Reality check: I will need a kidney transplant. If that doesn't put things into perspective, what will? Honestly, I live with that truth every day of my life and it doesn't stop the petty, insignificant things from creeping their way into my psyche and ruining my day. A snide comment, a spilled drink, a stormy day can spoil my mood much faster than thinking about my giant, failing kidneys.
The fact is, I have lived with polycystic kidney disease every day for the last eleven years, and will continue to live with it every day until I take my last breath. To me, PKD is as normal as long legs or freckles are to someone else.
Why am I even blogging about this? Something I always prefer to keep private? Because if I am able to have children some day and happen to pass this disease on to them, and there is a 50% chance I will, I want them to be able to know what it was like for me. I want them to have first hand knowledge of what they may go through. I don't want them to feel alone and helpless like I have sometimes felt...but if they do, I want them to know it's okay. But most importantly, I want them to know that PKD is not that bad. I want them to know that even though life isn't always easy or fun or fair, God has a purpose for their life. I want them to know that all God's creatures are wonderfully and perfectly made, and in His eyes (and mine) they are as perfect as their amazingly healthy sibling, best friend or loved one.
So anyway, that is the whole point of this blog. To record my thoughts and feelings on life and living, so my imaginary children and also my less than perfect memory will remember what it was like to be me at 27, 28, 29, 30....and so on.
Up next in PKD Adventures...making my first ever appointment with the transplant center.
Monday, December 7, 2009
I'm walkin'. Yes, indeed.
(Note: this draft was written on 10/8/09 and published today. I'm nothing if not timely.)
When I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD. It is a hereditary disease that causes the kidneys to form numerous cysts, and overtime the cysts can cause decreased kidney function leading to dialysis or transplantation. Each year a walk is held and is the biggest fundraiser in helping to find a cure.
This past weekend, October 4th, was the walk in our area. I was so blessed to once again this year have a great turnout. We had 12 people participate on our team and raised almost $2,000! Special thanks to Brad and Kim for going above and beyond and taking it upon themselves to raise their own donations totaling $400! Did I mention that I have GREAT friends?!
After Sunday School and a hearty breakfast at the Cracker Barrel (who doesn't love good country cookin'?), we made the drive up the road to where the walk was held. It was a beautiful park with a paved 2 mile trail encircling a lake. The weather was gorgeous and we all managed to make it around the lake with not one person falling in the water, passing out or spraining an ankle. That's what I call a success!
To learn more about PKD, visit the website at http://www.pkdcure.org/.
When I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD. It is a hereditary disease that causes the kidneys to form numerous cysts, and overtime the cysts can cause decreased kidney function leading to dialysis or transplantation. Each year a walk is held and is the biggest fundraiser in helping to find a cure.
This past weekend, October 4th, was the walk in our area. I was so blessed to once again this year have a great turnout. We had 12 people participate on our team and raised almost $2,000! Special thanks to Brad and Kim for going above and beyond and taking it upon themselves to raise their own donations totaling $400! Did I mention that I have GREAT friends?!
After Sunday School and a hearty breakfast at the Cracker Barrel (who doesn't love good country cookin'?), we made the drive up the road to where the walk was held. It was a beautiful park with a paved 2 mile trail encircling a lake. The weather was gorgeous and we all managed to make it around the lake with not one person falling in the water, passing out or spraining an ankle. That's what I call a success!
To learn more about PKD, visit the website at http://www.pkdcure.org/.
What a good looking group!
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