Early Summer 2023 – Blood work indicated kidney issues. (GFR, or glomerular filtration rate, is a measure of kidney function that shows how much blood your kidneys filter each minute. )
Summer 2023 – Starting to see kidney doctor after a few CT scans
Fall 2023 – Went on a kidney friendly diet while monitoring how well my kidneys were doing (GFR).
October 28, 2023 – Told my family and friends about my kidney problems and the need for kidney dialysis and eventually a kidney transplant.
November 2, 2023 – Attended a workshop to learn more about kidney dialysis treatment options
December 5, 2023 – Attended a meeting at a dialysis center with social worker, dietician, and nurse about all things dialysis 1:1.
Feb 5, 2024 – My parents and I visited St. Luke’s transplant center* in KC to learn about kidney transplants. After that visit, I was too overwhelmed and wanted to think about it. Luckily, my primary doctor, research, and talking to a friend’s co-worker helped me continue looking into the transplant as my best option for a normal life.
March 29, 2024 – I had a catheter implanted for Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) – “a treatment for kidney failure that uses the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen, as a filter to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.”
April 15, 2024 – I spent a week learning all about PD including issues that might arise and cleaning the Peritoneal catheter area.
April 19+ – I did PD every night at home between 6-9 hours, including dianeal dialysis which is fluid that helps ‘clean’ my kidneys during the day and I don’t have to be hooked into the dialysis cycler.
December 14th, 2024 – I met with a friend and his co-worker to learn more about the kidney he had had 3 years prior.
December 31, 2024 – My parents and I visited UNMC transplant center* in Omaha to learn about kidney transplants. My concerns lessened and I began to reconsider the idea.
(*visiting two different transplant centers increases my odds of finding a donor by being on two different wait lists)
April 2025 – I was accepted by UNMC transplant center as a qualified recipient. This was a huge win as they are particular about who they include into their program, They also have a very high success rate.
April+ – I started spreading the word to find a living donor as a deceased donor has a 2-3 year waitlist and they aren’t as ‘quality’ as a living donor. Also, I didn’t want to be on dialysis for that long. (thanks, but no thanks)
September 21, 2025 – I sent a prayer request to my church through their website about a need for a living donor. A few hours later, a knock out the door by someone announcing they are a match. But also, there is another (potentially better) match available through a cross-match opportunity.
October 7, 2025 – I attended pre-op appointments for blood work and scans and final prep ahead of the Oct 22nd transplant.
October 22, 2025 – The transplant day came. It ended up being a cross-match. The person who is a match for me (based on blood type and other gene compatibility) is also a match for someone else. That other person had someone who was a willing donor and was a better match for me.
October 23+. 2025 – No more kidney dialysis and living with my new kidney (named Sidney), recovering from my surgery
October 28, 2025 – I was discharged from UNMC
October 31, 2025 – I returned my dialysis machine (dubbed “the printer” because mine looks like one)
Now – I’m regaining strength and energy and sleep that decreased while on dialysis. (Nov 9 update)
The pain and discomfort from the transplant continues, but decreases slightly daily. I take a large about of medicine to sustain my new kidney because let’s face it, it is a foreign organ in my body and I want my body to accept it as it’s own. My worst fear is my body rejection the organ and me going back to dialysis again.