My Acceptance Speech

*** Dawn-Nicole Feaster, come on down! Your name has just been added to the bottom of the mile-long kidney transplant list! Have fun waiting and good luck! ***

Oh wow, I really don't know what to say. This comes as quite a shock considering you all have teased me with your approval for well over a month now. I mean, someone else needs a transplant, so I am supposed to put MY life on hold? I see how it is! (pause for laughter) Seriously though, it has been a long, stressful and sometimes extremely frustrating five months. I have been poked, prodded, scanned, vaccinated, x-rayed...and it wasn't even my birthday! (more laughter)

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Cool Whip for making the referral to the transplant program. Thank you also to Sandra, my transplant coordinator, who has been right with me every step of the way, as well as the entire transplant team. A special shout-out to Grumpy McNo-Fun. Even though you made each procedure with you about as much fun as watching paint dry, you too helped make this day possible. Most importantly, I want to thank my family and my family of friends. I've said it before and I know I'll say it again, I truly could not do this without you. (wipe away tears) I don't have any idea what I did to deserve such an amazing support system, but it must have been something AWESOME! I love you all. Thank you and good night! (cue Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'")

My Stubborn Red Blood Cells

When we last left these oxygen-carrying wonders, they were eagerly awaiting their oasis in the desert, an increase in Epogen. My insurance company, however, had other plans and opted to deny the increase. Their reason? My iron was too low. Ok, you're going to have to help me out here...You are going to deny me medication designed to increase my hemoglobin levels because my iron is too low, when the reason my iron is low is because my body is using my iron supplies to over-compensate for my lack of hemoglobin? Right. Just checking. What makes this scenario even more frustrating is that decisions about my health and well-being are being made by a group of suits who don't know the first thing about my history, my current situation or medicine for that matter. Seeing as though I can't afford the Epogen without insurance, I had no choice but to give the iron supplement another go. I decided to try a lower dose, over the counter pill this time and was able to tolerate it much better than the prescription version. I also started taking it with orange juice to help absorption (thanks Jen!) and withing two weeks, my iron was back into the "acceptable" range. My hemoglobin took this opportunity to take a little breather, and weighed in at an all time low (for this time around anyway) and 7.4. So, as soon as we get the results of a few more tests, my BFF Denise is going to resubmit the Epogen increase to my insurance. With any luck, I'll be starting the higher dose within the next week or two. Because really, the only symptom of renal failure I have had so far is the extreme fatigue and it would be amazing to get back to feeling somewhat normal for as long as my kidney lets me.