Recuperation journey: Impromptu ice cream stop

As my daughter, Allegra, was driving me home from a medical procedure this afternoon we both got the idea it was time for one of our favorite sweet treats: ice cream.

We stopped on the way and ordered cones. While we were enjoying our frozen confections I was able to get this bonus mystery photo.

So where did yours truly snap this photo? If you know, please respond in the comments; I'll reveal the location in an upcoming post.

Recuperation journey: Another gift from a special friend

Not only did my new friend Robin give me her kidney, she gave me a key fob featuring a bone kidney!

Robin Gilmartin of West Hartford is an altruistic donor who gave up a healthy kidney on May 9 for a perfect stranger, which turned out to be yours truly. 

She found the kidney on this fun site featuring gifts for transplant patients. 

Who knew there was kidney transplant jewelry? Not I. 
But I like it! 
I wonder which pair of earrings I will buy? Hmmm...

Recuperation journey: It's only natural

A recipient of a donated organ wouldn't be human if he or she didn't wonder who gave them the gift of life.

I've been wondering since Day 1 who my donor was, and was overjoyed Thursday to meet her, a wonderful woman named Robin Gilmartin. 

I was glad to hear my fellow recipients say when they saw other patients waiting for appointments they would look at them and try to guess if they were their donor.

I did the exact same thing! 
At a pre-surgery appointment I noticed a woman seated with her family and I convinced myself - incorrectly of course - that she was about to be my donor. 
The need to know is human nature.

Here's a photo my daughter took of me (at right) and Robin at Thursday's press conference at Yale-New Haven Hospital: 

We were part of an 18-person kidney exchange! 
I had no idea so many transplants were involved. It's wonderful and overwhelming all at once to be a part of it.

Recuperation journey: 'It's magical'

I got happy news at the transplant clinic Thursday. My test results looked good to the health-care professionals and two of them told me I'm doing great.

My nephrologist was happy to hear I'm feeling fine and told me, "Sometimes it can be magical."

That's so true! 

I also met a woman Thursday who had her kidney transplant in May a day after I had mine. 
She said she feels "100 percent" better than before. 
She also told me she wasn't nervous at all beforehand. Once I was committed to the idea I wasn't anxious either.
I was counting down the days, and really couldn't wait to have the transplant done.

But we agreed that our husbands were much more nervous before the surgery than we were.

The whole experience has been nothing short of a miracle. 
I've had zero pain, and only a few manageable side effects from all the medications. 

Magical indeed. 

Recuperation journey: And then there were three

So I don't think I've mentioned this interesting tidbit before. 

When I tell my friends that I have three kidneys they all are amazed, as I was when they told me they wouldn't be taking one of my diseased organs out during surgery. 

When I went for my first consultation a year ago the surgeon felt my belly and said there was room! 

I have read on the good ol' Internet there are times when a person's kidneys are so horribly swollen - 15 pounds each, for example - that surgeons will remove them during the transplant. 
But otherwise they stay intact. That makes a lot of sense!  

Recuperation journey: Squirrelly

I was watering this geranium plant Sunday that I had managed to keep alive indoors since last summer - not a small feat for moi.

And what do I spy but this lone peanut! I guess my squirrel friend stashed it here for a future snack.
It made me smile so I had to take a picture.

Recuperation journey: Watching the birds

When I was really little my mother started watching the birds in our yard. She would enthusiastically tell me about her newfound interest, and of course I had no interest.

"I saw a tufted titmouse!" she'd exclaim, or something similar. She'd keep a written record of the dates she saw various feathered friends. I didn't understand the enjoyment of it all. 

My father bought her a good pair of binoculars and Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America to help her identify what she was watching.

Fast forward decades later. I find myself watching the birds outside my window.
The difference is I also enjoy trying to capture their photos, such as these I took in the spring:

Another observation: I've discovered there are other ladies "of a certain age" like me who also like to watch the birds.

Hmmm....  

Recuperation journey: Feels like a milestone

First off, I truly appreciate everyone who is following my current journey. 

I hope writing about my experience here raises awareness of Polycystic Kidney Disease and of the importance of organ donation. 
Maybe someone out there will be inspired to consider being a living kidney donor.
My wonderful sister-in-law Sue did just that, and through her selflessness a stranger received a kidney, as did I. 

This is Week 7 of my having a new kidney, and at the risk of jinxing myself I have to say I feel better than I have in years! I seem to have newfound energy. 

Today I even brought back a bunch of bottles and cans for redemption and made a dent in the pile of empties in my car. If you peered into my car windows you'd think I had become a hoarder. I didn't; I just wasn't out and about.

Thank you, thank you to my anonymous donor. I hope I get a chance to meet you someday!  

Recuperation journey: On the road again

Today at my weekly transplant clinic appointment I got clearance to drive again!
Yay me.

Look out, world! 

Recuperation journey: Flowers, finally

Ventured out in the world this morning and went to a local garden center. I bought some annuals to plant around my gnomes. 
Since I've been recuperating/hibernating after surgery I'm about a month behind in my flower purchases.
Still need more color, but it's a start.

Hat tip to my daughter for driving me! 

I didn't have to plant this Vinca, Catharanthus roseus; I simply plopped it in a pot. Eventually it needs to be transplanted into a larger container.

