Sharon's Kidney Transplant Journey

04/16/2025

Today marks one year 1 whole year since my life changed forever by getting a kidney Donated to me, by our dear friend. Tj Lutz.

We are bonded forever together with his family and ours, and he and I.

God designed everything.

The journey was not easy. I was on a kidney transplant list years but knew that I had did kidney disease for 8 years. It was challenging and difficult, especially the last 2 years. Every month, I seemed to get sicker and sicker and feel worse and worse. I was refusing dialysis because of the effects that I know it has on the body, and from what I saw my mother go through. Each person makes their own decisions in times like this.

And even though there was many tears and many tough days, through all of the worry and anxiety that I tend to struggle with, God always gave me a piece that everything was going to be okay.

Follow after peace.

TJ, forever family forever bonded.!!

10/20/2024

Hi everyone. It's been such a long time since I sent an update so I'm excited to fill everyone in.

Everything was going great except for the immunosuppressants making me weak, tired, muscle aches, etc. About 6vweeks ago I got NuroVirus. A terrible food poisoning. Awful side effects, can't describe them buyt you know.... my hubby caught it and was better in 2 days. But not me. My body couldn't fight it. 3 weeks later I gave in and went to emergency at my hospital. They admitted me immediately. After many tests they diagnosed it and had to pull me off of the immunosuppressants so my body could fight it. 5 days later I was discharged and got better so fast after the medicine was removed.

I'm doing great now, immunosuppressants are back on me now as that's required to avoid organ rejection.

Now I don't have to do weekly blood draws ... only every other week.

Doctors appointments are every 8 weeks now instead of every 6 weeks.

God is good.

Rambo is thriving.

I love you all. Thank you again to my donor TJ, who is rocking it, as he always does!

07/17/2024

Just an update, I'm cleared to return into the office. "Rambo" continues to be great and amazing and my donor TJ is rocking and rolling and has.now been assigned as an official donor mentor !!!! We are so proud of him!

06/11/2024

06/02/2024

Got a beautiful visit today from my amazing donor TJ Lutz. I'm not allowed many visitors but TJ is always allowed. We are bonded to his family for life. He is doing great and back to work. I'm working remotely until the doctors release me to be around people, approximately July 16th, hubby's birthday!

TJ, no words... 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

06/02/2024

Thank you Steve Chadwick steve for taking such good care of me after kidney transplant surgery. On to an exciting life. (After I'm fully recovered of course) on my way.

04/29/2024

Hello everyone. What can I say, it's been a very rough week. Fatigue, low BP, weakness, loss of appetite and pain. We are both still in recovery mode. TJ is speeding past me (he is superman after all) and I just feel the need to make this post about him.

TJ gave of his self to save my life. He works with my husband. They are both great friends but he didn't know me as well at the time he made his decision. I remember before I met TJ, Steve would always Come home from work talking about this new manager named TJ and what a great guy he was. Then I met TJ at our grandsons baby shower. And I thought the same, what a kind and nice young man he was.

I had been praying for over 7 years for a live kidney donor. Friends and family tried to donate but were refused due to medical reasons of their own. I was on a kidney transplant list and received 5 calls for deceased donors, all of them terrible percentages. Meaning that the kidney would not last very long, if at all.

Did you know that although many times deceased kidneys save lives, they last a fraction of time compare to a live kidney? 6 to 10 years compare to 20 to 30 years?

When TJ made his decision to donate, this changed my life forever. He was selfless. A person that cared and cares more about others than himself. He didn't make this decision to gain anything from it. Other than saying that 'it was the right thing to do! He mentioned his grandmother who was also selfless, caring about helping others more than herself.

How incredible is that???

Thank you to his beautiful wife Sarah who gave her full support to something that many spouses may run from instead of towards.

There's no ifs ands or buts about it. He saved my life. I will always be indebted to him. And I am thrilled to be.

TJ, Sarah and Baby Rhett, Steve and I love you now and forever... beyond words. You are people to be admired, respected and emulated. May others read this story and understand that God gave us 2 kidneys, one to keep and one to share.

God is good!

04/23/2024

Gotta be honest here, recovery is rough.... both TJ and I, very tired and weak. It's a journey.

04/21/2024

TJ (a.k.a. Superman) and I are both recovering in our respective homes being taken care of by spouses and family. God is good. Pain and weakness still there but we will get stronger. What a journey. I'll say more when I feel better.

04/19/2024

My Superman TJ broke out! He is heading to his temporary home for now. I will break free tomorrow.... can't believe we are heading home.

04/18/2024

Still lots of pain and we're both so very tired, but we got to see each other today.

04/17/2024

So we have named the kidney! Rambo!! Rambo is showing off according to the doctor and doing so great. TJ and I are struggling with pain but we are getting there. But TJ is moving around quicker than me so I'm jealous! He and Sarah are incredible! Ignore my no makeup face lol.