Stems Cells IN Kidney Transplants

This is a really interesting article about stem cells being used in kidney transplants in order to allow patients to cease using immunosuppressant medications, such as Prograf or Cyclosporine.

CHeck it out here: Transplant Article

Support The Kidney Caucus

To all those who have a loved one or anyone else dear to them who had chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease, I urge you to write your U.S. Representative and urge them to join the Congressional Kidney Caucus. We have a great chance in 2008 to promote more legislation that benefits kidney disease and transplant patients in general. 

Kidney Transplant Stories

I've been extremely inspired by my second kidney transplant last year and would like to make this blog an opportunity for other transplant patients, live donors, family members of donors or anyone else who has been profoundly affected my organ donation. I'm working on a more easily usable blog page, but, until then, this is available for anyone.

Update

All is still well. My kidney is working great and I still feel great! I'm back in school full swing as well. This quarter we have OB Nursing and Pediatric Nursing. I start my clinical rotations at the end of August. That will be fun and exciting. I'm moving to Erie on 08/15/07. I'm not sure I am going to like it, but it is a cheaper place and I'll deal with it as it comes.
Another milestone...I celebrated 8 years clean and sober on 07/30. That is the longest amount of time sober I have ever had. However, I cannot forget that time by itself does not keep me sober. I must work a program and be of service as well.
More to come as this journery progresses.

Kidney Transplant #2

On 7/7/07 (what a lucky day), I had my second kidney transplant operation. The first one, on 9/30/05 had lots of trouble from the start. I had severe rejection just three days after surgery and the kidney lasted hardly a year.
On 7/5/07, I got a phone call from a nurse transplant coordinator at the University of Colorado Hospital and she said that there was a kidney available. She said it was a perfect match (called a zero-antigen mismatch in fancy medical lingo) and stated that I needed to be ready to come to the hospital at a moments notice. The next day, I went to the hospital and at around 8am on the morning of the 7th, I had the surgery. It went down without a hitch and I was in the hospital just 4 days. It's been a few weeks and I feel great! There have been no problems and I am keeping an optimistic attitude. More to come as this journey proceeds.