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Been reflecting off and on today.Ten years would have been such a milestone to hit with a transplanted kidney. But that ...
10/02/2026

Been reflecting off and on today.

Ten years would have been such a milestone to hit with a transplanted kidney. But that wasn’t in my cards for my first transplant. 5.5 years. 2,040 days that kidney kept me alive and kept me off the machine. Then the very thing that kept me alive and allowed me to make 5.5 years of memories tried to take my life. Having that organ fail and then die inside me and send me through a mighty battle and journey with multiple drains and a wound vac and a scar that distorts my abdomen made me part of the person I am. The stories I get to tell and the interactions I get to have and the people I’ve met and the conversations I’ve gotten to engage in have shedded light and educated me on how to really care for myself and listen to my body and advocate for myself.

I stand up for myself because there’s been times in the last 10 years if I didn’t stand up the doctors would have killed me. Health issues make you a whole different person. I will always appreciate my first kidney differently than this kidney I have now.

Please remember transplant is not a cure. There is NO cure for chronic kidney disease. Only treatment options.

*pic from 10 years ago

09/14/2026

Didn’t even realize what today’s date was when I posted earlier.

Two years ago my friends, family, and even strangers came together and supported me in my transplant journey. This gesture meant the absolute world to me! I am still SO thankful for all those that were involved in this day!
To the riders and those that showed up for dinner and raffles, the owners, presidents, and bartenders of each stop that donated and allowed us to intrude on your businesses for a bit, to the t-shirt sponsors, to especially Anne, Annette, and Eric for putting it all together and all the planning that went into it, and to Steve and Jimmy for cooking-you will never understand what your contribution means to me even two years later!
I wear my shirt often and I see others still wearing it. I always try to acknowledge it when I see it because I still want y’all to know it means the world to me that yall supported me in my time of need! Thank you will never seem like enough!

*do not own rights to music

09/14/2026

I’ve been pretty quiet on this page, that’s a good thing. So just stopping in for a quick update! My labs are the best they’ve ever been! Having that surgery in June changed EVERYTHING, mostly for the better (physically anyway)!

08/14/2026

What have you done in two years? I’ve survived.
It’s been two years since my transplant.

08/13/2026

When he said “we unlocked your brain to make it think you’re experiencing it all over in real time again to actually process it.” He wasn’t lying. Oof 😥💔

August 122023 8:45am ER notes read “Pt is hypertensive. Seizures x3 observed by medics. Last dialysis treatment yesterda...
08/12/2026

August 12

2023 8:45am ER notes read “Pt is hypertensive. Seizures x3 observed by medics. Last dialysis treatment yesterday. Stroke.” Some other notes read “septic. Start vanc.” “Pt getting worse. Ventilator turned up.” “BP 252/196. Pt is unresponsive.” “Pt ready for transport and transport team has taken care.”

2024 7pm IU Health “we found a kidney! See you soon for transplant.”

2026 8:45am Scheduled appt for the deepest therapy session I’ve experienced so far. If life has taught me one thing it’s “if they are supposed to protect and love you the most, they will hurt you the worst.” The deepest pain I’ve experienced in life has been brought on by those that were supposed to love and protect me and swore to but didn’t. Now I get the task of healing from people and things I never should have had to question or experience.

07/23/2026

Dr: “Stay hydrated. Drink water like you have a mental problem.”

Me: “Doc you know me well enough, we know there’s a mental problem.”

Dr: “Just drink water. I can’t help otherwise.”

Me: thinking ‘ok simple do what I’ve been told not to do for 12 years.’ I’ve done really hard things. I can drink water.

My brain when I drink water: “what are you doing?! You can’t just drink water casually.”

Me to me: “well I gotta. You keep functioning properly if I do and I don’t feel so tired and dizzy.”

Body gives no cares. I don’t know how to drink water. I don’t know how to keep myself hydrated.

I went from only being able to have 32 OUNCES of fluid a DAY to being asked to drink 3 liters a day if not more.
That’s too much for my brain to comprehend. Swelling from kidney failure has traumatized me.

06/25/2026

All my surgeries and never an incision infection.
24:1 is good stats I suppose.
Zero stars. Do not recommend 👎🚫

Warrior. Strong. Unbelievable. Inspiring. Not words I’m using to describe myself. Those are words I’ve heard all day tho...
06/16/2026

Warrior. Strong. Unbelievable. Inspiring.
Not words I’m using to describe myself. Those are words I’ve heard all day tho. Words that were all used by doctors, nurses, the anesthesiologist. my mom, my boyfriend, my sister, my brother, my uncle, and my friends. When life gives you no other choice, you don’t see yourself as those things. I woke up feeling Defeated. Angry. Heartbroken. Depressed.

I made it through surgery #25. Twenty-five in 14 years at 34 years old. I guess I’m just here with a story to tell. If anyone is interested, intrigued, has questions, or is going through something themselves and just want to talk I’m here. I’ll listen to, talk to, answer any questions, and just be there for you. Reach out any time!

Thank you all for the kind words, prayers, good vibes, and virtual hugs! ❤️

Oh and no trees were harmed in this surgery! 😂 That was a concern!

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