The National Kidney Foundation reported the story of Lisa Myers, a nurse who faced kidney disease head-on and emerged victorious through three kidney transplants. Through her resilience and determination, Lisa's journey offers hope and inspiration to all.
"Soon after I graduated,
I got the call. I was second in line for a kidney. At one-thirty in the
morning, they called again. The kidney was mine, but I was nervous. I'd had two
transplant failures at this point and had settled into my dialysis routine,"
said Lisa. "When we got to the hospital, my team was so positive I felt
reassured that I was in good hands."
When Lisa woke up from the surgery, she saw a bag full of
urine–the kidney was working! With that knowledge, she peacefully went back to
sleep.
"When they took the catheter out, I urinated for the first
time in a decade. That's when it hit me–After ten years of dialysis, working
full time, and going to school, I was going to be free again. I guess you could
say, 'third time's the charm' for me." Lisa said, "After recovery, my
transplant center honored me with an invitation to speak to their staff as a
qualified speaker with experience as a patient and a provider."
It's been four years, and Lisa's kidney is still functioning.
She's a school nurse, volunteers during her free time, and has begun focusing
on her mental health.
"My coworkers couldn't understand how I could go to
dialysis and come to work every day. Helping people got me through it. Now, I
need a professional to fully heal. I started therapy and am working through the
trauma by writing a book about my story," said Lisa. "I want others
on dialysis to know that they aren't alone. There is hope. Don't give up."
Cheers!
Donna
Overcoming Adversity: A Nurse's Kidney Disease Story | National Kidney Foundation
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