Milestone Monday-Taking Transplant Stories on the Road

My recipient, Denise Brown, and I are approaching the second anniversary of our kidney transplant.  It has been life changing for both of us.  Previously, I shared the wonderful news that Denise has just become a grandmother.  It's a thrill to know that she's healthy enough to take care of her grandson.

This weekend, I had my first official speaking engagement about our kidney transplant journey. Our church's (St. Pius X Catholic Church, Conyers, Georgia) women's group invited me to speak at our Advent by Candlelight program.  It was an honor to be among them and share the transplant journey.

I enjoyed connecting with several of them after the presentation.  Many of them have been reluctant to register as an organ donor on their license. There were several misconceptions.

I was thankful that in addition to information from The Living Kidney Donor Network, I also had material from Donate Life Georgia.

This season, I am grateful for my own health.  Many are not so lucky.  Until there is a cure for kidney disease, I will continue to speak to as many groups as individuals about the critical need for more donors.

What about you? Do you belong to a group that would benefit in learning more?  I would love to talk to you about booking an event.  Click here for my email.  I usually respond within 24 hours.

P.S. Are you registered as an organ donor? If not, click here to learn more.

Wait List for a Kidney Transplant-What Hollywood Doesn't Tell You

Boy Meets Girl. Boy and Girl fall in love. Girl needs kidney. 

Commercial break. 

Boy gives girl kidney. Boy and girl live happily ever after.

Sure would be nice if life was like the movies. The reality is that there is a LOT more to kidney transplant stories than Hollywood, cable or the Tabloids lead you to believe.  But there is hope.

The truth is that the wait for a kidney can be extremely long.  It can be filled with family tension, depression, and financial difficulties.  However, it can also include a stronger sense of community, hope and answered prayer.

If you or someone you know is waiting for a kidney transplant, there are several things that you can do:

1. Stay in close contact with your transplant coordinator.
2. If a living donor hasn't stepped forward, consider developing a campaign to find one. The Living Kidney Donor Network can help you create one.
3. Ask about entering a paired exchange. Living Kidney Donor Network explains paired exchange.

Feeling overwhelmed?  That's normal.  For now, consider signing up for a free newsletter with information about current trends and transplants, success stories and tips on current "Kidney Kampaigns."   

On the Kidney Transplant List?

It's torture when you are waiting to hear that an organ's available. 

You've probably done everything that your coordinator has recommended. What else can you do? 

The Living Kidney Donor Network has ideas to help you create a social media campaign. Click here to visit their page. 

Need help getting started? Leave a comment. Maybe I can help.

Waiting for Someone to Rescue me from Kidney Failure

I hear you.  Yesterday's session in Nashville, "How to Have Your Donor Find YOU!" was an opportunity to meet some of you.Click here to see the clip with Harvey.

 The wait is discouraging. The statistics are overwhelming. And, you're tired.  Many of you have been on dialysis and spend more that half of your week exhausted. Kidney disease is affecting every organ in your body.

There is hope.  The Living Kidney Donor Network provides information to help you find a donor.  Harvey Mysel, director of the network said something that rang true for me.

There are people who are willing to be living donors.  The way to reach them is TELL YOUR STORY.  That's how I was moved to step forward for my cousin.

We lived 900 miles apart. It had been over 35 years since we'd seen each other.  It wasn't until she started telling her story that I reconnected.

Click here to visit the website, www.lkdn.org to learn more. Reach out to Harvey. Keep telling your story. Hang in there.