The Answer to Tell Me Your Story
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
What you’re about to read was my About Me section for 5 years and one of the most common questions I get asked. I was eight years old when I got really sick. I remember my mom telling the story like this: It was the spring and soccer season was starting.  I would complain to my mom that I was tired and in pain.  She thought I was out of shape. It took other symptoms, such as purpura blotches appearing on my skin for us to realize something was terribly wrong. I was so sick that I wasn't even able to attend a full day of school. My grandparents had moved in to help take care of ..read more
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Grateful
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
Photo courtesy of Donate Life NW! I can’t believe that I’m one month away from returning to work. Here is what I've been up to: Swimming! Before this, I hadn't set foot in a pool in two plus years! Lewis and Clark College Pool, a summer tradition.  Joshua and I said goodbye to our old apartment and moved into a new home. Moving day exhaustion, sitting on the porch of our new place.  Celebrated 2 months of my kidney transplant! Monday blood work at Kaiser Over the past couple of months, I’ve taken the time to reflect, relax, and take care of myself. I’ve also just been filled with ..read more
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One Month
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
My mom and I at OHSU for our first clinic appointment post-transplant.  It’s hard to believe that it has been one month today, since I received my life saving kidney transplant. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this happy and content with my life.  For the past 2+ years I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety surrounding the waiting process. Now with my transplant I am overjoyed with the new life I’ve been given. The freedom to start and live my life again. I want to give thanks to my donor and their family. If it wasn’t for their decision to be an organ donor, I wouldn’t ..read more
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Day 2
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
I would like to start by saying thank you to everyone for sending me your thoughts and your love. The transplant has been a success so far! I am drinking (and peeing), and although I'm in pain, I have also been able to walk a little bit. It's hard to believe that after 2 years and 7 months, I finally received my life-saving kidney transplant thanks to an organ donor and their family. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. Today, Joshua and my mom will take some classes on how to take care of me when I get out of the hospital. The doctors say that they hope to take me off of IV fluids today ..read more
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Went and got that kidney!
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
To all of you reading this, I (Josh) just wanted to give you an update as to what is happening. Alysia's surgery went well and there were no complications. The donor kidney is in its new home and is producing urine, which means that it's working. As I type this, it is 8:45 p.m. and Gayle and I are waiting in Alysia's room for her to return. According to the nurses, she is in an immense amount of pain and so the doctors are working diligently to reduce her pain to a level where she can rest and recover.  We are all very excited that Alysia is going to have her life back. Thank you all ..read more
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Go get that Kidney
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
What a ride I've had over the past couple of days.  On Monday around 6 pm, I received a call from OHSU letting me know that I was the back-up person for a kidney.  A back-up person is someone who is next in line for a kidney if the first person is unable to receive it.  The nurse informed that they would follow-up with me on the following day by noon.  She told me to go about my day normally.   Around 11:45 am the next day, I received another phone call and the nurse told me what I was still on call for back-up.  The person ahead of me was waiting for kidney ..read more
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My Story of Hope
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
Photo Courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation.  March is National Kidney Month and before it ends, I want to share my story that I wrote for Donate Life Northwest.  You can see the short version here.   Here is the longer version, which consists of questions I answered.  I hope you enjoy it.  Describe your life before you got sick. Before I was put on the transplant list for my second kidney transplant, my life was as normal and typical as any other person’s.  I had few limitations and was able to do most things that I wanted to do. My restrictions were l ..read more
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2018, A New Year and More Hope
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
I thought 2017 was going to be the year of the kidney. I had high hopes of receiving my life saving kidney transplant. I dreamed of life free of dialysis and filled with warm baths and swimming pools. If you recall, I was so close to having my dreams become a reality. Over the last two months, I’ve reflected upon what happened and why I did not receive my transplant then. I learned later on why the kidney was not donated to me and I am at peace with it all. I am confident and truly believe that everything happened for a reason and that my perfect match is waiting for me in the near future.&nb ..read more
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Sad, Disappointed, and Frustrated
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
I can’t describe the sadness or disappointment that my mom, Joshua and I are all feeling. We are all heart broken. Last night after waiting in the hospital for about 11 hours we were finally informed that the donor’s kidneys were not in the condition they were hoping for, thus not able to donate. All day, we had been sure that the transplant would be a go. The fellow doctor had mentioned that there was a slight chance that when they would harvest the donor that the kidneys would not be good, but we had hope. I was a match and very compatible with the donor. It’s very heartbreaking and hard ..read more
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Waiting for the Kidney
Alysia's blog
by Alysia Yamasaki
3y ago
Yesterday, we got the call that there was a kidney on the way. We are now sitting here up at OHSU doing all the preliminary check-offs.  Joshua will be posting here through my stay. So please check here for updates! XOXO,  Alysia    UPDATE: Everything is going smoothly so far. We checked into the hospital at 8am this morning, and Alysia has undergone a physical exam, chest X-ray, numerous blood samplings, and has essentially told her entire life story to each and every person to come into the room (by their request, of course). She has not yet been assigned a time for surg ..read more
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