Camping After a Kidney Transplant

Growing up in northern Wisconsin, my world was filled with outdoor adventures. Everyone I know hunts, fishes, skis, etc. About three hours north of my house is the Chippewa Flowage, which is a series of lakes connected by channels and surrounded by hundreds of camping areas. Every summer, my entire family would head that way for about three weeks. We were a family of camping enthusiasts. We had a camper, multiple tents, coolers filled with treats, lanterns, a boat stocked with fishing and tubing necessities... and a bag full of medicine for me.

At age 13, I woke up in the middle of the night with the urge to go to the bathroom. Sitting down I remember screaming for my mom because it hurt so bad and nothing was coming out. I sat there for almost two hours while my mom tried to calm me down. She eventually got me into the car and took me to the local emergency room. I was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, given antibiotics and sent on my way. The antibiotics did nothing. The pain only got worse and slowly moved to my lower back. Within a couple of days, my urine contained blood and when I would stand I would immediately get dizzy. We knew this wasn't right. After seeing a few more doctors and specialists, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and was put on multiple medications. We were told I could have this condition my whole life without having kidney failure, or I could have it a month and have complete kidney failure.

A little over eight years later, it was suggested that, if possible, I receive a kidney transplant. Although I had followed a strict diet and exercise regimen, my kidneys couldn't keep up. It was either a transplant or dialysis. My family and I researched extensively and decided that a transplant was the option for me and the most likely way I would return to living a normal life. My mom was luckily type-O blood and was compatible with me. The surgery went smoothly and recovery, while difficult, was helped with extremely supportive friends and family.

A beautiful lake view

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