What transplant doesn't mean

One thing of which the doctors keep reminding us is that there is no cure for kidney disease. There are only treatments. Dialysis and transplant are merely treatments. We are hopeful that Ev will keep Keith's kidney for more than 10 years but we don't know. A lot of it depends on keeping her safe from illnesses and diseases her body will be less able to fight off on its own (because of the immuno-suppresant drugs she will take for the rest of her life in order to prevent her body from rejecting the kidney). For example, she is more susceptible to skin cancer and diabetes so we have to practice serious sun safety. We also need to keep our house really clean and practice good hygiene (washing hands and food). It also depends on us making sure she takes her medications on time (every 12 hours) every single day of her life and doing labs and check ups frequently.

Transplant at one time seemed like the end of our marathon. We have since learned it is simply a water break in the midst of a much longer marathon. It will make her healthier and happier for as long as the kidney remains healthy and her body allows it to stay. She will grow better, eat better, sleep better, and ultimately live better. But she may have 4, 5, maybe more transplants in her lifetime. We don't share this because we are downplaying the miraculous opportunity ahead of us. We just wanted to give our friends and family the whole picture. In other words, we may yet be asking for kidney volunteers :o).