Just ranting-need advice

[mike22]

Im a college student at Vanderbilt University. At the end of this semester i will be a senior. Of course i am excited about the prospect of graduating and finding a career path. I enter Vanderbilt in the fall of 2004 i took a semester off due to grades. During that time off, my brother died. I returned in the fall of 2005 and had immediate success. Afterwards I still had some academic obstacles, but I keep pushing.  Pushing through i began to get better in school. Then in the spring term of 2008 my kidney transplant of 8 yrs rejected.  I had to take a year long medical leave. Trust me it was tough. The transplant team could save my kidney, my mom was rejected as a donor due to blood pressure, and my father passed away. Devasted, I only could think of one thing and that was returning to school. People had some doubts about me doing dialysis and school. But in my heart i knew it was best and I had a plan. I return to vanderbilt , waitlisted at the hospital and did well in school. It gets lonely because no one understands how I feel and my outlook on life.  You see I want to go to Washington DC, which is the mecca for policy, research, and medicine. I want to go to medical school and study the kidney. funny but i never wanted to, but losing my kidney gave me a changed heart. Plus i would love to do some type of advocacy work and Washington DC is a great place to do it. Its hard because I dont have good family support but I do have a Lot of people in  my corner. Didnt meant to rant. I figure this was the only place i could turn  to people in my shoes.

[MooseMom]

I don't know why anyone would bother with dialysis and/or transplantation if there was no point in continuing with your life as you had planned.  The universe has given you quite the dish of bad luck, so you are due for some success.  Far from being an obstruction, I would have thought that your experience would be ideal for someone who wishes to affect policy, especially medical policy.

I'm sorry you don't have your family's full support, but you certainly have support here in cyberspace.

I had a very good friend years ago who went to Vanderbilt.  I wish you all the success in the world.  Please keep us posted on your progress and your plans.

[monrein]

I agree with MM wholeheartedly that you should pursue your plan with all the drive and motivation that you can find within yourself.   You will definitely find many people in your corner here too and I do hope you'll keep us in the loop as things go along. 

[galvo]

Yeah, Mike, you go for it!

[Romona]

Best Wishes Mike. I think it is great that you did so well so far! I think you have a bright future ahead of you. 

[KarenInWA]

Mike - I just want to tell you that I personally find you very inspiring!  Having such a terrible disease at a young age like you have, and all the heartache and loss you have experienced over the last few years, yet you still have the willl and drive to not only perservere but move to D.C., go to med school, and become a medical advocate???  GO, Mike GO!!!!!     

Heck, if you're looking to change policy, or educate people, or whatever, I think you'll have many fans and LOTS of support right here on IHD.  Bill Peckham is a good one to go to for advice and feedback, as are others on this site.  I mention Bill because he has done a lot of dialysis advocacy.  He is also another one that has not let this disease bring him down, and has accomplished quite a bit despite it.  People like you and him are my personal heroes

You need support???  You GOT it!!! 

KarenInWA

[Sunny]

You have dreams and ambition that could affect people's lives, as well as your own. All for the better.
keep moving toward those dreams. You are young and energetic and dialysis isn't going to hold you back. Plus you may be eligible for a transplant again. I'm sorry you lost your brother and your father. I'm sure that was very hard for you on top of losing your transplanted kidney.      Keep posting, we're here to help. Maybe a college counselor is available where you are to help steer you in the right career direction.
Good luck to you.

[Stacy Without An E]

Pushing yourself to get back to school, even when life is falling apart around you, is exactly the mindset you need to survive the effects of Dialysis.

I, and many other here, work full time, and some mornings we arise wondering how the hell we're going to get through the day.  Whatever you do, don't allow Dialysis to steal your drive away. 

Dialysis likes to destroy lives.  It will claw, bite, and shriek in terror in its attempt to do so.

Here's to continued strength and determination for your future.