Chapter One: Celebrating Thirteen Years of Life

I know I am thirty years old and have lived more than thirteen, but thirteen years ago I had a kidney transplant that saved my life from certain death at age seventeen. Today I am celebrating, although quiet and not wildly, my thirteen years of new life with a transplanted kidney – thanks to my mom, Mary. I am not, at this moment, doing anything outrageous, although I am going out to dinner tonight to be with a couple of good friends and just to get out. My boyfriend might join us, but the weather is rainy and wet and kind of chilly today. Winter is yet not over with here. Spring does not arrive until March 20th anyway. I am expecting company anytime from now to 2 p.m. then I am out of here for a while for dinner out. Today is not a low key day for me I’m afraid. Among my thirteen year celebration of life with my transplanted kidney, life does go on no matter what goes on in my life. Yes, I am celebrating in my heart my life that I could have lost thirteen years ago at age seventeen but apparently God had other plans. Today marks the beginning of my story of my illness and kidney transplant on March 12, 1988…thirteen years ago today. As a matter of fact, at this time I was in the operating room having the surgery at the time I am writing this entry. It is 12:46 p.m. here where I live – Wisconsin.

From here to the end of my story, I hope you enjoy my entries and nothing but the truth of an experience I will never forget as long as I live on this earth from this day forward. Hope you enjoy and comment as you wish. I am open to comments here.