When I received the gift of a kidney from my aunt — truly a gift of life — I was healthy and strong. But as time goes on, genetics, medications, and life itself start to shape your health in ways you don’t expect.
At 24, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.At 26, diabetes.At 30, I had a heart attack.
Over the years, thanks to anti‑rejection medications, lifestyle factors, and genetics, the list of ICD‑10 codes attached to my chart kept growing. This isn’t unusual for long‑term transplant patients who are monitored closely. Sometimes it feels like every doctor visit adds a new code.
For those not in the medical world, ICD‑10 codes are the standardized labels used to describe diagnoses, conditions, and reasons for medical visits. They’re the shorthand of the healthcare system — and for “professional patients” like me, they become a kind of medical autobiography.
Now at 45, my ICD‑10 list is about a page and a half long. Everything from allergies to dependence on dialysis (Z99.2) and everything in between.
So the real question becomes:How do I make sure that, with all of this, I can survive — and thrive — after a future kidney transplant?
Right now, I’m focused on the things I can control:
Cardiac rehab — keeping my heart as strong as possible
Diet changes — slowing the buildup of toxins between treatments
Meditation — staying centered and grounded through the stress of chronic illness
These aren’t cures, and they don’t replace medical care, but they’re part of how I prepare my body and mind for the day I receive another life‑changing gift: a living kidney donor.
I’m doing everything I can to be ready.I’m hoping someone out there feels called to help.And I’m holding onto the belief that my story isn’t finished yet.
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