# @upmchealthbeat on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CcVhvDuM60P
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20935506-upmchealthbeat-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/813ac29963.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-04-14T15:23:20.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UPMC (@upmchealthbeat) — https://gondola.cc/upmchealthbeat

## Caption

"Since birth, I never experienced the normal life that a kid should. I was born with #kidneyfailure, and as a child, you don’t really know what that means. Since I had no family history of kidney disease, the diagnosis came as a surprise. Be that as it may, I began my fight for survival at a very young age. But when it came time for me to have a #kidneytransplant at age 48, I chose UPMC Harrisburg to lead me to a healthier way of life. They were close to where I live, and their staff was welcoming and supportive from day one.

I was on the transplant waiting list for about six years and began dialysis in 2011 to help maintain my kidney function. My mom and brother were my main support system through it all, taking me to and from the dialysis center and making sure I got all the medication and attention I needed to be ready for transplant. Even though most of my family lives out of state, that didn’t stop them from calling me to see how I was doing or checking with my mother to see if there was any progress on finding a compatible kidney. We all kept the faith throughout the entire journey and never lost hope in the process. I trusted the system by believing that one day I would be transplanted and back to living the best life I could. After six years of waiting for the most compatible donor, I got a call in September 2020 that I would be getting a new kidney from a deceased donor.
 
After the surgery, my mom was my rock. I went to stay at her house so she could help me in my recovery process and everything else I needed to regain my strength. I fish a lot now and play basketball when I have the time. I like catching big game fish like muskie, carp, and catfish, but I throw them all back. I just enjoy being back out there on the water and appreciating each and every day. When I was on dialysis, I saw a lot of other patients start to give up. You can’t do that. You need to stay focused on the outcome and motivate yourself to reach the end goal. If you let your fears push you around, you’ll never live the life you really want." - Corey, kidney transplant recipient

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

#DonateLife #DonateLifeMonth

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 36
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

donatelifemonth, donatelife, kidneyfailure, kidneytransplant

---
Copyright (c) Gondola