Rachael Beecy's Page

What is your city / state and country of residence?

Baltimore, Maryland

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:

my donor, have no idea anything about you yet, but I'm hopeful!

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)?

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

What is your principal transplant med(s)?

Oh wow, right now so many...prednisone, cellcept, rappamune, mepron, bactrim, aspirin...many more

What is your hospital and, or doctor's name, city / state and country?

Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland-- Dr. Andrew Cameron and Dr. Andrew Singer

If you are on the transplant waiting list, when were you listed?

March 3, 2009

What do you do for a living?

Pediatric Nurse

About Me: Please use this space to tell the community about yourself and your unique experience with transplantation:

So my case is a little different too. I was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 15, but was well controlled. Ulcerative Colitis at the age of 19. Lead a pretty normal college/post college life until out of nowhere the day after Easter in 2007 I started vomiting blood..which lead to tests that found I had portal hypertension and the very beginning of liver damage with 2 liver diseases...Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis AND alpha-one antitripsin deficiency..so double whammy!

I followed up with my hepatologist after this crazy event and did rather well for a long time. I was never jaundiced, and my liver function tests were always just on the higher side of normal. I did pretty much everything I did before, but I always was just a step behind everyone else. I never had much energy. I am the type to love life and enjoy every possible second, so I did that as best as I could.

March of 2009 I started vomiting blood again, this time it was just a bleeding ulcer in my stomach, but I was again in the hospital. My INR levels were through the roof but my other liver function tests were still just a little high. I did get some scans however that did show that I was quickly progressing with my disease. So they listed me then and there.
After I recovered, I knew what was in store for me, but I was sick a lot after this time. All the liver symptoms started piling in, edema, ascites, etc. But I STILL wanted to make the most of my life...and I truly did.
SO, the ONLY reason I was transplanted so quickly is because on one of these scans I got in the hospital, they found a very suspicious nodule that was very vascular. The doctors tried to biopsy it but were unsuccessful even with the head of Radiology guiding at Johns Hopkins due to my anatomy and the positioning. Because of this, I was granted bonus points in the scare that it was Hepatocellular Carcinoma. And if it was not, it was a very strong precursor to it. My pathology results showed "precancerous"...but I got the tx anyway and glad I was blessed enough to get it while I was relatively healthy and young. I have a new chance to live again and many years to do so, so I'm gonna start now!

How did you find out about TransplantCafe.com?

Holdol!

What is your relationship status?

In a Relationship

Entertainment: What is Your Favorite Type of Music, Bands, Movies, Art, Books, etc.?

I love all kinds of music, especially anything I can dance too and anything with a good story. Love 311, Kenny Chesney and Britney Spears! Hehe!

I love to read, mainly chick -lit or anything on the best sellers list.

What is Your Favorite Quote(s)?

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine..."

My Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=67500010&ref=...