Thankful for Life’s Journey, Her Donor, and Their Family
Life takes on many journeys, some of them good, some of them bad. I just traveled a journey that not only changed my life, but saved my life. I wake up each day thankful to be alive and for the donor and their family.
I was diagnosed with NASH — Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — and was told I needed a transplant in December 2015. After the evaluation, I was placed on the transplant list at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in March 2016. On May 20, 2016, I received my transplant. Had I not received my transplant, I would not have made it to my birthday in August.
The day I realized what it meant that I had to have a transplant was in April. My beautiful granddaughter Lizzie graduated from preschool, and we went to the ceremony. As I saw her walk in with her cap and gown it hit me, this might be the last milestone I would ever see. I might not get to see her brother Harrison go through his preschool graduation or any other milestones each of them will make as they go through life. I might never see my son Joe get married or see the beautiful children he might have. I cried though the whole ceremony. Later Dave and I talked, and I let him know not only did I have the realization I could die soon, but if I received a transplant someone else would have lost a loved one.
I have kept a journal of my journey. In May, I will be celebrating this milestone of my life with my family. My grandkids know now Grandma Wana will be there for them for a long, long time. They like to introduce me to friends when I attend one of their school events as “Grandma Wana. She has a brand new liver!” I am definitely a different type of show-and-tell at school.
Thank you for my gift of life!
-Wanda Crim
