General
The "C" Words.
This discussion is open, and I ask that it remain respectful. Every transplant recipient carries a story shaped by resilience, loss, and survival. None of us arrive here without having endured a great deal. We are fighters.
For me, the turning points were Cirrhosis, Covid, and Cancer.
Those three “C” words entered my life in 2019 and permanently changed the way I see the world and my own body. They forced me to slow down, to question, and to become deeply intentional about my health and my choices. As we approach 2026, just two days away, I find myself reflecting on how much has changed since I first joined this group.
There is far more information now than there was then, and at one point I needed to step back. I took the time to look at myself from multiple perspectives and learned just how vital critical thinking is, how essential it is to advocate for yourself within the medical system, and how important it is to honor your own truth while navigating complex care.
Today, I want to open a conversation.
Have any Canadian transplant recipients faced medical challenges or barriers at the provincial level related to being unvax*inated, either before or after transplant? If so, what did that look like for you?
I am an unvax*inated transplant recipient, now five years post-transplant, with no complications. I am healthier than I have ever been and have not experienced rejection issues, or any other health related issues. This is simply my lived experience, NOT a statement for everyone, but an honest account of my journey.
If there are others here with similar experiences, I would truly value hearing your story.
Thank you for sharing this space with openness and respect.
<3
1 - 1 of 1 Replies
Transplant Patient
I’m in Alberta - I don’t know if it’s different here compared to other provinces. I already had most of my vaccinations pre transplant (some I still needed I got, some I got medical exemption for). I’ve always had wild reactions to the flu vaccine that no one can figure out that have always landed me in the hospital, so I’ve avoided that one. I had a bunch of other medical things come up that complicated vaccines and the consensus was wait until I’m more stable. Anything extra in my system right now could be the thing that topples the tower, and that’s not a risk I feel comfortable taking. That said I do take precautions in other ways. I live a really low risk lifestyle, we mask and sanitize constantly… if my team ever felt strongly the other way I’d re evaluate, but as of now I’ve had no issues.
i definitely believe vaccines work, just for me I’m taking it one thing at a time. That said, I also haven’t been sick with anything “normal” for the 5 years I’ve had my transplant