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
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