ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION: The Joy of Living...Again!

BILL HAHN, double transplant receipient.

Transplant...When you hear the word out loud – and it’s aimed, point blank, right at you, your life stands still … your heart skips a beat … and your mind races: How will this change my life, what is my future, if any?

The word fills your emotions from disbelief, to acceptance, to anticipation, to panic, to joy. It's a journey that takes years…a second at a time.

My journey started 30 years ago when I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. I was in shock! Was I really a diabetic?

My lifestyle was an active one – I was an avid runner and I wasn’t overweight. In brief, my lifestyle was not what caused my Type 1 diabetes to occur. It was caused by a genetic pre-disposition.

Fortunately, my lifestyle would serve me well by conditioning me for all I was about to face. But the fact was, I was indeed a diabetic. Try as I did, I still fell victim to some of the many complications of the disease such as blindness, coma and seizures.

Years later I was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. My kidneys had failed, and I was forced to go on dialysis to stay alive. That started my wait for a transplant...the constant tick, tick, tick of the clock and the endless ring, ring, ring of the phone – wondering if today was the day I’d get "The Call."

"We Have a Match"

It was just another ring of the phone with an unexpected voice, “This is Shands Hospital, we have a match.”

My mind started racing. I had only seconds to gather my thoughts and head to Gainesville, Florida, a  three hour drive that seemed like an eternity – then a hush and a blur. That was Dec. 31, 2009 – New Years Eve.

The New Year rang in my new life as I woke up with a new kidney and pancreas. Was I all right?

My family surrounded me with smiles, and I was indeed all right!  No more insulin shots. No more diabetes. No more dialysis. I had reached the equinox of my journey where the perils of chronic illnesses are replaced with the promise of a healthy, active future.

But who was responsible for my gift of life?

While you can’t choose your donor family, you can choose your hospital. I chose Shands Hospital in Gainesville. It was, and is, the right choice. They treat my organs as if they are their own. I say this even though I am a Florida State Seminole.

Arts In Medicine

In addition, they offer an "Art in Medicine" program that helps patients cope with the rigors of their journey – something I had practiced all my life. Using my lyrical photography and song writing as healthy treatment to escape from the unrelenting beat of chronic illness.

Exercise and fitness is my other form of self-treatment and has been the other constant in my life. I consider myself a professional in the field having owned and operated Home Fitness Warehouse in Melbourne, Florida for the last 16 years. I currently run 20 miles a day, only 14 months after my transplant by splitting time between the Precor elliptical cross trainer and Precor advanced motion trainer.

What’s next ? The National Kidney Foundation, 2010 U.S. Transplant Games in Madison, Wisconsin that will be held July 31 through Aug. 3.

These games feature recipients, families and donor families who participate in athletic events to demonstrate the success of transplantation and share with the world the gift of life by highlighting the need for more organ donors. The National Kidney Foundation of Florida, an affiliate of the The National Kidney Foundation, will have 200 attendees at the games this year.

Labor Day Surf Festival

The National Kidney Foundation of Florida organizes local events each year with the biggest being the Labor Day Surf Festival, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. The event's need for sponsors and volunteers gives everyone a chance to participate in giving the gift of life. Every donation is a donation of life.

Over 100,000 people are still waiting for their second chance. I celebrate everyday my second chance with the joy of living...again…with my family, friends and God…and it is Oh, so sweet!

Related posts:

1. Transplant Recipient Given the Joy of Living…AGAIN!
2. Double Transplant Recipient Dedicates Music Video To Donors
3. Hahn, Salick To Compete In U.S. Transplant Games
4. Double Transplant Recipient Provides Inspiration
5. Giving Life: The Ultimate Gift