Rachel PKD

02/14/2026

Thursday at work I had a kidney cyst burst so I had to go into the ER- five o’clock traffic is the worst when you are in pain LET ME TELL YOU…overnight in ER and then another night upstairs and this afternoon released. The girls brought me a bag and visited with me a bit so that was helpful and needed❤️‍🩹Kidney pain is a special kind of pain and there’s really nothing to relieve it. But today is a new day and it’s only a bit sore now, so I’m off to go home to rest for another day!
Happy Valentine’s Day 💘
Thanks for the prayers and care💗

01/30/2026

I am so thankful for the people that God puts in my life 💗🫶🏼🎁

01/30/2026

This is tremendous news for halting the progression of PKD- shutting down the gene that expresses this mutation. Hope for future generations and at some point eradication🙌🏼 It’s important that we support this science in so many other areas as well for humanity.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/185HazXmjC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

01/28/2026

Here’s more information 🤓

Curious about living kidney donation but not sure what it takes to become a donor? This guide explains the basic requirements and what transplant teams look for. But remember, every situation is different. The only way to know for sure is through a living kidney donor evaluation.

01/25/2026

I got the call guys!!!🎁

I have now been green lighted and out on the list for active matches for my kidney transplant! 🙌🏼

My part for now is done ✅ I have kept up my health and all testing, I was notified that I “passed with flying colors,” The board voted I was an ideal candidate. I still need to hit my goal of $800 for extra medicines and 3 months of bills paid for my recovery time per the transplant team, “so that the transplant doesn’t bring additional stress.” My dear friend Dewan has surprised me with a go fund me account to help me meet this goal. For me personally this is a goal that at this point in time seems so big because I have to work part time and am currently literally living paycheck to paycheck. I have funneled this go fund me into its own medical account set aside specifically for my recovery time. It’s uncomfortable for me to ask for help - so I thank you for your support in giving me this opportunity to feel loved by you all.

I told my nurse on Friday in dialysis that I don’t like rollar coasters- but there are a couple I will ride, I make myself to push myself occasionally. My secret to getting thru it is closing my eyes as the coaster climbs, because my anxiety is great…but when it crests as you look over the plunge — I lean forward. I lean forward into the drop and tell myself “let’s go!”
This is my psychological trick when something hard is in my path - I’m going to lean forward and say “let’s go!”
So here we are, I hope you will embrace my same mentality, hold my hand and LEAN FORWARD 🙌🏼💖🎁

Feel free to share if so inclined🫶🏼

Rachel Love is one of those people God placed in my life when I needed them mos… Dewan Faulk needs your support for Support Rachel’s Kidney Transplant Journey

01/14/2026

Dialysis…super thankful for it- but also not my favorite thing to do. It’s painful for me to get the needles, I have to use lidocaine to my numb my arm and I became allergic to the skin cream so now they inject the lidocaine above my fistula. A fistula is a graft they create and put a type of tubing into the vein to reinforce the support for the dialysis needles to go into, over time there is a type of scarring that acts as a callous. There is one line that goes out and into the machine to filter and clean the blood, and then a second line that takes it back into the body. Unfortunately I am a super sensitive person so i can feel alot 🫠, when i first started with the heart catheter it caused many problems for me. Once they put my arm fistula in, those problems and the anxiety they caused slowly went away. Mostly my treatments go well and I play a video game, cruise social media, and watch a show. Then afterwards I usually go home and rest for a bit, then get up and do house chores. My NYE resolution is to start a hobby - so I’ve started a paint by number which is a restful and enjoyable thing!
Make today count💖🫶🏼🎁

01/02/2026

Putting away Christmas always has a slightly melancholy feel to it…the sparkle and shine during the Holidays help give every day a bit of a special feel. I often feel the gift of decorating is an opportunity to recall memories from the year prior and to have gratitude for getting to live another year- not something everyone gets. I hope this season finds you reflective on the moments you were fully present, not just the sparkle moments but some of the tougher times as well. I have collected ornaments since my first tree and I love seeing how beautiful everything looks together- even though some of those years left scars. I have gratitude now for both types of years because in me they have crafted a resilient, steady, creative and yes- still optimistic person. I have chosen to let those hard moments shape me into a better person; Instead of letting it turn me bitter- I will not allow anything else to take away parts of who I am from the past. Instead I take the ornaments off the tree and gently pack them away and wonder what new memories I will have next year when I unpack them again.

Happy New Year and let’s lean into a fresh new year with a spirit of excitement for new opportunities and adventure! 💖

12/27/2025

Looking ahead into 2026, praying for my journey and the people who care for me in the medical field. I’m not anxious or afraid because God has always cared for me and He won’t stop now. I am leaning into His will for me and trying to let go of a timeline…all things work together for good.
Gratitude for the journey isn’t always an easy pill to swallow, but gratitude for God helping me get through it is on point!
May the coming year bring more love, laughter and adventure!
Merry Christmas and 🎄🫶🏼 Happy New Year 🎁

12/24/2025

Good morning!

Today I have been here since 7:30 getting labs, xray, ct scans and an MRI to check for brain aneurysm…busy day!
It’s a good day to have a good day 😁

12/22/2025

The lady that makes these treat bags, Ms. Deb, she makes them for all holidays💗 for all of the people in dialysis treatment. I can tell you that on some darker days, it has brought a smile to my face- sometimes the small things mean the most! Ms. Deb got her kidney unexpectedly on Friday 🎁 so we are happy for her and sending her well wishes 🎄it’s always a bit tricky knowing that someone lost their loved one, but we are so thankful their family chose to donate so others may live 🫶🏼

12/17/2025

Here at my cardiac testing…just put the radioactive dye in for the imaging, ekg testing, next I’m meeting with the Dr and then onto the nuclear testing!

It’s a good day to have a good day! 🫀💗