A new update for you!!

Hi Everyone,

It’s been a long time since I last wrote following my kidney transplant. I want to thank all of you for your wonderful good wishes and especially the praise you gave my donor Rob Kesler, as he deserved it. He is remarkable and I’m still in awe that such a young man and great father felt so dedicated for the opportunity to save someone’s life! As you know there are no words that can express my gratitude and love for you for giving me life. Your kidney has changed my life and the lives of my loved ones forever!!!

My plan was to write you after a month into my recovery. Instead, I have had several health issues that needed immediate attention. I have yet to go a month without one or two hospital visits, sometimes for two weeks. Most of these issues were related to me being on dialysis and others from my cancer. While my Lamda free light chain multiple myeloma (MM) is in remission, I have amyloidosis which is common in MM cases. It has left deposits of amyloid in my complete GI track which flared up for 5 weeks. That is now is remission, but I can have daily issues with it that I try to - and I must say successfully - control. This will be a lifelong challenge.

Then when I felt everything I could possibly get, I received a diagnosis of a rare SVT 3 weeks ago. I had an ablation and am doing well. I am hopeful everything is now behind me. I hope you can all understand the delay of this letter.

Yet through it all, my kidney worked like a charm. No problems what so ever. So, when I’m not dealing with a health issue, I am living a beautiful and meaningful life.

Thank you, Rob. He’s also doing well. Back to work full time and very happy. Such a wonderful person that God put into my path! I am a walking living miracle because of Rob.

I will forever be grateful to all of you who have been by my side during these challenging times and still are today. I couldn’t have had a better outcome nor could I have done it without you. Today marks three years since my cancer diagnosis and look how far I’ve come! I’m almost back to feeling myself, well pretty close on most days! I look forward to a long happy life sharing it with family and friends doing God’s work.

May we all find peace at this time in the world and find gratitude for the love we have in our lives.

At peace and feeling blessed,

Bonnie

P.S. Several new pictures of the grandchildren; two out of three parents; Forrest (brother) and Brenda (his wife); Denise (sister-in-law) and Tom figuring out my daily medicines and Rob and his children.