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Advice for Other Kids
I know a lot of people who won’t get a transplant because they are afraid. I was afraid too. I went to the hospital and I was scared, but you get through that. Try not to think about it too much; try not to think too far into it. Then, once you get the transplant, do everything in your power to hold on to it. Take your pills- definitely take your pills. And call your doctor if you need help. But you can live a normal life. I would always say after I got the transplant that it was like, “What transplant? What kidney?” It was like I didn’t even get one. After a while it was almost like there was nothing wrong with me- like I didn’t even have the transplant. In the long run you can live a normal life with a transplant. You can live a normal life on dialysis too, but you have to take nine hours out of your life each week to come in to the hospital. That’s my best advice. Also, try to think positive and don’t feel the pressure. I know it’s hard, but try not to feel sorry for yourself.
I think faith was a really big thing for me- knowing that whoever was going to do a procedure knew what they were doing. With an illness, you should only be afraid when there’s no hope left- when there’s no other possibility. With me I had the possibility of a transplant, which I got and which worked for me fine. Try not to take things so hard. You may worry about small things, but things will go right.
I think that people really need to ask questions, and not always just have the doctors tell them things. You need to do research yourself. Talk with the doctors and the nurses; don’t be afraid to ask questions. That’s what they are there for, so just ask. And go to the library, get information on the internet. Information is a big thing.
Health is first, then school, then your social life; that is the list of importance. You know how you feel; your friends will pressure you to do things, and you might feel like you’re obligated to do your schoolwork, but if you don’t feel up to it, don’t do it- don’t push yourself. You might miss a year or you might get really behind, but there are always people there to help you out.
Make sure to keep your life as normal as possible. Try to look at the good things, because there are good things. Bad days happen, but try not to dwell on them too much. You have bad days when you’re upset about the situation.
You can’t always live your life feeling sorry for yourself. I feel that there is a reason, maybe, that I’m in this situation. Not as a punishment or anything, but maybe I’ll help someone else in the future. Make sure that you have good support from friends and family. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone, because it helps a lot, or write- that helps too. Find something you like and that you enjoy doing and do that, because it helps keep your life a little more sane. If you’re in the hospital, bring in stuff that reminds you of home, or that makes your life feel normal and less sterile.
I put my energy and thought into something else instead of dialysis. That is the best way to get through life. Don’t just think about dialysis- go through life having other things to go to, like soccer practice or something.
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What Transplant
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Copyright © 2005, Children's
Hospital Boston Department of Psychiatry. All Rights Reserved. The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. July 26, 2005 |
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