Note: I thought of this blog post topic about 2.5 miles into a 5k on Saturday. The original version, which was only notated in my head, was extremely passionate and motivating. This is a version of that. You want to hear one more like the original, join me at a coffee shop or dinner. I can really get going!
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| I was #100! Pretty cool. |
What it does mean:
- Having a kidney transplant means that I had to grow up before my time. Due to this, I have been more responsible and have always had to have my head on a little straighter than my peers. Sure, I had my fun in college, but I had to face my mortality more than once over the years. It changes a person.
- Having a chronic illness means I know how to fight. Not punching, scratching, kicking fight. Like fight for acceptance, fight for health, fight for every.single.thing. I have. What does this mean for baby? It means I am prepared to fight tooth and nail for our child. Fight for equal treatment and access to education, travel, food, shelter... You name it, I can conquer it. There is no shyness here.
- Having a suppressed immune system means that I will likely catch every little illness our child brings home from school.. and I will probably catch it twofold. Totally worth it.
- Having gone through a lifetime of chronic illness means I try harder than most people and I don't dare give up. I try harder at everything I do. There is no one example, because I put forth the greatest effort a simply everything. This will be no different when raising our child.
- Having gone through a lifetime of hurdles (hurdles that I overcame as if they were teeny tiny anthills bytheway), I look at life differently than most people. I think this comes into play in raising a child, because you can share with him or her not to take things for granted and see the bigger picture.
- Our child will always go to fundraising events with us and learn that caring for others is just as important as caring for yourself. I spend a decent amount of time raising awareness and money for organ transplants and kidney disease awareness. Instilling a basic understanding of empathy and giving in our child is so important to us.
- It means I am healthy. It means I can be a parent.
What this does not mean:
- Having a kidney transplant does not mean I wont live long enough to see our child grow up. Not only is my life expectancy normal at this point, but there are also medical advancements every day, only making the future of kidney disease and transplantation brighter.
- Having a chronic illness does not mean I cannot get down on the floor and play or run around outside playing chase or hide and go seek. Ask my nephew! In fact, thanks to kidney transplantation and my living donors, I can run and play and live an active lifestyle.
- Being a kidney transplant recipient does not make me weak or timid or sickly. In fact, most transplant recipients I know are the exact opposite. Strong, healthy and determined to prove that we can make the most out of our "borrowed time".
I have had so many people tell me that I shouldn't be up front with my status as a transplant recipient. Why? It is not who I am, but it is a big part of who I am. I am alive and healthy and able to adopt because of it. Why would I want an open and adoption and then hide such a huge part of my life? That doesn't make any sense to me. I have had three kidney transplant friends who have adopted babies and they are active and involved parents. Hell, I know people who are pre-transplant who are active and involved parents. There is no reason to fear placing a baby with someone like me. Really, it is just another reason to choose us. We have already been through the ringer and came out stronger on the other end. John and I have proven we can kick butt and smile doing it.
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| Me and my living donors. Raising awareness! |
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