Happy Transplant-iversary!

Today is my two month transplant-iversary!

I have been home from the hospital for more than a week now, and nothing exciting has happened(which is exciting in and of itself).  My paranoia about returning to the hospital is subsiding. I am still waiting for my energy to kick in, but I am going to jump start it a little by getting on  the treadmill.  I am tired of being tired.

Despite the uber-importance of my two month anniversary, today I do normal things.  I meet with my son's teacher, go to the bank, stop at the grocery store, have blood drawn, work from home, make dinner, clean up, etc.  Interacting with others today, I realize again that I am not sick.

Before the transplant, I always tried to live my life like I was not sick. I am aware that is not the way people viewed my situation.  My grandmother used to introduce me to her friends as her granddaughter "who has fallen sick."  My college coach stopped expecting me to meet rigid demands once he witnessed a low blood sugar episode. When I was pregnant with my son(and feeling fine), my OB told me she wasn't sure if I should go on vacation because she was worried I was "too sick."  I was confused. I knew I had diabetes, a heart condition, high blood pressure and was pregnant, but I didn't feel sick. I just felt like me and this was my reality.

Recovering in the past two months, I have often felt sick, and this has been probably easy for people to recognize.  I walked slowly and carefully, sore and tired. I got exhausted trekking to the house from the car.  I was often dehydrated and dizzy. Without explaining anything to anyone, most people treated me gently and with kid gloves.  I imagine the fact that I wasn't feeling well has been visually obvious. I looked pale, exhausted and, well, sick...

But today...no one treats me like I'm sick.  People cut me off with their carts in the grocery store. An elderly man asks me for directions. My son's physical therapist does not ask me how I'm feeling. The dogs bark at me for treats, but don't nuzzle in to comfort me. The Fed Ex guy has no idea that I am the frail person who answered the door last month.

It's a big shift.  

Twenty two years of diabetes - POOF! Gone. 

Kidney disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, anemia - 
Gone, gone, gone, gone. 

Happy Transplant-iversary!

I am not sick anymore.