COVID Post-Transplant
Guess who tested positive for COVID recently? This girl, that’s who. Surprisingly, my experience was not too horrible, but how did I manage that? Let’s start at the beginning. An Ounce of COVID Prevention As with any virus out there, prevention is key. I wrote an article about all the things you can […]
The Positive, the Negative, and the Toxic
How others talk to us (and how we talk to ourselves) about our positive and negative feelings can be toxic. We all experience a wide range of emotions. Sometimes we are happy, hopeful, and feel like we can take on the world. Other times we feel defeated, tired, sad, and hopeless. Many times we are […]
In Case of Emergency – ICE
No one wants to experience an emergency. But being prepared in the event something does happen can make a huge difference. Having information in place in case of an emergency is important, both before and after a transplant. What’s the Urgency for Emergencies? Emergencies, by their very nature, are unexpected. Most people have experienced […]
In A Rut – Finding Inspiration and Joy
Today, I find myself feeling very uninspired about writing about any of my planned blog topics. All of this despite the mound of topics in my planner that should inspire me and bring joy. This leads me to think that it’s about time to include a post that falls into the “diary” part of The […]
Eat It Up! Food as Fuel Post-Transplant
After transplant surgery, the idea of eating may sound awful. Nausea, pain, and food that tastes like cardboard because of anesthesia all make eating a challenge. Looking at food as fuel post-transplant is an important step in recovery. Food Sounds Gross! After general anesthesia, it takes time for the gut to wake back […]
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Benjamin Franklin said that honesty is the best policy. But is it really? We’ve all told a white lie here and there to avoid hurting someone now and then. And when it comes to self-preservation, being completely transparent can be terrifying! But when you are going through the transplant process, honesty is more important than […]
Transplant Celebration and Reflection
Eight years ago, I received the call that there was a potential donor for my liver transplant. Today I am taking some time for celebration and reflection of the day a selfless donor saved my life. Eighteen Hours At 6 am on Sunday, July 14, I answered the phone in my hospital room. […]
What to Expect With a Liver Biopsy
Your numbers have been off and now you need a liver biopsy. What can you expect? The questions are flooding already. Is it really necessary? What is the biopsy procedure like? Is it scary? Does it hurt? What about recovery? Whew, y’all. Life has been a bit crazy and I took a break from blogging […]
5 Steps to Being a Good Patient
By their very nature, patients are sick and not the most fun to be around. Nobody expects a patient to be all rainbows and unicorns, but being a good patient is important. Here are five steps you can take to make sure you are a patient people appreciate. But I’m Sick Nobody likes […]
Being Strong is Exhausting
Whether you are pre or post-transplant, the demand to be strong can be exhausting. Even when that demand is not something that is coming from external sources. We all have that little voice in our heads telling us to keep going. Be strong. You’ve got this! But even when it’s meant as encouragement, keeping up […]
