Hello! Greeting and Salutations!

[WDJ]

Oh boy, where to begin. One day i was bor...wait thats way to far in the past!

One day, I'm going to school raving and ranting about my new car and ready for graduation year and shortly after WHAMMO I got hit with a devastating blow! I was tired a lot during my senior year and I never really thought about it. I always just assumed I was lazy and liked sleeping during classes.

Anyways, I go into a routine checkup with a doctor. My parents went on a long needed vacation to the Caribbean islands. Far be it from me, to let them enjoy there vacation! My sister is the one who received the call, I believe my creatnine was 4 or 5 times is normal amount. The next thing I know, I'm being treated for extreme anemia and in a hospital doing hemo dialysis. I, finding a reason to skip as much school as possible!, finish my Senior year with a 4.0 and even get to skip the exams. On a hunch, my doctor diagnoses me with Alports Syndrome, I've had bad hearing and eyes since I was about 12. It's nice to know whats been causing kidney failure is my moms family history.

Fast forward through and I go through hemo dialysis, PD, and then CCPD. Being a night owl and a college student, I find doing CCPD at night allows me to enjoy my pc and still get college work done. I struggle through my college and end up dropping every 2 out of 4 classes. It's a real struggle but with the support of my fiance I manage to get half way through my associates.

Fast forward several infections from a loose cuff and other bad luck situations (4 years) and now I am getting sick of having bad luck. Out of nowhere, I get a call that I have a kidney waiting for me at MUSC hospital. I am scared to death. I intentionally avoid knowing the details of the sugery as I'm scared I'd chicken out.

I had a real rough time when I had the transplant. Everyone else was walking around on the second day of their transplants, While I couldn't even get out of bed. Things improve when they take the cathe out of my hoohoo.

I am amazed when I get my transplant as I am bombarded with smells and sense that came back to me. I didn't realize how my illness had dulled my ability to smell! In fact, the smell of garlic nearly made me vomit because of how strong it seemed. I couldn't even swim in a pool cause i was so unused to the physical feeling of cold.

Thinking nothing could go wrong, it does. I end up with CMV in the hospital for quite a long time. Eventually, I get over it and start trucking through my associates. By now, I am hoping to get 1 class done a SEMESTER. I have a great fiance and family who supported me through the times.

Fast forward another couple months and I get a call from Infectious disease. It turns out the donor had active TB and the liver receiver had developed a pus spot.They missed the TB details because the lady who died had her lungs crushed in an accident. I am forced to take TB medicines for 6 months. The medicines make me so ill that I have to sleep in my car between my class. I drive home sometimes extremely ill, hoping to make it to the next class. I even have a scare because I didn't know the medicine made my pee red!

Next, I get a major job with SPAWAR. I'm excited thinking my life was starting to settle down. Low and behold, I spend a week straight in severe pain in my back, I get diagnosed with a dislocated vertebrae. After two weeks of suffering, hot baths, and killing my voice box they do an autopsy on my back and find I have Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Initially my doctors tell me if my kidney goes into rejection from not taking Cellcept there is not much they can do. I spend the next year fighting cancer and getting it into remission.

Finally, I am still in remission and still have my transplant. I have been going strong the past 8 months!

[monrein]

What a rough journey you've been on WDJ  but what a compelling account you've given in this introduction.  Thanks and  to IHD.  What really struck me as I read your story were your gritty determination, your optimism and your sense of humour...all pretty strong advantages when it comes to dealing with this illness.
I really do wish however that you hadn't needed to practice using all these qualities as much as you have had to!
Glad you found this forum and I look forward to getting to know you through IHD.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  I loved your intro!!  Epoman, IHD's founder would have given it an A+ (sorry you can't add this to your resumé!)  We are so glad that you joined us.  This is a wonderful place for support and for information (and for fun!)  You will soon discover that this is a real family!   And one advantage over your first family (though you are lucky to have a very supportive one) - is that we know and understand EXACTLY what you are going through.  So keep reading and keep posting.
I am looking forward to your posting on the forum.





Bajanne, Moderator

[Jean]

Wow, what a great intro. So well written and you have such a good attitude. Sounds like things are finally turning your way. So glad you joined us, and    to IHD. Look forward to hearing more from you.

[galvo]

Greetings and Salutations right back at ya, WDJ and . Life is a bellyful of laughs, isn't it? I'm glad you've joined us, buddy. With that attitude, you'll fit in well here!

[looneytunes]

Hi WDJ and what a great intro.  I love the attitude...it may get you down but it won't keep you down!  Welcome to IHD and I'm looking forward to seeing your posts.   

[YLGuy]

  Inspiring story.  I am glad you are here.

[cariad]

  WDJ. I'm sorry you had to go through so many medical nightmares, but I was delighted to hear that you have been doing so well as of late.

I had a real rough time when I had the transplant. Everyone else was walking around on the second day of their transplants, While I couldn't even get out of bed.

Oh yes, I can relate to this experience. I seemed to be the only person struggling after the transplant, and when I asked the nurse on duty if I was "behind" their average patient in terms of getting up and walking around, she said "well, yeah". (I was sort of expecting a pep talk about how everyone recovers at different rates....)

I look forward to getting to know you better.

[Rerun]

Hi WDJ and welcome to IHD!  Not a smooth ride so far, but I hope you are now on I-5 which is a straight stretch.  I know you have a good support system, but please come here to vent because we have been there and understand.  Bless you for sharing your story.

Rerun, Moderator                   

[cloud393]

Wow!  Sounds like you have been thru the ringer.  I'm glad to hear you are on the mend and that you were able to keep up the schooling.  Keep the positive attitude.