered: 06-2010
Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks for all of the support! I'm glad I found this site!
29 year old female
dx with cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure october 2009
waiting for heart tx (1B)

blog: Eclipse of The Heart Girl
Karen R.
Forum Leader
Username: Relivkaren

Post Number: 4548
Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Monday, June 21, 2010 - 07:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Andrea:

Welcome to Transplant Buddies! I am a little late in welcoming you, but I have been on vacation and now trying to play "catch up."

I am so sorry that you have been through so much. I am happy to hear that your other organs recovered, but sorry to hear that you now need a heart transplant.

DAP is right! This is the best site to come to get support and friendship while you wait and after your transplant. I am almost 7 months post double lung transplant and the folks on this site are wonderful!!

I hope you continue visit. We look forward to getting to know you better.

God Bless!
Karen
Dx: BOOP - May 2006. Rediagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Nov. 2006
Double lung transplant on Dec. 1st, 2009
Cleveland Clinic

Ohio, USA

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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