Here I am

[KT0930]

Hi there, everyone. My name is Katie and I live in metro Atlanta. I am 32 years old, female, mother of one son, married (for a second time) for just about 9 months, and trying to get my third kidney transplant.

My kidney failure started when I was less than a year old and got an e. coli infection. At age 6 I went on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and just before my eighth birthday, I received a kidney from my mother. 26 years later, she's doing great and in better health than most women her age (playing 18 holes of golf at least once a week when the weather allows it). That kidney lasted nearly 20 through adolescence, college, and a pregnancy.

Shortly after the pregnancy, my creatinine started going up, and about three years later, in 2002, I received another kidney, this time from my father. He also, is doing wonderfully. He's 70 years old and plays 18 holes of golf at least twice a week. Unfortunately, that kidney has not lasted nearly as long (as most second transplants do not). On October 6, 2006, I was told I needed dialysis again. I remember the date because I had just returned home from my honeymoon in Jamaica two days before....one last hoorah, it would seem.

Thankfully, my husband is incredible and understands that when I don't have the energy most people would or just don't feel up to doing something, it's usually because of the dialysis. However, he doesn't let me use it as a crutch. He pushes me to do what he knows I can, goes with me to as many doctor's appointments as he can, and takes over as much as he can at home so I'm not overwhelmed.

So, here we are. I'm currently doing CAPD and am on the waiting list in Georgia for a transplant. We went through the donor selection process, and although I had four people willing to donate, none of them matched. The surgeon told me that due to my previous transplants and pregnancy, I have antibodies to the majority (like 93%) of the population, so I'm going to be a difficult match, at best. On the bright side, I am a relatively "healthy" ESRD patient. I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure, I'm not overweight, and I am still able to work full-time.

Everyday I thank God that I have kidney problems and nothing is wrong with any other major organs. They don't have dialysis for hearts!

[okarol]

  Hi Katie,
Welcome to ihatedialysis.com! You sure have been through a lot but sounds like you have a great attitude despite the challenges of kidney failure! And your hubby sounds wonderful too!
I hope you can find a donor. There's lots of info here about high PRA patients, and the remedies available to them. We can learn a lot from you too, I am sure.
Take care,
Karol


okarol/moderator

[Hawkeye]

Hello and 

[goofynina]

Hi Katie, Welcome to ihatedialysis.com.  So glad you have found us.  We have alot of great info here on just about anything you can think of (but i am pretty sure you know most of it already)   Please do share some of your experiences while coping with this disease.  We have become one great big family here so i'd like to add "Welcome to the Family" as well    Looking forward to hearing more from you 


Goofynina/Admin.

[lola]

 

[Sluff]

Welcome to IHD Katie,

What a great attitude after a lifelong ordeal like that. Your parents are great and I hope them to have many more wonderful years of golf together.

You are an inspiration to all who are new to ESRD. After reading your post I found myself wanting to hear more, so feel free to post often and enjoy all IHD has to offer.

Also congratulations on your marriage, seems like a great match.

Thank you for taking an interest in ihatedialysis.com

Sluff/ Admin

[Laurie]

  Glad you found this site.

[boxman55]

great to have you aboard.   Boxman55

[keefer51]

Welcome Katie. I am waiting for my second transplant. I am on hemo now for three years. Hope you enjoy this site.

[rimbo74]

Welcome Katie, its great youhave a very understanding husband!

[angela515]

Welcome. 

Your husband seems like a lucky catch, and I'm happy you two found each other.

I am on my second transplant, it was a perfect match cadaver. I am thankful everyday I had 0% antibodies, after 1 transplant and 2 pregnancies and lots of blood transfusions. Thank you god!

Anyways, I look forward to chatting with you! I also hope to hear of your next transplant that I hope you will receive soon.

Welcome!!!

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Katie, good to have you aboard.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  Thank you for sharing so openly with us.  We are so glad that you have decided to join us.  I think that you have lots to offer us, just as I know we have lots to offer you.  One thing we can offer is a place where people understand what you are going through, so when you need to vent, you just go right ahead!
I really appreciate your spirit and am looking forward to hearing lots more from you.  We salute your parents and your husband.  What a tremendous network of support you already have!  And now you have added the IHD family (and we are pretty hard to get rid of).  Please take advantage of all our site has to offer.



Bajanne, Moderator

[st789]

Welcome, sound like u have wonderful parents.

Having supports around u like that for us always helps.

[KT0930]

Good morning everyone. Thanks for all the welcomes! I'm really glad I found this site. Even though I've been through this twice before, it's been different each time. Ok, the first time I was really too young to remember anything, but in '02 I was on hemo and this time is PD, and last time I had a family member who was able AND willing to donate. This time I only have one willing. Let me tell ya, being on the list is a whole different ballgame. I always thought of dialysis as a temporary fix, so it was kind of a shock (and not a pleasant one) when I had to start thinking of it as a long-term thing...in fact I'm still having trouble with that. I keep thinking "I'm going to get THE CALL anyday now" However, statistics are against me there.

Okay, now I'm getting myself depressed, and that's a subject for a rant anyway. This is just to say thanks for making me feel welcome, and I'll try to answer as many questions as I can, though I've learned from having a very smart 8 year old in the house that if I don't absolutely know the answer, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut!  Hopefully you all can help me with some questions, too.

[MyssAnne]

Good morning, and welcome!! You're definitely one of our pros here!!!  Enjoy yourself here, we do, while learning, as well! It IS nice to
come and talk to others who are not gonna not know what to say. We're going through the same things, we know what it's like.

[Zach]

Welcome to our community!

[carolyn77531]

 

[Earlinda]

 

[kitkatz]

It sounds like you have been through a lot in your life time.  Welcome to the site. I am sure with your experiences you have a lot to share with all of us.





kitkatz,moderator