The Recovery Bucket List

In June 2012, I spent 2 weeks in hospital with a relatively unusual kidney condition called Minimal Change Disease (a form of Nephrotic Syndrome). It wasn't pleasant to say the least, I had retained 18kg of excess fluid in my body, had very little energy and no interest in food. I spent much of my time in hospital lying in bed doing very little, just being a bloated blob of excess fluid.

One night at about midnight, I was feeling a bit down. I was restless from the steroids I was on to fix my kidneys, there was a crazy lady yelling and screaming on the ward, and I was feeling really homesick - I'd been transferred from my local hospital in country Victoria to one of the largest in Melbourne for more specialist care I just couldn't get at home. Sleep wasn't an option despite my lethargy, and it was wearing me down mentally.

Knowing that I would eventually go into remission and be able to go back to my normal life, I made a list right there and then. A Bucket List, of all the things I would do when I'm well again and back to my "normal self". Somehow I managed to keep my optimism up for about 99% of the time I was sick, and kept looking to the future and thinking of more things I could do.

This blog is my journal of completing my Recovery Bucket List.

Monday, 9 July 2012

Some good progress made today :D

I've just been to my kidney specialist (nephrologist), and while I'm not in remission yet (booooooo), my test results are "getting better" enough that they are cutting back on a few of my medications! YAYYY!!!

So I'm celebrating by "seeing more of Melbourne" today, with a trip to the State Library. I hear it's a beautiful building. Stay tuned for the verdict.

And an update on my blood donation quest, 4 of my cousins from the Northern Territory donated blood while I was in hospital, so I'm counting that on my list! 4 actual donations, and 3 pledges so far... I am completely overwhelmed by the support I've had, I honestly thought I'd struggle to just get one, and quit frustratedly - but it's looking more and more like I will actually meet my challenge, and that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :D


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Location: South Yarra, South Yarra

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