Back to Work II

[walrus]

I didn't want to highjack Frosty's thread, and in fact was not sure I wanted to mention this at all, but Frosty got me thinking.

My story is about returning to work is quite different. I am a college professor at a small private college. I have known for awhile I would need a new kidney, and I started renal dialysis this August. I ended up taking the Fall semester off on a medical leave, to try to get a transplant. Two points that remind me how lucky I am - one, my wife was able to donate in my name (although she was not a match), and the school I work for paid my full salary for the semester I was out, as I had been there over a decade. A very nice and generous benefit.

To make a long story short, my wife donated a kidney on my behalf, and I had my right kidney removed and received a new kidney as well. Both she and I are doing fine, just very tired, but extremely happy and feeling very blessed.

What we experienced was truly a miracle of modern health care. We "swapped" kidneys with a couple from Missouri, where my wife's kidney was sent by private jet on the morning of 11/22, and then their kidney (a match for me) was sent to Boston for my surgery later the same day. An emotional yet amazing day to say the least. Everything went as well as it could go, my kidney started working immediately, my wife was sent home on Thanksgiving, and I was home two days later.

Everything continues to go well, and I will be back to school this January, and I can't wait!

walrus

 

[killdeer43]

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

Joe

 

[chazmo]

I didn't want to highjack Frosty's thread, and in fact was not sure I wanted to mention this at all, but Frosty got me thinking.

My story is about returning to work is quite different. I am a college professor at a small private college. I have known for awhile I would need a new kidney, and I started renal dialysis this August. I ended up taking the Fall semester off on a medical leave, to try to get a transplant. Two points that remind me how lucky I am - one, my wife was able to donate in my name (although she was not a match), and the school I work for paid my full salary for the semester I was out, as I had been there over a decade. A very nice and generous benefit.

To make a long story short, my wife donated a kidney on my behalf, and I had my right kidney removed and received a new kidney as well. Both she and I are doing fine, just very tired, but extremely happy and feeling very blessed.

What we experienced was truly a miracle of modern health care. We "swapped" kidneys with a couple from Missouri, where my wife's kidney was sent by private jet on the morning of 11/22, and then their kidney (a match for me) was sent to Boston for my surgery later the same day. An emotional yet amazing day to say the least. Everything went as well as it could go, my kidney started working immediately, my wife was sent home on Thanksgiving, and I was home two days later.

Everything continues to go well, and I will be back to school this January, and I can't wait!

walrus

Jesus H. Christ, walrus. That is an amazing, amazing story! You do indeed have much to be thankful for! Wow!

Just a point of interest... When did you lose your left kidney? I take it that was already gone before all the fun started here with your right one?

 

[davismanLV]

This underlines a couple of things. One of them is just how far medical technology has come in relatively recent times. It's truly amazing what they can do these days. The other thing is that working involves TWO components. It reminds me of a little prayer I say every night in which I am grateful for a) my job which I enjoy very much, and b) my ability to do my job. They're two separate things. My job is physically demanding so, just having the job isn't enough. I have to be physically able to do it. Two things to be very grateful for.

Glad to hear you and your wife are on the mend, and that you will be back at work soon, walrus. You are truly blessed! Thanks for this amazing story.....

 

[walrus]

Chazmo - I still have my left kidney! I have a genetic disease, PKD (polycystic kidney disease) that causes my kidneys to become quite enlarged with cysts. Not much of a problem until I hit my late 40's. The issue for me was my right one was chronically painful, while the left one, although enlarged, was really not bothering me. So we made a decision to leave the left one in there, as it does have some functionality, and also (of course) it was a much less stressful surgery for me to only remove one. As a point of interest, my brother had both of his removed about 10 years ago - he was really out of it for a while after that surgery. So I knew what I was trying to "avoid". Then, he received a transplant 9 years ago, and is still doing great!

Maybe some time in the future I will have the left one removed, but not unless it bothers me.

walrus

 

[Default]

Glad to hear that you and your wife are doing well! Another thing I've been blessed with is good health. Touch wood...

 

[taabru45]

Glad you are on the road to recovery too...like a miracle it is.....that the airline didn't lose your wifes kidney.... :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[chazmo]

Walrus, thanks for sharing all the info. Again, all I can say is wow!

 

[Ravon]

Glad ya'll are both doing better

 

[AlohaJoe]

Thanks for sharing your story. What a great Thanksgiving! You both have much to be thankful for, especially each other.

 

[Frosty]

Quite a story, I agree! Walrus you are surrounded by wonderful human beings.

 

[twocorgis]

This underlines a couple of things. One of them is just how far medical technology has come in relatively recent times. It's truly amazing what they can do these days. The other thing is that working involves TWO components. It reminds me of a little prayer I say every night in which I am grateful for a) my job which I enjoy very much, and b) my ability to do my job. They're two separate things. My job is physically demanding so, just having the job isn't enough. I have to be physically able to do it. Two things to be very grateful for.

Glad to hear you and your wife are on the mend, and that you will be back at work soon, walrus. You are truly blessed! Thanks for this amazing story.....

What Tom said! I too am very grateful for my health. When you get over fifty like I am, you can no longer take it for granted. I also have a job that's physically demanding, and am very happy that I'm able to do it. In recent years I had let my weight climb up, and was eating very poorly as well. Starting this past July, I put myself on a pretty radical diet, and no longer put junk food into my system ("garbage in, garbage out" as they say). Since then, I've lost nearly fifty pounds, and am down to my near-ideal weight again. I'm also comitted to not go back to the same bad habits that got me that way in the first place. Not only do I feel better than ever, my doctor is tickled pink!

Cheers to you and your wife Walrus!

 

[silverfox103]

Nice story for this time of year with a happy ending for two families.

Tom C.

 

[zulu]

Great to hear you're doing well. So nice that you were able to help another family as well!

 

[RussB]

Cool story. Glad you and the wife are doing well.