IU Well being offers clinics all through the state for transplant sufferers. Right here is one affected person’s story.
By IU Well being Senior Journalist, T.J. Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
She likes to say, “The third time is a allure.” At 36-years-old Felicia James has spent numerous hours out and in of hospitals and physician’s workplaces.
Born with kidney problems, she was barely a toddler when her native kidney was eliminated. She obtained her first kidney transplant in 1989; and a second transplant in 1991. When that kidney started to fail in 2016, James started emergency dialysis. For 5 years, 3 times every week, 4 hours at a time, she frolicked at a dialysis middle close to her Lafayette, Ind. residence.
“I by no means knew what it was like to truly have wholesome working kidneys. I believe I used to be oblivious to life every other method,” stated James. “Dialysis was a nightmare and I felt like I used to be spending most of my time engaged on my care.”
On Aug. 19, 2021, James obtained a 3rd transplant within the care of IU Well being’s Dr. Asif Sharfuddin. She named that kidney, “Appeal,” for “third time is a allure.”
Three months after her surgical procedure, James started examine ups at a Lafayette outreach clinic for transplant sufferers. Different clinics are situated in Vincennes, Evansville, Merrillville, Mishawaka, and Fort Wayne. An IU Well being transplant nephrologist and nurse journey to the websites month-to-month.
Pre- and post-transplant sufferers obtain the care of a extremely expert doctor near residence, relieving the burden of long-distance journey.
For James, which means extra time to do the issues she loves.
“I reside lower than 10 minutes from the clinic and it’s so rather more handy after I’ve spent a lot time in therapies,” stated James. The oldest of eight kids, James was born and raised in Chicago. At her Lafayette residence, she has discovered therapeutic by way of flower gardening, cooking and baking.
“Restoration has allowed me to pursue the issues I like to do – possibly for the primary time in my life,” stated James.
One massive accomplishment pays tribute to her late grandmother.
“She was from the south and was a outstanding determine in my life. I obtained my love for cooking and gardening from her. She was my largest cheerleader. I’d spend summers together with her and being by her aspect within the kitchen was my secure place. I’ve fond reminiscences of sneaking strawberries from the patch after we had been within the backyard gathering the products,” stated James. “I at all times keep in mind being amazed at how she didn’t use a cookbook however the whole lot she made got here out excellent.”
When her grandma died a number of years in the past, James vowed to study to cook dinner like her grandma. Those that knew her grandma, keep in mind her for her hospitality and “sizzling water cornbread.”
“Going by way of dialysis, and transplant triggered a variety of anxiousness and despair. I discovered that gardening and cooking had been optimistic methods to manage,” stated James. Her specialty: “I can recreate most any dish however I really like baking the old school issues like pound cake, cupcakes and cookies.”
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