# @upmchealthbeat on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccx2fAHriGo
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20935496-upmchealthbeat-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/cf1b0c049c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-04-25T15:23:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UPMC (@upmchealthbeat) — https://gondola.cc/upmchealthbeat

## Caption

"After being on the #kidneytransplant waiting list for more than 5 years, I began to wonder if my transplant was ever going to happen. I was on dialysis for about 3 of those years to keep my #kidneydisease under control, but the skepticism was always there. I had no appetite while on dialysis, and food wasn’t really appealing. As someone who normally loves food, cooking was a very important hobby in my life that I was unable to do. However, I’m the type of person who doesn’t get discouraged that easily. So, when I received the news that I needed a transplant, I kept my head high and wanted to know what I needed to do to help myself get back to the healthiest person I can be.

During the beginning of my journey, my sister immediately went to be evaluated to become my living donor. Even a stranger at work wanted to be evaluated. But unfortunately, neither of them were compatible. However, I took every day as a gift and trusted the process. The team at UPMC Harrisburg made me even more comfortable with my situation. The coordinators, staff, and doctors all made me feel at home even though I was in a hospital. I learned to accept the hand I was dealt and wanted nothing more than to get back to my family. That was my motivation.

It was November 2020 when I received my kidney transplant, and I couldn’t be more thankful to my family and the UPMC Harrisburg transplant team for getting me back to full health. After surgery, my appetite returned, and I got back to doing what I love most – cooking. Since I am Vietnamese, I enjoy cooking a lot of traditional Vietnamese dishes for my family. I even started to try my hand at baking, too.

When I was diagnosed and needed a transplant, I worked hard to spread the word about my condition. And that is what everyone should do if you are put in that position. By spreading the word, your chances of finding a donor, living, or deceased, can dramatically increase. Life is what you make it. You will be given obstacles and hardships every day, but it’s what you do about them that makes you who you are." - Hue, kidney transplant recipient

Register to become an organ donor at registerme.org/UPMC.

#DonateLife #DonateLifeMonth

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 12
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## Tags

donatelifemonth, donatelife, kidneytransplant, kidneydisease

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