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Adrienna
- Female
- Central Coast, CA
- United States
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Adrienna's Groups
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Liver Transplants
167 members
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Team Southern California…
21 members
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Team Prograf
170 members
Adrienna's Page
Profile Information
- What is your city / state and country of residence?
- Central Coast, CA , USA
- How are you touched by transplantation?
- I am a Recipient
- If you are a recipient, what type of transplant did you receive?
- Liver
- Recipients: In this space, feel free to list those you are grateful to for receiving the Gift of LIfe:
- I am grateful to my Mom & Stepdad who were my primary "caregivers" during the year prior to transplant as well as the three months post-op. I am more grateful than words can express that Scripps in La Jolla agreed to take my case with the intention for the direly needed liver transplant after two prior hospitals rejected me due to my being allegedly surgically nonviable and that they performed said transplant 100% successfully. I am alive today also because of the loss of another's life. I am saddened by this but most grateful that my donor opted to give the gift of life to others.
I also much appreciate my close friends who helped take care of me immediately post op as well as helping me to stay positive and hopeful when it was seeming that I was not going to get a transplant with less than 3 months to live.
And, finally, I appreciate myself for having the will, the drive... and the persistence to push the buttons necessary, to never give up... and to stay alive beyond many doctors and family expectations and make it to the destination!
I am now doing so excellent... and I am 100% appreciative of the life that I now have to live!!!!!
- If you are a recipient, what type of donor did you receive your Gift of Life from?
- Deceased Donor
- If you are a recipient, when did you have your transplant(s)?
- 9/7/2006
- What is your principal transplant med(s)?
- Prograf, 3 mg am; 2 mg pm. Cellcept, 500 am; 250 pm. I am also on coumadin to prevent future clotting.
- What is your hospital and, or doctor's name, city / state and country?
- Scripps Center for Organ & Cell Transplant; La Jolla, CA, USA. The whole team, including the Director worked on me!! They are all extremely skilled, knowledgeable and I am fortunate to have been in their care.
- What do you do for a living?
- Former Insurance Broker, still currently licensed but not currently doing business. Still considered disabled due to underlying blood clotting disorder and circulatory problems.
- About Me: Please use this space to tell the community about yourself and your unique experience with transplantation:
- I've said much already but... have much more to share as I know we all do. Anyone who is in need of or has received a transplant of any kind, knows that we all go through much to get "there." Survival and the process can be overwhelming and not only does it take over the life of those in need, but all around them. Persistence and will to live are of utmost importance as is the cautious self care while waiting. Basically, everything about one in need of a transplant becomes "high maintenance." We lose our lives in gradual ways physically as our body begins the death process without the necessary working organs.
I came in need of a liver transplant mid-November, 2003, when I had a sudden onset of Budd-Chiari Syndrome. The cause of BCS was Essential Thrombocythemia, a rare blood clotting genetic disorder where the body creates too many red blood cells. I was predisposed to this without knowing, even though I had a complete physical only 1 month prior to onset and had not been diagnosed with it until after I landed in E.R. with 18 lbs. over night and 15 additional inches on my waist. I learned shortly thereafter it was ascites as all 6 hepatic clotted which caused my liver to fail and then over the course of 3 years it cirrhosed until it was completely covered in the regenerative tumors. Fortunately, they were benign. I had clots in several other places in my abdomen including my IVC which entirely clotted and is now severed. Thus now, my body developed huge collateral veins to make up for the loss.
I feel great. I am so happy to be alive!
Since transplantation, I've been able to travel, go kayaking, horseback riding, weight lifting, bicycling... take long walks at the beach... dance... and so much more. While awaiting transplant, I became encephalopathic, couldn't think to write my name or balance a checkbook and was told no driving the last year pre tp. I suffered various health problems in the lead up including being bedridden for 3 months at onset, and houseridden the last year of my wait as even walking to the mailbox was more difficult than my present capability of 2 hour workouts.
I feel so strong in spirit to have made it through as I remind myself often... if I could get through *THAT,* I can get through anything. Life is easier now and even common issues that arise are easily manageable. Importances have changed as well.
I get to be alive to support my son through high school and see him graduate next year... and move onward to college and hopefully I'll be around when he marries and has children and so on! I hope & plan to care for my body and live another 30 plus years!!
- How did you find out about TransplantCafe.com?
- Another member who I met in a support group at the 2nd of 3 transplant centers. It helped me greatly to hear from others who had already received. John Mitas referred me to this site with an email invitation.
- What is your relationship status?
- In a Relationship
- Entertainment: What is Your Favorite Type of Music, Bands, Movies, Art, Books, etc.?
- I love Phil Lesh & Friends, Ratdog, David Byrne, Elvis Costello, Keller Williams, Bob Dylan, CSNY, the Beatles and many other current jambands. I enjoy most interesting intellectual movies as well as comedies and romance. I've read many Carl Hiaissen books lately. As for art, I love it!! Most of it!!
- What is Your Favorite Quote(s)?
- "What is it you plan to do with your one wild & precious life?"
- My "MySpace" Page:
- http://myspace.com/circefox
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Comment Wall (8 comments)
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Join this Ning Network
I'm a kidney/panc tx, just celebrating my 2yr anniversary. You have written close to what I feel.
I have an ex-coworker/friend who went thru a liver tx, and now I can't find him. I hate cell phones when they die...
I'd love to be "friends"...want to communicate?
Blessings and gratitude!
Scott
You live not far from us. We're in Santa Maria. I am glad you're doing well with your transplant! I'm a mom of 2 daughters, 11 and 14, with heart transplants. Perhaps we can get together sometime?
Please see my blog and offer advice, too?
Susan
Thank you for the nice comments...yes most of the time I am an up^ person...whatever circumstance I am in~~~I make the best of it...God bless,Tracy
Wow! That is an amazing story. Your descriptions are great; sounds like you'd be a great writer.
Anyway, welcome aboard!
Blessings!
Abraham
Nelson
Well what a great story you have! Yes amen...I hope youe week is going well...nice to meet you...Tracy