Happy one-year kidney autotransplant anniversary to me! It’s been a whirlwind of a year, and I wanted to take some time to share an honest update: the good, the hard, the healing, and the ongoing. In this episode, I reflect on what recovery has really looked like, what I’ve learned about my body, resilience, vulnerability, and community, and how this experience has reshaped my perspective on health, work, and life. Whether you’ve followed this journey from the beginning or are just tuning in, thank you for being here and for walking alongside me this past year.

Hi, NCS friends! In this episode, I’m sharing my experience with developing an epigastric hernia after my kidney autotransplant. My hope is that this helps normalize the journey for those of you who may need additional surgeries after treating your NCS.

I go into more detail about:

• When I first noticed the hernia

• How I made the decision to move forward with surgery

• The conversations I wish I had with my surgical team beforehand to help reduce the traumatic impact

If you or your loved one has experienced a hernia post-op, feel free to share in the comments. I genuinely believe the current data doesn’t fully reflect how common these can be after abdominal surgeries, especially open-abdominal procedures. Much love to you all!

Hi, my NCS besties! In this episode, I’m sharing a side-by-side look at my best and worst in-patient experiences throughout my Nutcracker Syndrome medical journey. Ten months after my kidney autotransplant, I underwent a hernia repair surgery, which is an issue that developed as a result of my open-abdominal AT. To be clear, this was in no way due to any error by the incredible team at UWHealth in Madison, Wisconsin. Hernias are, unfortunately, a common risk following abdominal surgeries, especially open procedures. Mine appeared around five months post-op, and I eventually proceeded with the repair.

Unfortunately, the in-patient stay following my hernia repair turned out to be the most difficult hospital experience I’ve had, leaving me feeling unexpectedly helpless. In this episode, I break down what happened during that stay and contrast it with what made my best in-patient experience so positive. I also share practical recommendations to help you, and your loved ones, advocate more effectively and potentially avoid similar challenges.

As always, I’m sending you all so much love as you continue navigating this space. You are not alone!