10 YEARS IN THE MAKING // Our Story

As some of you may know, or seen hinted at in earlier post, in the past month Peter and I have been going through some medical issues. The background story is this – I have had a kidney disease for the past 25 years and unfortunately for me the disease I have has gradually deteriorated my kidney function until I was in end stage renal failure. So for the past three years I have been attached to a dialysis machine each night to help filter fluids and toxins from my body – effectively replacing my kidneys with a machine to keep me alive.

Right now those of you who have met me, or had me at your wedding are probably thinking – Whoa, WHAT NOW?!?It does come to a bit of a shock to people because I haven’t really made a big deal out of it. I have been lucky enough to have had fantastic medical care (Medicare you ROCK!), a wonderful support base and a lifestyle that has made the transitions in each stage of my disease easier to deal with. And to be honest, while having this disease is does suck, I happen to think I have a pretty freakin’ awesome life!!

So, on the most auspicious of days – February 29th 2012 – I got THE call. They had a kidney match and I was to fly to Brisbane that day and have the transplant asap – HOLY CRAPOLA! I was sooooo not prepared for this moment but ready not, I was on the plane and at 7am on March 1st they wheeled me into theatre and gave me a new kidney! The transplant so far has been very successful, although I have had some side complications as a result of the new immunosuppresent medications I am taking, but I am so excited about all the possibilities for the future!

In months prior to the call, Peter and I had been dreaming up ways we can celebrate our upcoming TEN YEAR wedding anniversary on March 23rd. We had grand plans of holidaying on a luxury tropical island, getting frocked up for an expensive restaurant dinner or perhaps having the full day spa pampering experience as a way of celebrating our decade of marriage. Instead I was only a few days out of hospital and still in recovery mode, when my darling husband presented me with this wonderful surprise anniversary gift – beautiful memories of our wedding day and a wonderful reminder that we really have had an awesome life so far. Such a beautiful keepsake that he has worked so hard on (in secret!), it bought me to tears. THANK YOU my wonderful husband Peter, for all your love and support. You are truly my best friend, my partner in crime, my other half. Thank you for collecting our memories so we can look back at what an amazing first ten years we have had together, and my new kidney and I know the next ten, twenty, FIFTY will be EVEN BETTER!! LOVE XOXOXO!!

~ Emily