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Andrea
Member Username: Aef616
Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2010
| Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 01:55 pm: |
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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 |
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Heather
Forum Leader Username: Heather
Post Number: 2947 Registered: 05-2003
| Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 05:49 pm: |
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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 |
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Hostess Rise'
Board Administrator Username: Rise
Post Number: 13356 Registered: 05-2003
| Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 05:58 pm: |
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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'
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Andrea
Member Username: Aef616
Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2010
| Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 06:07 pm: |
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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 |
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Meagan
Forum Leader Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 1203 Registered: 01-2009
| Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 10:43 pm: |
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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 |
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DAP1122
Forum Leader Username: Dap1122
Post Number: 1774 Registered: 05-2008
| Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 07:52 am: |
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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)
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deb.k
Member Username: Debdotk
Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2010
| Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 08:02 am: |
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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: |
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Andrea, your blog link in your signature should be clickable now.
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Andrea
Member Username: Aef616
Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2010
| Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 10:57 am: |
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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 |
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Karen R.
Forum Leader Username: Relivkaren
Post Number: 4548 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Monday, June 21, 2010 - 07:33 pm: |
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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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