One question I don’t get asked enough: “Did your new kidney come with any superpowers?”
The short answer: No, not any comic-book-like superpowers, anyhow.
When you wake up with a brand‑new kidney, you half expect to discover some hidden superpowers. After all, someone else’s organ has been wired in. Shouldn’t that come with some extra special perks? Sadly, reality didn’t quite match my overly vivid imagination. I keep waiting to be prescribed the pill NZT-48 from the movie “Limitless,” but it is still down with the “…boys in the kitchen.”
Superpower #1: Sodium Sensor
I thought I’d be able to detect salt in food like a superhero sensing danger. Instead, I still need to read nutrition labels and hide the salt shaker from myself. I don’t need my blood pressure any higher. My one kidney needs to do the job of two.
Superpower #2: Hydration
I imagined being able to drink gallons of water without consequence. In reality, while I don’t have liquid restrictions as I had with kidney dialysis, I still have to be careful not to overwork the kidney, plus I don’t want to wake up at all hours of the night to use the restroom.
Superpower #3: Immunity
I pictured a shield that would repel every germ in a five‑mile radius. Instead, I got a pharmacy’s worth of anti‑rejection meds, other meds, and a newfound appreciation for hand sanitizer. During the first month after the transplant, when my immune system was at its lowest, I had to wash my hands quite often, wear a mask, and take all precautions to not get sick while recovering.
Superpower #4: Energy Boost
I thought I’d leap out of bed like The Flash, ready to run marathons. The truth? My recovery had been slow; naps are still sacred, and my “speed” looks more like a cautious stroll around the neighborhood. But at least I don’t look like Zombie-Chad from “The Walking Dead.”
Superpower #5: Wisdom and Mad Skillz
I secretly hoped my donor’s kidney would come with bonus talents, gaining knowledge like downloading skills from “The Matrix.” Maybe math skills, musical ability, or a knack for trivia. Turns out, kidneys are great at filtering blood, but not so much at improving my memory or an ability to play an instrument.
The Real Superpower
While none of these comic‑book abilities showed up, I gained something far better: super gratitude. Every lab result, doctor visit, every walk, every breath feels like a gift. And maybe that’s the greatest superpower of all is seeing this once super ordinary life as extraordinary.
What’s your superpower?