Life is Good again!

[Jill Ziegler]

I am exactly one week post kidney transplant and I haven't felt this good in 3 years! I still have a few more hurdles to get over with the recovery process but my life has already changed drastically for the good. I had a living donor give me one of her strong, beautiful kidneys on June 23. I am so thankful and pray that each and every one of you wo are still battling HUS and dialysis will get your lives back as well. The recovery hasn't been too bad. I thought I was ready for the pain because I have had one child via c-section, but the two are apples and oranges. The pain was very intense but so worth it. It feels so good to make urine. It's probably gross but I LOVE the sight and smell of my urine! It's something I haven't seen in three years. One of the best parts to my whole story is that I have a five year old daughter. And now I am going to have energy to play with her and do things with her. This transplant is such a miracle. I am so thankful to my donor, Lindsey and to God who placed her in my life. I also had the BEST transplant surgeon at the University of Iowa, Dr. Alan Reed. Dr. Christie Thomas is also a brilliant nephrologist. These two men have changed my life for the better! The Soliris treatments are not bad at all. I have had three doses so far and have not had any side effects. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. My email is [e-mail] and I am on FB under Jill Nokes Ziegler. I would love to talk or help anyone in any way possible. We are a small little family of aHUS and we've got to stick together until everyone has a healthy kidney!!!!! God bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kamal D Shah]

Very happy for you Jill! Its really great that you got a living donor and approval for the use of eculizumab! Thanks for sharing your journey!

[Jodi Kayler]

What an awesome story to read. Congratulations.

[Dana M Simone]

Such wonderful news, Jill!  I hope we're on a roll here and that this site is soon filled with more and more successful transplant stories! We love your joy at being able to make urine; the sound of Jack peeing after being unable for over 4 years, is music to our ears:)

[Amy Swarbrick]

Reading this brought tears to my eyes. I have a five year old daughter too and I know what a joy it will be to just go and have fun with her! May you have a wonderful life with your family and new kidney:)

[Linda Burke]

WOW - Words fail in the face of such a wondrous and life-changing event!  And not just for you, but for your entire family as the dialysis whirlwind that dictated all your life events now sputters thankfully to a quiet end.....and a joyous new beginning.  Wishing you (and Lindsey) a rapid recovery to enjoy all life's blessings.

Thanks for letting us journey along with you on your path to regaining meaningful, happy wellness....we look forward to lots of positive updates.

[Cheryl Biermann]

Jill,

 

I showed Nathan your blog, Kidneys not included, and, I think for the first time he is believing he will feel better.  He doesn't even remember what it feels like to have energy, an appetite or just feel good.  Your story gave him a glimpse of something he wants to hope for.

Madeline will be so happy just to have you back, and she'll be so pleasantly surprised to hear you say things like, hey do you want to go _______fill in the blank___!

 

I went yesterday to SLU for my testing, ect.  and had one dissappointment.  The nephrologist had taken medical family leave so I just did the blood work, urine, x-ray and ekg.  I am looking forward to the rest.  Nathan's titers came back too low for some of the menengitis, so we will revaccinate and retest in a month.

 

I must say I never thought of this before, but the transplant coordinator told me that sometimes the donor will feel resentful or depressed because they don't feel their sacrifice was appreciated enough-but that won't be the case with you, Jill!  Your words about Lindsey were beautiful, and I know she feels the love!  Praying for a quick recovery, especially for your bladder! :)