Quote Originally Posted by elephant View Post
Alysia, I was around 12 , but my mom told me I complained of knee pain younger than that. I had pink eye as a kid that just kept coming back . The rheumatologist diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis at age 12. As a teenager I was in denial and lived my life as a normal person but knew someday I end up with a kidney transplant but still pretended I was normal . I'm just lucky to be alive! I've had a laundry list of surgeries and complications... But despite all the big bumps I wasn't going to let this disease get me. After my kidney transplant I became a RN and then went on to get a two college degrees. I couldn't have children so I adopted two children, they were infants when I adopted them. I still work full time but the last few months I could not work.
I learned to communicate to all the specialist and just don't stop or ever give up. There is always one doctor who will listen, just need to find the right one for you. I also started to listen to my body and that gut feeling that you get, that something isn't right.
All those children who received a kidney transplant , you can live a pretty good life! Just follow up with transplant team and nephrologist . Be compliant with your medications. I had my kidney transplant since 4/89, almost 30 years!!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Of all the posts on here, this is the one that caught my eye for some reason and made me stop and read.
Unreal the path WG has taken you on, and even more unreal (amazing/beautiful/inspirational) is the way you've reacted to the beastie.
YOU my friend, need to write this down in a book or something.
People just don't get it, and they need to if anything is going to change.

Thanks for sharing this and inspiring me to get it together myself.
Massive hugs.