Recuperation journey: Out and about

OK, I'm proud. 
I took a lovely walk (3/4 mile?) around the neighborhood.

Now what's for lunch? 
This new kidney has given me a good appetite!

Recuperation journey: Whole lotta nappin' going on

I've got (almost) nothing today, because I've been hanging around the house and resting.

I've been posting plenty here on my blog, and keeping up with what's going on in our Valley community. But other than that nothing much of note is happening.

I need to get motivated to start taking walks instead of so many naps during the day, but I guess that will come.

Today I'm looking forward to attending a graduation party to congratulate our friends' son. An outing! Out in the world!

Recuperation journey: Feeling fortunate

Today I want to write about how grateful I am to the health-care professionals who are closely following my post-transplant progress.


Everyone I've met on the transplant team has been so kind and helpful. They make sure to address all of my concerns - few though they may be. 

Suffice it to say they make the whole experience a lot less difficult than I might have anticipated. In fact, it's not difficult at all.

I was at the clinic earlier today, and at the risk of jinxing myself, I can report that I'm doing well in my recuperation. 

I hope by writing these posts I may help allay the fears of someone in need of a transplant, or at the very least raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

Although I still haven't met my donor, I pray that day will come!

Recuperation journey: Raising awareness on 5-week birthday of new kidney

Five weeks ago today I received a kidney transplant, for which I will always be grateful. I have Polycystic Kidney Disease. 

I hope to meet the wonderful person who generously donated his or her healthy kidney to a stranger (i.e. me).

March is National Kidney Month, and in March, 2016 I posted 31 days of a PKD challenge to raise awareness of the disease that may not be that well known.

I want to continue raising awareness of the genetic disease that causes cysts to grow in the kidney, eventually leading to renal failure.

There are two types of PKD: autosomal dominant (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive (ARPKD). 

According to the PKD Foundation website, ADPKD is the more common type and affects more than 600,000 Americans and 12.4 million people worldwide. 
ARPKD is a rare form of the disease that occurs in 1 in 20,000 children worldwide.

The website says a typical kidney is the size of a human fist and weighs about a third of a pound. PKD kidneys can be much larger and weigh up to 30 pounds.

The disease is prevalent on my late father's side of the family. 
He suffered with PKD as did four of his five siblings. My two oldest cousins have passed from complications of the disease. 
After having an ultrasound in my 20s I learned I had cysts on my kidneys. 
My maiden name is McDonald, and I've dubbed PKD "the curse of the McDonalds," and I'll always think of it as that.

An older cousin had a transplant in 2001 and thankfully he is doing well, and we recently learned that a first cousin once removed had a successful transplant about 13 years ago. 
So that makes me the third recipient in our extended family. 

All I can say is organ donors are awesome. 

It's Friday?!?

With my current recuperation situation I hardly know what day it is. That's so unlike me. 

This really is a different schedule, temporary though it may be! 
It's almost like being retired, I suppose. And I'm definitely not retired, merely tired.

I'd just like to thank everyone for stopping by and reading my posts documenting my return to normal after my kidney transplant. 

I see that the posts are getting a lot of views. Much appreciated! 

Recuperation journey: Another 'procedure' in the books

I'm happy to say my husband and I survived a five-hour stay at the hospital today, which mostly involved waiting around for the next 'event.' 

We brought our own sandwiches for lunch and bought coffees and dark chocolate (it contains magnesium!) at the cafeteria.

But everything is good, and I can report another bit of progress in my kidney transplant recuperation.

Slow and steady ...

Miracle pill? Not so much

Regular readers may recall that I recently dubbed the melatonin supplement I was encouraged to take a "miracle pill." 

I reported trouble sleeping, and melatonin was prescribed. You can read that post here.

I take it back! Melatonin may help me to fall asleep, but it certainly doesn't help me stay asleep for more than a few hours in a row.

Sleep is so overrated! Just kidding. 

Someday ... zzzzz

Recuperation journey: Finally took a walk around the neighborhood

It was beautiful out this afternoon! And so nice to finally see the sun.

 Keep looking up ~ that's my motto.

Newsletter highlights kidney transplant, Ansonia High band, Shelton athletes

Dear readers,

Our latest newsletter is now out. 
It features my transplant update, Ansonia High School band practicing for Sunday's Memorial Day Parade, and Shelton student athletes' college signing ceremony. 

Please click here to read all about it.

Thanks and have a safe Memorial Day weekend. 

~ Patti

On midnight snacks and a need to relax

Two hours of tossin' and turnin' is my limit.
It's 12:30 a.m. and I'm back up. And writing on the computer (but I guess you could figure that part out).

I hardly slept Saturday night and had hoped to recoup several hours of sleep Sunday. But I only napped for an hour. A long snooze wasn't in the cards.

I'm considering having a midnight snack. I can't remember the last time I had a true midnight snack. I think I may have been in college (!)

Since peanut butter is a high potassium and high phosphorus food, I was told to avoid it on the renal diet I had to follow pre-transplant. 
But now I can consume it. 
PB & J sandwiches are a newfound treat.
I think I'll have peanut butter on a few low-sodium crackers. Maybe that will bring some sleep.