Thanks for the Birthday wishes Rita! :)

Thank you for the birthday wishes! :)

Hello Rita, thanks for sharing your story. I will assume you are on a waiting list for a Kidney. I really hope you receive one very soon. I am only post tx 9 wks and feel great. I am really surprised that the meds have not given me hardly any problems. Have a few pains at the site but the Doc said normal. The Doc also said not to bend or twist and your pains will go away but I am not just sitting around, I am active. That's all for now, I will tell you about my living donor later.

Take care, enjoy life.

Mr. T

Hello Rita, not sure where you saw the info about the news interview, but it's now on www.foxnews.com go to videos and search kidney. There are 2 parts. I am in the red shirt and my donor is in a hospital garb.

Take care,

Mr. T

Nice to meet you Rita.  I reading "Unbroken" right now.

Thank you so much :-) It took me a while to figure out how to get back on here, I'm brand spankin new lol. I;m so glad they have a site like this, sometimes it's scary facing alot alone when it comes to something so serious. I look forward to making friends on here!!!  Thank you so much again!!

Hi Rita

It is great seeing you on here.

Rise'

Hi Rita, thank you for the enouraging news...I'm happy to hear your transplant has been so great for you.  I've always heard negative (sounds like an oxy-moron) discussion about the sustainability of a cadaver kidney.  I'm sure that has more to do with the advantages of a living donor kidney though, however; your transplant has lasted the same length as my living-related donor kidney has :)  From what I understand, it's possible that your kidney function can maintain as is for several more years to come.  Mine had been fluctuating as well, and was about 20% when I received the call for a cadaver kidney in April...I was fortunate enough to have been able to avoid dialysis. 

My doctor had taken me off the prednisone about ten years post-transplant, I was so thrilled to not have to take it anymore!  However, I'm told that may not be an option this time around due to the type of donor...a maintenance dose of 5 mg will be what I'll remain on.  Unless, things go so great 5+ years out..then they may be more willing to revisit the idea. 

I want to thank you again for the invite to Transplant Friends, I haven't had much time to really check it out, but am looking forward to becoming more familiar with it and visiting often :)

Thank you for the welcome note, Rita!  I'm feeling pretty well, still working on getting acquanted with the tacro/prograf.  I've been taking the cellcept for 18 years already, and am accustomed to it (well, not 1000mg daily though!).  I was previously on the prednisone for seven years (horrible drug!) and hope to be tapered down to a maintenance dose soon :)  Due to this being my 2nd transplant, I'm sure they won't let me get off it completely (also, the first was a living-related donor, but this time it's a cadaver donor), which is a bummer.

I'm looking forward to communicating with others here, and sharing my experiences as well.  Thank again for the friendly welcome!

Hello Rita, Thank You  for adding me as a friend. Take Care!

You look great i your pics Rita! Love the beach and nature photos. Makes me realize I need a vacation to go see the beauty of nature and the beach.

Thanks Rita,always good to read about other people's experiences and share my own

Thank you very much it is kind of hard to celebrate birthday it is just another day for me  I will be the last of my family in the coming years. My celebration is tommorow it will be 2 years with no drinking. Drs. said I could have a good 30 years more. The test have been excellent.

Hi Rita,

I am still not comfortable talking about my story.  It involves a long journey with Diabetes, a Brown Recluse Spider bite and many, many complications after surgery.  Thank you for your friendship and the opportunity to bend your ear.  I hope one day soon, I can begin to open up.

Thank you, Rita.  My road to transplant surgery was bumpy and my recovery has been about the same.  I am finally feeling better and looking forward to getting on an even road.  My Niece was my donor and I will be forever grateful and very proud of her!

Thanks Rita a pleasure.

Peter.