Kidney
Recipient Story
Dear visitors to the OETSG web site,
I wish to share my personal story in the hope that it might encourage others who are on a similar journey
I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when I was 11 yrs old. I accepted it at the time and learned to give myself needles not really knowing the damaging affects the disease could have. Throughout the years I encountered different problems, went through laser eye treatments, skin problems, digestive problems and then one of the complications I greatly feared kidney dialysis
By this time I had had diabetes for 29 years and was so sick of one thing after another, along came dialysis, it was such a drag, I’d already had a hard life I wasn’t sure how much else I could take. I only hoped and prayed I’d qualify for a double transplant. When I passed all the tests with a few scares along the way Ii was put on the list. On Jan 30/2006 I got the wonderful call to go to Toronto. I was the second pick for the match so I was just hoping I’d be picked. I ended up being picked for the transplant operation. A new kidney and pancreas the next day Jan 31/2006 was my lucky day.
The first words out of my mouth after the operation were, "I’m the luckiest girl in the world". After 32 years of diabetes and 3 years of dialysis I felt I would have a whole new beginning. At first everything was great then my kidney started rejecting and it had the doctors baffled but I had some other treatments and my kidney started working again.
It has been almost one and a half years and last time I had a visit with my doctors in Toronto they said my blood work was excellent. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed and hope my new organs last a long, long time. I’ve returned to work full time after only working part time occasionally for the past 22 years. I wish all the best for each and every one of you, if you have had a transplant or are waiting for one and all those who are their support network.
Diane
Information Check the Toronto General Hospital Kidney Organ Transplant Page
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