Hi all! I'm interested in donating. I just got an eGFR test that came back with >60 as the result. Wouldn't this mean my eGFR is any number above 60? How is that a helpful result? Or does it usually mean it's hovering right around 60 which would make me ineligible? Thanks so much!
I was looking through IG for an uplifting, life-saving living donor post and came across this beautiful woman's story. I was excited to post the before-and-after pictures but saw that she ended up passing away after receiving a liver transplant (donated by her friend). I could have gone looking for another, happier story, but decided to post this anyway just to let others know that donating does not always end happily. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I want others to know that this is a risk you take. Know that it doesn't take away from your generosity and life-changing gift, but it doesn't always have a smooth ending.
source: https://www.threads.com/@florencemoffatcharles?xmt=AQG0xTBNS3okiB9l1T6pIfv8AAWZrrOEXf6pOZr2m5gvE_M
What a gift to say the very least!
Hi all, hopefully this sub is an appropriate place to post this. I live in a condo in the Bay Area, California and have been suffering from humidity/moisture issues for years. I've had people come out and try to identify the source, but so far nobody has been able to figure it out. I believe our house runs around 70% humidity no matter what season we're in. It's stuffy, to say the least. We run two mobile dehumidifiers nightly and that seems to keep a lid on it, but we're sick of having to run and constantly empty them. We've gotten the house reinsulated because we thought that would fix the issue, but it didn't. We run fans and open the windows regularly, but it does nothing. We don't have an HVAC system. The HOA has neglected to get involved. It's also hard to find anyone who will come out for a condo.
Are there any tips you guys have for getting a hold of this moisture? Thank you so much in advance!
For anyone else who donated there, go get it while they still have them! :P
I have a bird feeder that's holding sunflower hearts and chips at the moment. I believe the feeder has a faulty design. The seeds often don't come all the way up to the vented area where birds can reach them. Instead, they lay a bit deeper in the vented area which makes it hard for the birds to access them. I've tried weighing down the seeds with rocks but that hasn't worked. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can fix this issue so that the birds can access the seeds? Maybe I need to mix the sunflower hearts with actual sunflower seeds in the shell so as to have a heavier mix of seeds? Thank you so much in advance for whatever guidance you can offer me!
Hi all, I recently checked out all of the car rental companies (Budget, etc.) from OGG and they all have HORRIBLE ratings! I thought I'd check here to see if anyone has any other feedback on them or recommendations. I'd hate to end up with another horror story to add to these reviews. Thank you so much in advance!
credit: https://www.instagram.com/keatonherzer/
He has a lot of helpful Q & A's on his page too!
I'm 99% sure ICE was at Target today making several arrests in the parking lot around 4pm. Just a heads up for anyone who needs to know.
When I read the book "Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services--Notes of a Former Caseworker" by Jessica Pryce, my whole view of the child welfare system changed and it made me much more understanding of parents' experiences and uphill battles. I think sometimes CASAs are automatically judgmental of parents (mostly for good reasons), but they have a story and experience to tell too. I got a ton out of this book. I hope you guys find it as helpful as I did!
*or in order for a stranger to get the benefit!
I don't own the shop, I just think it's an awesome idea. :)
I've been with my NF for a few months now and just had my longest encounter with grandma. We were tag teaming while the parents went on a shortish getaway. When it was the two of us with the kids, she:
-made unnecessary suggestions (Oh, I use a timer for her and it's so helpful!, there's food on the bottom of the fridge that you could cook)
-hung around for too long even when I told her that I was all set/didn't need help
-lingered while saying goodbye (grandma was leaving at my request, kids started crying because they were sad she was leaving, she asks "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?", making me be the bad guy by saying no that's not needed, making the kids cry even more and look at me angrily.
With the parents' blessing, I suggested having quick handoffs, rather than extended periods of time together, which helped enormously. Grandma acted like it was my preference to have quick handoffs rather than it being about what's best for the kids. She acted as if I was trying to take her grandkids away from her. She then made me go back on a promise I had made to one of the kids because she wanted to dictate the schedule which didn't align with the plans that I already made.
My question is how do I address this with the parents without making it seem like they have to take sides? Luckily I don't have to encounter her very often, but I'm pretty pissed that I was put in this situation where I had to be the bad guy and tell grandma what was best for the kids.
Thank you for any suggestions you can give me! And seriously, why is it always the fricken grandparents??
NLDAC is a game changer! Even a year later, I still use my funds for doctor's appointments, parking and for food the day of the appointment. I would highly suggest applying!! Their website is: https://www.livingdonorassistance.org/
They are super easy to work with too. They send you out a debit card that will have funds loaded on it before your admission and appointments. My family used it for parking and for meals during my admission too.
Hey all, I just wanted to make a post about how I'm doing one year post-donation, so you can get a feeling for at least one person's experience!
-I'm still sad that the experience is over. I continue to feel a grief-like reaction to the journey being "over". I miss my team, the anticipation, the hospital itself (I know, weird), and the connection to the experience.
-I have an eh relationship with my recipient, which is okay with me, but just adds to the overall feelings/processing. I'm still trying to navigate and figure out what feels right to me as far as level of involvement. Basically, we met in person, and it was magical, and ever since then, he's been kinda bad at keeping in touch. Again, totally okay, and that's his right; it just adds to my experience.
-I still have significant numbness all along my incision line and beyond. I have a neurology appointment scheduled for this, but I'm pretty sure they'll just say it's normal, which is fine by me. I'm covered by them for another year, so I figure, why not get it checked out? The numbness extends pretty deep down, as when I flex my abs, I can hardly feel the muscle engaging. It feels pretty trippy tbh!
-I still experience a punched-in-the-gut sensation that is intense but isn't long-lasting. I have a GI appointment scheduled for this. They think it might be related to a hiatal hernia surgery I had in the past and its relationship to the liver donation.
-I continue to navigate digestive issues, but I had them before the surgery as well, so I'm not exactly sure if they're related. I've figured out some of my triggers, but not all.
-Sorry for the blurry pic. I have a pretty prominent, hypertrophic scar that I absolutely love. I hope it never fades! Ignore the scars below it. They were from a prior, non-related surgery.
-Overall, all of these are incredibly minor issues, and I would donate again in a heartbeat if I could. I'm weaning off a medication that might be impacting my kidney health in hopes of donating a kidney in the future.
Please, please, please let me know if you have any questions or want any additional information. I so appreciate you guys! I started this sub about a little less than a year ago, and the fact that it's growing in numbers and engagement makes me so happy!