How I went to the ER with a stomach virus and came out with a new heart. The 2nd donor one. Let me regale you with the tale.

One obstacle at a time. Getting through a long crisis like organ transplant means we have to take the wins where we can. Today it's surviving yet another blood draw. Tomorrow, maintaining a fluid restriction. Maybe it's just outlasting the madness of waiting yet another day or week on the list. One little victory after another sustained me throughout my long journey. 

In this episode, I try to tackle an issue that typically isn't discussed much outside of transplant patient circles. We risk offending, angering, or worrying those around us when we talk about the moments of regret, depression, or melancholy that often follow in the wake of an organ transplant. 

It was tough before Covid. Now it's even more complicated. Immune suppression, much like an invisible illness, doesn't register with many people and can be frustrating when not taken seriously by friends and family. My thoughts on living an immune-compromised life, how to navigate various situations, and adjusting to this new reality. 

Let's talk about the financial burden of transplants. People are stunned when they realize how much it costs, but even harder to explain is the financial toll of peripheral costs in terms of lost wages, travel, hotels, and the nickel and dime expenses and accumulate into the number one reason people file for bankruptcy in the U.S. 

Confession: I haven't heard back from my donor family after five letters; most people don't. Nevertheless, most of us have things we need to say to them. I spent ten years performing as a lay pastor performing funerals, sitting at dead beds, attempting to comfort the survivors of tragic losses, both expected and sudden. In this episode, I apply what those experiences taught me to suggestions for writing a thank you letter to your donor family. 

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An overview for caregivers who are prepping for the newly transplanted patient to come home. Suggestions for room by room cleaning and potential trouble spots, as well as some insight into handling anxious friends and extended family who are anxious to visit. 

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