I hope I live forever!
Justine
Justine
I’ve been very lucky over the last 10 years – I haven’t had any rejection, not even after my transplant. And I know it’s like a miracle because most people get rejection, or acute, or something basic, a year or two after, or chronic rejection.
My life has been like a rollercoaster, with highs, and lows. I’ve managed to achieve incredible feats, that never would have happened if I hadn’t have had my transplant. Highlights being … competing in the Transplant Games; I’ve also sailed round part of the world. And if I hadn’t had my transplant, I never would have done that. Raising lots of organ donor awareness through TV, radio, and media. I’ve also started doing performing – burlesque modelling. I’d say my life is very colourful [laughs]. It’s been happy. I’ve met amazing people, spent more time with my family and friends – it’s been a buzz, you know, and every day is exciting. Every day I wake up and I’m still alive – it’s still a bonus. Every day I think about my donor, still, because without that, this would never be here – I would never be here. This morning, I was on a hot air balloon, something that I’ve always wanted to do – and it was a wish, and finally reaching 10 years post-transplant, it was just fantastic.
When you have a transplant, I think the myth is people think it's a cure. And, you know sometimes you feel, when you’re on a low and you're tired, and you’ve got no energy … I think people think, because you look well on the outside, that you’re well on the inside. And it’s not true. Every day there is some sort of struggle, but because I’m a very positive person, I don't let that get in the way of me living my life, and having a life. And I’m very determined, and I’m very stubborn, and everything I do – it doesn’t matter if I take 5 times longer than the average person – I will still do it. I work within my own limitations, and I think what I’ve learnt, through this journey – as I said there are lows – it’s your mindset. You can sit there and feel sorry for yourself, if you’re having a bad day or if you don't feel well, or you can say ‘OK, I don't feel the best, but what am I going to do to get out of this situation?’ Even if I just go for a walk, or if I can’t do what I normally do at the gym, maybe I’ll walk on the treadmill instead of running, and I’ve learnt that you need to have a positive attitude to keep going, and I think having that and wanting to exercise, wanting to stay well, has made me continue to live. And I hope I live [laughing] forever!
My life has been like a rollercoaster, with highs, and lows. I’ve managed to achieve incredible feats, that never would have happened if I hadn’t have had my transplant. Highlights being … competing in the Transplant Games; I’ve also sailed round part of the world. And if I hadn’t had my transplant, I never would have done that. Raising lots of organ donor awareness through TV, radio, and media. I’ve also started doing performing – burlesque modelling. I’d say my life is very colourful [laughs]. It’s been happy. I’ve met amazing people, spent more time with my family and friends – it’s been a buzz, you know, and every day is exciting. Every day I wake up and I’m still alive – it’s still a bonus. Every day I think about my donor, still, because without that, this would never be here – I would never be here. This morning, I was on a hot air balloon, something that I’ve always wanted to do – and it was a wish, and finally reaching 10 years post-transplant, it was just fantastic.
When you have a transplant, I think the myth is people think it's a cure. And, you know sometimes you feel, when you’re on a low and you're tired, and you’ve got no energy … I think people think, because you look well on the outside, that you’re well on the inside. And it’s not true. Every day there is some sort of struggle, but because I’m a very positive person, I don't let that get in the way of me living my life, and having a life. And I’m very determined, and I’m very stubborn, and everything I do – it doesn’t matter if I take 5 times longer than the average person – I will still do it. I work within my own limitations, and I think what I’ve learnt, through this journey – as I said there are lows – it’s your mindset. You can sit there and feel sorry for yourself, if you’re having a bad day or if you don't feel well, or you can say ‘OK, I don't feel the best, but what am I going to do to get out of this situation?’ Even if I just go for a walk, or if I can’t do what I normally do at the gym, maybe I’ll walk on the treadmill instead of running, and I’ve learnt that you need to have a positive attitude to keep going, and I think having that and wanting to exercise, wanting to stay well, has made me continue to live. And I hope I live [laughing] forever!