Hey Georgiagirl,
<br />I think this is a great question and always ends up with a vibrant discussion. I know you feel a lot of people didn't reply, but I will say most of the time I only come here and check the Transplant section. A question like this might have gotten more attention in that folder.
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<br />It's easy to say that you would not consider a transplant when you are still healthy enough to not need it. For me, I wasn't ready to die yet. Death was inevitable, I knew that it was right around the corner. But for me I figured I'm going to die either way...it would be better to me to die trying to live rather than to just not put my all into it.
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<br />By the time I needed my transplant, I was no longer healthy enough to go to school...I was on oxygen all the time...I couldn't breathe....didn't want to eat....weighed 78 pounds. My life was no longer mine and it wasn't the life that I had hoped I would had. But I also loved life and knew that I wanted to experience what those around me had in their life.
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<br />Seven years later, I'm still breathing strong...I'm a healthy weight...I ran a half marathon...I work full time...I live in the city....I have fallen in love....been a bridesmaid 8 times....traveled the world...etc. etc. etc. Not everyone's story is like mine. And yes, I have had post transplant complications with the most serious being a tumor in my esophagaus. I have diabetes which is hard to control and I'm at risk for developing certain cancers. But none of this will ever replace the wonderful memories that I was able to generate in the last 7 years because of my transplant.
<br />
<br />Why not give it shot? You might actually be one that gets the wonderful gift of life!
<br />I think this is a great question and always ends up with a vibrant discussion. I know you feel a lot of people didn't reply, but I will say most of the time I only come here and check the Transplant section. A question like this might have gotten more attention in that folder.
<br />
<br />It's easy to say that you would not consider a transplant when you are still healthy enough to not need it. For me, I wasn't ready to die yet. Death was inevitable, I knew that it was right around the corner. But for me I figured I'm going to die either way...it would be better to me to die trying to live rather than to just not put my all into it.
<br />
<br />
<br />By the time I needed my transplant, I was no longer healthy enough to go to school...I was on oxygen all the time...I couldn't breathe....didn't want to eat....weighed 78 pounds. My life was no longer mine and it wasn't the life that I had hoped I would had. But I also loved life and knew that I wanted to experience what those around me had in their life.
<br />
<br />Seven years later, I'm still breathing strong...I'm a healthy weight...I ran a half marathon...I work full time...I live in the city....I have fallen in love....been a bridesmaid 8 times....traveled the world...etc. etc. etc. Not everyone's story is like mine. And yes, I have had post transplant complications with the most serious being a tumor in my esophagaus. I have diabetes which is hard to control and I'm at risk for developing certain cancers. But none of this will ever replace the wonderful memories that I was able to generate in the last 7 years because of my transplant.
<br />
<br />Why not give it shot? You might actually be one that gets the wonderful gift of life!