I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone in Cook County for the incredible support I received before, during and after my kidney surgery. As you may know from the May 23, 2015 News-Herald article, on May 13 I donated a kidney to a nursing school classmate’s mom.
I was home over Fisherman’s Picnic weekend this year and so many people came up to me and asked how I was feeling. The donation process was an incredible experience and having people acknowledge it was very humbling.
I wanted to be sure that people know I am doing great and, more importantly, the recipient Sharon is thriving. She is on the lowest dosage of anti-rejection drugs and her doctors say that she could not be doing any better. It’s like my kidney was made for her. Her levels are perfect and she feels incredible. We text occasionally and we’re both glad that the other is feeling good!
I’m back to Crossfit and running. I can do almost everything, but still limited with most abdominal work. I just need to get back my athletic stamina!
I am so thankful to my mom, Anna Latz, for coming out to Phoenix to be with me during my hospital stay. She’s the real hero because she slept on an uncomfortable cot for four nights and helped me go to the bathroom multiple times in the middle of the night all without complaining once. My husband stayed with me during the day while my mom went to our house to sleep. My dad made the trip out after the surgery to see me for a few days. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family.
The most important thing I can say about this entire experience is that, while it was a major surgery, the entire experience was much easier than I had anticipated.
Please, please, please donate if you can. It does not have to be a kidney. You can donate blood. Sign up to be a donor on your driver’s license. The most important thing I’ve said during this experience when people ask how I could go through something like this is that I’m a donor on my driver’s license and it is such a trip to see someone benefit from one of my organs while I’m still alive!
See the need and act! Thank you, Cook County!
Jenna Latz Wagner
Lutsen/Phoenix, Arizona
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