Many people have asked me WHY?, Why would I even consider this procedure after hearing the risks, possible outcomes and statistics about the procedure. The answer is fairly simple to me. I am not looking for this to “cure” my diabetes, I will always be a Type 1, that part of me makes me who I am, I have lived with diabetes far too long to let it go and forget the others who are still fighting. The reason for this procedure was not even my idea, yes..I have thought of it in the past, but did not fully understand the details until recently. This was somethiing brought up by my Endocronologist and Nephrologist.

Almost 2 years ago (May 2, 2011) I had a kidney biopsy because I was spilling an unheard of amount of protien into my urine. They thought for sure that it was related to the diabetes and the length of time I had been a diabetic. This was the 2nd biopsy that I had done, the first was when I was 15 years old and they never really told my parents what the findings were. This last biopsy revealed I had a rare kidney disorder called Focalsclerosis, a kidney disease commonly found in African American Males….which I am clearly neither, lol. The disease has no cure and the kidneys will eventually fail in most cases, not all. As of right now, my kidneys are considered to be high functioning, even better than some normal people, which is odd…but possible. My doctors are suggesting the pancreas transplant in order to relieve some of the strain on my kidneys, diabetes causes kidney damage, as does the other disease. They are trying to be proactive rather than wait for my kidneys to fail and then do a complete dual transplant. They cannot say when or even if my kidneys will fail, so the best preventative measure is to eliminate one of the things working against them…Diabetes:)

I am thankful for such great doctors, they did not push me into this decision, they gave the information I was seeking and then gave me their opinion and the reasoning behind it and Brandon and I came to the decision together. I want to be here for my 3 small children, I want to see them grow and live life to the fullest but I cannot do that if I, myself am unable to live life to the fullest at the age of 28. Am I scared of the risks? YES Am I scared of having to do this all over if the organ is rejected? YES Am I scared that I could die trying to save my life and better the life of our family as a whole..MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. But I will say this, my God would not bring me to this place in my life if he was not going to see me through it and be there to give me a peace about it at every question, worry and thought that I may have. There is a reason for everything and He already knows the outcome and the reasons that I will discover as I take the journey with Him by by side.

I am FEARLESS, BLESSED and have the best support system I could ever imagine:)