A Journey of Resilience and Love: My Kidney Transplant Story

In the tapestry of life, there are threads woven with joy, laughter, and shared moments. And then, there are threads that unravel into unexpected challenges, leading to stories of courage, resilience, and unwavering love.

Today, this time of my life has brought me back to where it all started! Penning down my deep thoughts onto paper letting my thoughts flow freely and helps me revive and recollect those memories. Hope I am able to convey myself truly with you all.

On 24th Feb 2023, I & my husband both had been through scissors and I got a new kidney implanted into my body. Yes, I had a kidney transplant done. How? Why? What? are the first thoughts that come to many people's minds.

The calendar page turned to October 2021, a month that marked the beginning of a profound transformation in my life. A routine checkup unveiled a truth I never anticipated—since birth, I had been living with a kidney defect. My left kidney was absent, and my right kidney functioned at only 50%. The revelation was shocking, devastating, and almost too difficult to accept. How had I lived a seemingly normal life until now, only for my family to discover this inherent challenge? Nothing, but God's plan!

For more than a year, I fought valiantly to maintain and lower my creatinine levels, but on 24th January 2023, my body conceded defeat. And I was in the hospital going through Dialysis for my survival! Gosh...23rd January, we were celebrating our birthday and 25th January, I was in hospital trying to survive!

Life came to an abrupt standstill, and the plans I once held dear became inconsequential.

With soaring creatinine levels, my only lifeline became dialysis—a dreaded prospect I had fervently prayed to avoid. But fate had other plans.

Apollo Hospital in CBD Belapur became my sanctuary, where dialysis became my lifeline. The staff, with their kindness and professionalism, turned those daunting days into bearable ones.

Dialysis Days in Hospital Pic Credit: Maurvi Mishra

Well, the journey had just begun! Nausea, severe headache, Acidity, weakness, diarrhea became part of my daily life during those 10 days in the hospital.

Back home, visited hospital for dialysis, not once, not twice, but many times for a month to survive! I used to sit at home and watch my family running here and there for me, and that surely was overwhelming for me. Not just one, but all of them - husband, brother, sister, mother, and sister-in-law, brother-in-law... all were working day and night to let me not suffer more.

"That moment, I secretly felt happy to be a kidney patient. I felt immense love from all of them. I am sure my father would be smiling from above."

What were my loved ones working on, you may wonder? The answer lies in the pursuit of a kidney transplant. Fate smiled upon me as my husband willingly stepped forward as a donor. No questions asked, no hesitation—just pure, selfless love.

And that's where my family kicked into high gear, working tirelessly on every front. And the tests to be a donor began. Oh, I tell you, the tests were not easy to watch. He had to go through battery of tests every day, right from basic blood tests to dreadful biopsy.

Biopsy was a big risk, and it was a very emotional moment for me to see him go through this.

I started feeling guilty at that moment. Was I being selfish? Why does he have to go through? Why did this happen?

But, he was strong to go through this and he did it!! Tough was gone, and toughest was coming - The D-day came, and we both were in the operating theatre.

 

All set for our New Life. Pic Credit: Nrupang Dholakia

I knew, My husband is there, my entire family waiting outside for almost 9 to 10 hours. but when the actual moment arrived - In the operating theatre, watching my husband being wheeled away, Reality Hit Me! I cried tears of gratitude. He was giving me a precious part of him! No words to describe this moment!

As my lockdown days unfolded, revealing both challenges and beauty, my family stood as pillars of strength. My mother, our unwavering support, guided us through recovery, just as she did after our birth.

Within a year, we celebrated small milestones from 3 months to 6 months to 9 months and now a year! We were completely in touch with our doctor for the first three months, and he was always available to provide support whenever we needed it. My health and kidney function were improving. Having passed and won most of our battle over the last six months gave us hope that we will soon be able to lead our normal lives again!

And here, I complete today - 1 year!!

And as I complete 1 year today, I cannot miss on mentioning few special moments which helped to make this journey a success!

My Mother being always there with us, hiding her pain within and smiling from outside. She was my strength! she has been there taking care of each and every small thing of ours, keeping herself fit - so we both can get back to track without any hindrance. I owe her for me to sail through my 1 year without any obstacles.

Our Lifeline
Pic Credit: Sneha Das Dholakia

 My sister's love translated into delicious and thoughtful meals throughout our hospital stay, along with managing our home in our absence. My brother-in-law's connections proved invaluable for quick paperwork approvals.

My brother handled hospital & travel formalities, and supported his brother-in-law pre & post-surgery. My sister-in-law was a pillar of strength, backing up my brother and taking care of my husband post surgery.

Big Thanks to my mother-in-law for supporting my husband, letting him give me part of himself!

My 2 nieces patiently waited for their mom dad till midnight, knowing that something important for their Masi was in the works.

My 2 Kakas and My Fai, stood solidly with us, making the D-day draw near and effortlessly. Grateful for the tight-knit family bonds that made this journey possible.

As I complete one year today, I express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Ravindra Nikalje, whose positivity made the journey bearable in everyway, Dr. Amol Patil, whose detailed knowledge in kidney transplant surgeries made it look seamlessly and to my workplace, colleagues, my manager and Luke Coutinho for their unwavering support for letting me focus on my health first and not to be worries about my job, my career!!

Special mention must be made of the close relatives & my best friends who supported me in any way!! Even a smallest thing helped me recover and not lose my motivation to bounce back!!

Now, as I look ahead to regaining normalcy, I am prepared to face the world along with taking care of the precious gift. While judgments and sympathetic glances may come my way, they never bothered me. But, I may feel sad, demotivated, directionless and complain to God "Why Me!"... but then again I will stand up and say "Why Not Me!!"...

So, this end of my recovery lockdown... I thank each and every one of you who have prayed for me... it is because of you I have survived it beautifully...

And Lots of love to you, Dad... I know it was YOU, giving us Power to fight from Above - We missed you every second!😊

And Baba... thank you for raising your son so beautifully...🙏 We missed your presence😊 Mama and Fua, Our Godfathers, we all missed you both immensely during this whole journey - but I know your blessings kept showering on me!!🫶

In the end, as I reflect on this journey, I am filled with gratitude for the unyielding support of my family. Together, we faced challenges, embraced change, and emerged stronger.

This chapter, marked by resilience and love, is a testament to the power of unity in overcoming life's obstacles. As we move forward, I cherish the bonds that held us together and look toward a future filled with newfound strength and appreciation for the gift of life.

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Happy to Share few images which we took at every milestone which we achieved it together!!

My First Dialysis Done
Pic Credit: Maurvi Mishra

Day Prior to our Operation - Lightening the Heavy Moment

Pic Credit: Nrupang Dholakia

Enjoying the Small Party before the D-Day
Pic Credit: Me

 
Post-Operations - our first time meet.
Pic Credit: Nrupang Dholakia

Thank you!

Lots of Love & Strength

Signing off....

Mruga Dholakia Saurabh Apte