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Continue reading →: Transplant Time! (part 2)Chapter 14 The surgery took 12 hours, performed by the same doctor: Dr. Leigh Dageforde. I say that name with hushed reverence. She saved my life. The first time I saw her after surgery, I burst into tears, and our first appointment after I was home and recovering, I hugged…
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Continue reading →: Transplant Time! (part 1)Chapter 13 OK, let’s talk about the transplant itself. I wanted to title this “third time’s the charm” because that’s actually what happened to me. To begin, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that transplant of any organ is most definitely not an exact science. With a few…
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Continue reading →: Diet and Nutrition in the Hospital When You’re On Food Restrictions (and the Incredible, Awful Waste)Chapter 12 Hello there! You thought I was taking a hiatus, didn’t you? Well, I’m sorry about that. I actually got a part-time job that has me as busy as can be. But I’m happy about it and it means I’m back in the theatre, which I love, love, love.…
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Continue reading →: A diseased liver makes you angry: I was not a nice person in the hospitalChapter 11 Normally, I am a nice person. Some would even say “kind.” I truly try to be as I feel kindness is slowly disappearing in this warped and crazy time we are living through right now. But that’s with a normal brain. I think I’ve mentioned that liver disease…
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Continue reading →: DialysisChapter 10 In a word, dialysis stinks. I only had to be on it for about eight weeks or so, and I feel tremendous compassion for those who have to be on it for years before they can get their new kidneys. It’s not the most terrible thing in the…
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Continue reading →: This Will PassChapter 9 As you can imagine, with all that happened to me last year, I developed a mantra. It got me through many tough times. And that mantra was “this will pass.” There were so many times I applied it and it always worked. I highly recommend it! Of course,…
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Continue reading →: There Will Be Blood. Lots and Lots of Blood.Chapter 8 Did that catch your attention? 😊 I promise I will try to make this post the least gross and disgusting that I can, but the reality is…a lot of blood was shed in the past year (both literally and figuratively). First, I think I mentioned previously that I…
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Continue reading →: Personal Hygiene in the HospitalChapter 7 I know what you’re thinking: hospitals are clean! Everything in them is clean and sterilized! Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but…not really. I was at both Salem Hospital for a time, and at Mass General for a much longer time, and while the nursing care in…
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Continue reading →: Hospital Visits and Other Fun DevelopmentsChapter 6 Other than attending to the laundry list of tasks to get ready for transplant, I believe I spent most of August at home. My brother, Mike, had basically moved in with me to take care of Primo and to a large extent, of me. All that month and…
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Continue reading →: Back To My Transplant StoryChapter 5 Now we’re into spring 2023. I’ve already had two hospital stays and many doctors’ appointments at this point. During the last stay and follow-up appointment, it was made very clear to me that I was definitely going to need a liver transplant. I was FREAKED OUT by this…
Hello,
I’m Lisa
I’m a recovering alcoholic, retired attorney and recently widowed. I decided to write this blog as a way of coping with profound grief, dealing with being sober after years of abusing my liver, and managing my recuperation after a liver and kidney transplant. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
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The Sober Widow 