COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Just
over ten years ago, Emma Jean Swinton was laying in a hospital bed recovering
from a life-saving kidney transplant.
"I
had a kidney transplant in 2002, which was very successful and functional until
2012," said Swinton.
Last
fall, Swinton's body began rejecting the kidney that had kept her healthy for a
decade.
"I
went into rejection in September and I had to resume dialysis in October," said
Swinton.
Swinton began going back to dialysis treatments three days a week,
five hours each day.
"I went through a depression stage, but I tried to be a faithful
and positive person, so I pulled myself out of the depression," said Swinton.
When
she had a new kidney, she had her life back, doing her normal activities and
going to the bathroom when she wanted. All of a sudden, she was severely
limited again.
"It takes some getting used to, but life goes on," Swinton
said. "I'm still alive. I'm thankful that somebody discovered this treatment --
this process. I would be dead otherwise."
Kidney transplants are not expected to last forever. Transplant professionals say the average is about 10 years if the
patient is fortunate, but many do not last that long.
"I'm aware that it may be quite some time before I am awarded
another kidney," said Swinton.
For
now, Swinton will stick with dialysis, but hopes it will not be for much
longer.
"If I have to, so be it, but with transplantation, you can resume
your regular standard of living," said Swinton.
Doctors
need to know Swinton can handle another kidney transplant, so over the next few
months, she says she'll complete all the medical, mental, and financial exams
needed to get her name back on the transplant list.
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