Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Writing the Donor Family...
Today we received a packet from UNMC that will allow us to write to our
donor family if we choose to. Craig and I both want to write to the
donor family but we are encouraged to wait till after the holidays our
of respect for the donors family. I think we will put the packet up for
now and wait till after the new year to write our letters. We would
never want to make it harder on the family, especially during the
holidays.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Reason For It All...
It is very important that through your progress after getting a transplant, that you remember your reasons for wanting the transplant. For our family we wanted the transplant to save my husbands life so he could enjoy being a father. Our son Elijah was our inspiration for everything!
Elijah Playing at the park
Craig and Elijah Making Snow Angels
Choosing Your Blog's Colors
Choosing colors for your blog can be an important make it or break it step. You want to make sure the colors are something that can be associated with your topic. My blog is on organ donation, so I chose to use blue, which is one of the main colors when dealing with Donate Life an organization here in Nebraska that helps to promote organ donation. Picking colors that are associated with your topic will help your reader to relate while not getting in their face and making them uncomfortable.
Tips for Designing a Blog
When it comes to designing a blog the key is to keep it simple. Making sure the blog catches the reader’s eye without making them uncomfortable while reading it. You want to make sure the font, colors, and size are all appropriate for the audience you will be attracting. You also want to make sure that the design of your blog either ties in with your topic or is neutral. You don’t want to pick something that is completely different than the topic of the blog. Overall the best advice is to keep it simple.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Woman Asks for Kidney Donor on a Billboard!
Hey Everyone, I don't know this lady but came across her interview through friends and family. Please take the time to go to the link and share it on your facebook feed. As someone who would have gone through anything to get my husband a kidney, I know what its like to look outside the box!
http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/woman-asks-for-kidney-on-billboard/-/21054266/23459520/-/irdv1iz/-/index.html
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
"The List"
One of the most frequently asked questions was always about "The List," people thought that since we had been on the list for 3 years, that our time automatically had to be coming soon. I never quite knew how to explain how the list worked, until I read the following.
Contrary to popular belief, waiting on the list for a transplant is not like taking a number at the deli counter and waiting for your turn to order. In some respects, even the word "list" is misleading; the list is really a giant pool of patients. There is no ranking or patient order until there is a donor, because each donor's blood type, size and genetic characteristics are different. Therefore, when a donor is entered into the national computer system, the patients that match that donor, and therefore the "list," is different each time. - organtransplants.org
I like how they took the time to explain just how "The List" works, because even as a caregiver it was hard to explain and understand it. I really wish I would have seen this before, as it would have definitely relieved some of the anxiety that I had leading up to the transplant.
Contrary to popular belief, waiting on the list for a transplant is not like taking a number at the deli counter and waiting for your turn to order. In some respects, even the word "list" is misleading; the list is really a giant pool of patients. There is no ranking or patient order until there is a donor, because each donor's blood type, size and genetic characteristics are different. Therefore, when a donor is entered into the national computer system, the patients that match that donor, and therefore the "list," is different each time. - organtransplants.org
I like how they took the time to explain just how "The List" works, because even as a caregiver it was hard to explain and understand it. I really wish I would have seen this before, as it would have definitely relieved some of the anxiety that I had leading up to the transplant.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Welcome
My husband recently received a kidney transplant after being on the waiting list for 3 years. It changed our lives in an instant. All the preparing we had done prior to transplant didn't seem to matter anymore, because nothing can prepare you for what you are going to feel.
Before his transplant, I spent many hours looking for information on what was going to happen after transplant. To be honest all I found was the textbook answers that are given to you from the transplant centers. I didn't want textbook though, I wanted real world experience from people who had gone through it. I wanted to be able to cry with happy tears and have people around me who understood what I was going through and what a relief it was. I wanted people who had been in my shoes and understood all the emotions I was going through. I wanted honesty on what to really expect. Everything I found seemed scripted.
I want to use this to walk people through the emotions, the ups and downs, the process in real time about what you go through, from the moment you get that phone call till you are home recovering. From the many follow up appointments to the other surgeries needed, and the home health aids that are at your house constantly. I want people to understand the whole experience from someone who is going through it. If you have questions, ask them. I would be happy to answer anything you have questions on! I look forward to walking you through our process, with all of its ups and downs...
Jennifer
(Jennifer, Eli (Age 3), and Craig)
Before his transplant, I spent many hours looking for information on what was going to happen after transplant. To be honest all I found was the textbook answers that are given to you from the transplant centers. I didn't want textbook though, I wanted real world experience from people who had gone through it. I wanted to be able to cry with happy tears and have people around me who understood what I was going through and what a relief it was. I wanted people who had been in my shoes and understood all the emotions I was going through. I wanted honesty on what to really expect. Everything I found seemed scripted.
I want to use this to walk people through the emotions, the ups and downs, the process in real time about what you go through, from the moment you get that phone call till you are home recovering. From the many follow up appointments to the other surgeries needed, and the home health aids that are at your house constantly. I want people to understand the whole experience from someone who is going through it. If you have questions, ask them. I would be happy to answer anything you have questions on! I look forward to walking you through our process, with all of its ups and downs...
Jennifer
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