Facing Another Surgery
A personal update on an upcoming nephrectomy surgery, recovery expectations, and navigating life after kidney transplant failure.
Hello Everyone,
Today has been a hard day as I remembered 9/11 and watched the news. I spent some time reflecting and writing, trying to process, and I imagine many of you were doing the same in your own way.
I also wanted to share a quick health update. My nephrectomy is scheduled for tomorrow at 7:30 AM, so by the time you read this, it may already be done. My team wants to remove my transplanted kidney to lower the risk of future infection, since I had such a severe rejection. Even after the kidney is removed, I’ll still take a small amount of anti-rejection medications to prevent my body from building more antibodies and to improve the chances of a future transplant. Recovery should take 8–12 weeks, and I’m expected to stay in the hospital overnight.
For me, this surgery feels like business as usual. I’m frustrated to face another physical setback—especially since I’ve finally been able to do things like pick up my son Barney and have him sit on my lap—but I figure the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can get back to it.
I also wanted to address a common question that has come up in conversation:
“Aren’t you relieved you don’t need a transplant immediately?”
That question is complicated for me. Yes, I'm grateful that the kidneys I was born with are functioning enough to keep me off dialysis—that’s miraculous. I’m also relieved I don’t have to face another surgery immediately (hopefully). But that doesn’t erase the disappointment of my transplant failing, or the brief glimpse of energy I had that is now gone. It doesn’t erase the limbo I live in or the fatigue that takes over my days.
That said, I remain hopeful that I can continue to work with the John Hopkins team when a transplant becomes necessary.
For now, I have to sit in this “in-between” stage, and I hope to do it with grace.
Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and support as I head into this next surgery. I’ll share an update from the other side in the next week or two.
Love,
Danielle
I love hearing from readers. While I can’t always reply, I do my best to read and respond to every comment and email.