General
Beyond The Scar
August 7, 2025
in General
What’s one thing your transplant gave you that isn’t physical? (Clarity, courage, creativity, or something else?)
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Good question!
In my case, it gave me understanding and calmness.
Today, the death factor is part of my everyday life, so appreciating every single day is a priority, and now I try to understand every chain-reaction reasoning, every aspect of every situation.
@Alexc1972 I a would have to agree with you. I have definitely learned understanding. My transplant gave me purpose. It took what felt like brokenness and transformed it into something powerful and a new beginning filled with meaning, strength, and the chance to help others find hope too.
i feel a self-imposed, emotionally crippling pressure to make every day great and always be happy and to be thankful all the time. it’s a lesser spoken of part of survivors guilt that I didn’t see coming…
@Melpbcn What an amazing reflection
Transplant Patient
a personality 😂
I spent my entire life sick so so much of who I was had been built around trauma, and survival. Post transplant was my first opportunity to really feel good in my body, which allowed me to use energy on things that weren't just staying alive. I got to figure out hobbies, what I liked, what I didn't like. I got to put energy towards constructing the kind of person I wanted to be.
@AliEm14 I would say it was always there but it you needed time to heal so it could emerge like a butterfly finding its wings after the storm
That material “things” do not make a life and “being busy” does not make you worthy.
Time
That is all that matters.
Time
Transplant Patient
in some ways I think this, and in some ways I don't. There was probably some degree of my self that was always there, because that's the way human nature is and of course I had no energy or ability to sort out what those things were so it would make sense I didn't know. I don't think I became an entirely new person post transplant so there were probably some threads that were always there. But I also think who I was before transplant, and my personality then, was massively shaped by trauma. Looking at what that does to brain development, especially during those formative years, especially in the state that I lived in, I wholeheartedly think a lot of what they thought my personality was was just trauma responses. What I had pre transplant were a lot of personality adaptations and various identity states, but I genuinely don't think I ever really felt safe enough or stable enough at any point to develop a personality.
@AliEm14 I totally respect your reflection and insight. I guess it’s just the former teacher in me. A lot of my students just needed a little nurturing and their potential just came out shining bright. No matter what, in life we all grow through what we go through.
I think I found faith and courage in myself. I went through things I never thought I’d have to and now I’m so thankful I looked ahead and made it through it all.
@Melpbcn I completely feel the same about the pressure to make everyday special. It can be so hard when you don't feel well and the world goes on. I just got out of the hospital last week, so I am in healing mode right now. I also feel that my transplant has taught me to stop and take a breath. Enjoy the moments that life feels right. Sit in it.
Mine is a little more detailed. My first transplant was due to secondary alcoholism (end stage cirrhosis) and showed me that I wasn't bulletproof. After 21 years in the military with the constant deployments, high tempo pace of military life, and indestructible mentality, reality showed me I was indeed human and vulnerable as we all are. So with that learned, and being smarter on my decision making. After my transplant I was able to adopt healthy vices (running, diet, embracing the small wins and never taking things for granted). Then after nearly 5 years of great health and turning my life around, reality once again reared it's ugly head. I developed a hepatic artery occlusion that totally turned my world upside down. Now having to endure all the things I went through during and after my first transplant, I was also dealing with new problems I never experienced the first time around. Such things like being malnourished, extreme case of ascities, horrible jaundice, and the list goes one and on. After I had my transplant in December of last year, I realized that never give up and always stay humble. But most importantly amongst these things learned, I realized how important people are that stood by my side and how lucky I am to have that support when I needed it the most. The is priceless and invaluable for what we all have to go through to get to this point in our lives. Never take things for granted and pay it forward if you ever get the opportunity to do so 🙏😇🪽