This week I’m celebrating the first 16 years of my kidney transplant and enjoying the life it’s given me. I may still be mostly sheltering, due to Covid, but it’s so much better than if I was still on haemodialysis so I’m not complaining (well, most of the time anyway!).
I always celebrate our NHS and give thanks for a lifetime of treatment and care. All down to being born in the right place at the right time.
The lifespan of a non-live donated kidney is on average 15-20 years, but this average keeps increasing thanks to improvements to drugs and the after-care of transplant patients. Technological improvements continue to work towards an artificial kidney which will reduce the risks inherent in the dialysis or transplant treatments of kidney failure, meanwhile robot-assisted transplants are reducing risk during and post-surgery. AI is everywhere but we need human involvement too.
I have to pay for my immunosuppressant and other life-saving drugs, but my annual bill is significantly lower than the actual cost and I’m lucky that I can currently afford the charges. Poverty due to ill-health is a very poor reflection on society. Private healthcare in some countries limits post-transplant care based on available insurance - ugh, that’s not something I want to be worrying about as my transplant ages.
I hope one day our health and social care services won’t need the back-up of charity, but I fear we’re a long way from that world. Over the years I’ve celebrated my transplant anniversary and raised funds in different ways. Saving the 10ps for my 10th anniversary was most memorable. It was pre-Covid so I was at work and people were still using coins - I’ll have to think differently for my 20th anniversary, times have changed!
I’m on leave and the weather’s not great for allotmenting, so here are a few more 16th ‘kidneyversary’ AI creations, using various descriptive prompts. Pretty aren’t they?
The song title is provided by the Lightning Seeds - we never know what this life is going to throw at us, but try to make the best of it, appreciate what we have and don’t blow it!
A good, and interesting post. Shame that the weather hasn't been good for plotting.
ReplyDeleteTake care. xx
No and now with wind and rain - ho hum....
DeleteHere's to many more anniversaries. So many health-related things rely on charity. Yet our money is squandered on other unnecessary things. Scandalous that you have to pay for drugs. I'm really short-sighted and my lenses are specialised and really expensive even before the added cost of frames. The NHS give me about £20 towards them as I am an exceptional prescription. Goodness knows what happens to people who can't afford the rest.
ReplyDeleteIt's criminal isn't it when we see Government money being wasted. When we're reliant on health-related support it certainly gives a different perspective on news stories.
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