Rollercoaster

The transplant journey is like a rollercoaster. There are highs and lows.

High: It’s time to list for transplant. I can’t wait to get back to life.

Low: It’s time to list for transplant. Everything will change. I will have a whole new set of medical issues.

High: Your transplant evaluation was good! There are no issues that will prevent you from being a successful transplant patient.

Low: Your antibody count is super high. It’s going to be very hard to find a match. So we are going to wait for you to get sicker before listing.

High: I get to enjoy my summer with my daughter and not be in the hospital.

Low: The heat makes me feel lethargic and so tired. I need a new heart.

Thinking about finding a donor can be a high and a low too. Of course I want to find a donor and that is the goal. But I know right now there is a person walking around, living their life with the people they love and this person needs to die so that I can live. I recognize there is nothing I can do to prevent their death. But it’s still hard to think about and very sad.

I encourage you to consider being an organ donor. It truly is a light of hope for people like me who are sick. It’s the only answer for survival. I have so many things I want to accomplish before my light goes out.