I have been a Member since 2006, I wanted to revisit and share

A lot has happened since I joined ihatedialysis back in 2006. Back then I was new to Dialysis (i was doing hemo dialysis out of my home) and thought my life was headed downhill. I was 23 when I found out I had bilateral kidney failure. I was newly wed with a new kid and another on the way. I hadn't finished college yet, and I lost my job because I was getting too sick to work. I thought my family was going to lose me and I was not a happy camper. I remember this site and talking with the admins, members, and Epoman gave me some hope and knowledge.

Since 2006, I had a kidney transplant in August, 2007 (I did revisit here after my transplant often that first year) which was donated from my mother. Soon after my transplant, I decided to go back to school and finish my teaching degree. This was a HORRIBLE idea, but I did it anyway. I got my degree in 2008 and started teaching. I enjoyed it sometimes, but not really. I also didnt really think about how sick those kids get and that I was on immune-suppressants which did not make a good mix. I quit teaching and snagged a Federal Job at the Small Business Administration. A federal job was what I wanted because I was worried (And still am) that if I lose my kidney, I will have disability insurance. While working at the SBA, I acquired a MBA in Information Technology. I kept the job at SBA from 2010-2018. In 2017, I took my mother on a 10 year kidney transplant anniversary. I was able to take her to a resort and spend the week together with just the two of us. It was a weird but satisfying anniversary. I couldnt believe 10 years happened so fast! In 2018, I accepted a position at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center as the Web Services Manager. My wife has stuck with me since I found out I had kidney failure, and we now have 3 children as well. I didnt think I was going to be able to have any children because of my kidneys, but my wife insisted on the first one because she was scared about losing me. The second one was after I had started dialysis and we didnt think it was a high chance but it happened. The third was after I had my transplant and was on meds. Each child was tested and has was found to have zero kidney problems. I had thought I wasnt going to have any kids, but I ended up having three. It was crazy.

I wanted to put this all out there because of how my perspective changed as things finally started going my way. I thought it was OVER when I found out I had bilateral kidney failure in my early 20s. Now at 40, I'm doing things I never thought possible during my lows. I have my family which I thought was doomed, I finished 2 degrees and I have a pretty cool job. No one around me would believe I had the problems I had without me telling them. I even have to show my kids pictures of when I was sick for them to believe it.

This is an AWESOME place for people that have kidney problems, or for family members of those that have problems to share the ups and downs. I just wanted to share my progress since joining this group back in 2006.