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Kidney Transplant

Summary

Concluding Remarks

When this case was selected, no one knew what the outcome would be or what the costs would total. It does not represent all living-related kidney transplants. In some ways it as yet hasn't been the "happily ever after" scenario that all might wish. However, it is not unusual in that it portrays one version of thousands of stories of transplant recipients, all with their hopes and fears surrounding their existence with a transplanted organ.

There are no perfect therapies for kidney failure and all exact "price tags." The effects on people's lives are profound. The facts remain that in this case the patient is alive, the kidney is still working and hopefully will for quite some time into the future, things are settling down, and are definitely better than a year ago. The story of this case is not finished, just as the story of transplant research and progress is not finished.

See References for information for people considering a transplant, or who have had a transplant and are facing the common problems of possible rejection, medication costs, making medication adjustments, rehabilitation, and dealing with changes in family and employment.