14
FEATURE
After the complicated premature birth of my
daughter in 2008 my health deteriorated.
I became increasingly breathless, I put this
down to lack of fitness, asthma symptoms, iron
deficiency and anything else I could think of that
could possibly be the cause!
Slowly, during the following months and years,
the breathlessness worsened to the point where
I felt faint and dizzy most of the time. I couldn’t
carry out basic daily tasks or hold a conversation
without becoming short of breath. After a
number of visits to the GP over the course of a
year, transfer to a cardiac specialist and a series
of tests, I was sent directly to the Emergency
Department at Christchurch Public hospital...
and the rest is history.
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The next few years were filled with long hospital
stays, home oxygen, trials of medication, right
heart catheterisation and lung function tests.
Anyone suffering from PAH will understand the
daily chore that is keeping yourself alive. You
literally have to think about every single breath
you take, it is tiring and all consuming. Every
day was a battle of mind and body. The oxygen
helped, but I would have given anything to
have just one minute where I was free from the
relentless struggle. Yes, this took strength and
determination, but little did I know that I was
not the brave one in all of this and that there
would be a family who would soon bless me
with the most precious gift anyone can ever give
– the gift of life.
After my diagnosis in 2010, the regular
treatment for PAH was not effective in improving
my quality of life. Every small routine daily task
was a challenge. Unless I was completely still,
I was breathless and when you are raising a
toddler, completely still is just not an option!
All of this was to change with a trip to Auckland
to see the NZ Heart and Lung Transplant Service
at the incredible facility that is Hearty Towers.
Here, I was introduced to the extraordinary
team of professionals whom would save my life.
I met other transplant recipients and for the
first time in years I was surrounded with hope.
The possibility that I could be one of the lucky
ones became real, however at the time, I didn’t
believe life would ever be as wonderful as it is
right now.
I only had to wait ten days on the active waiting
list before receiving that life changing call. I was
overwhelmed by the fact that so many people
were acting so quickly to keep me alive. Life
Flight was amazing throughout and I was flown
to Auckland on a calm crisp evening.
I will be forever grateful for how smoothly
everything went. I came through the transplant
and have recovered without complication. The
desire to make the most of my second chance is
fuelled by thoughts of the donor and her family
as well as the overwhelming ongoing support
from the team at Hearty Towers.
25a Grove Road, Blenheim
Phone (03) 578 9688
LOOK FOR THE STRIPY
VAN ROUND TOWN TOO
www.pruandco.co.nz
I have never felt more alive than I do today.
I have been liberated from the battle of
breathlessness and absorb every moment I have
with my daughter, with immense pleasure. I
work with a vibrant, energetic team of people
in a positive and creative profession and
miraculously…I can breathe big, deep, oxygen-
filled life-giving breaths.
The precious gift of time…
Anna Maharaj shares her
kidney transplant journey
The saying “living life to the fullest” took on
a whole new meaning at the age of twelve
when
my renal failure journey began.
After being diagnosed with SLE (also known
as lupus), the battle to save my own kidneys
and my life meant endless rounds of
chemotherapy, heavy immunosuppression, IV
steroids, hospital admissions and the care of
many dedicated medical professionals.
After being so unwell for most of my teenage
years I was lucky enough to have a few years
in remission. At this time I was able to attend
the University of Waikato to pursue my dream
of becoming a teacher.
However, shortly after my 21st birthday my
health declined significantly, I went into end
stage renal failure and I was admitted into
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) requiring
lifesaving hemodialysis. There aren’t any
words to accurately describe the fear of the
situation or the emotions I felt when my own
kidneys died; I did experience grief and a
feeling of loss.
I was in ward 24 at Waikato hospital for
almost two years leading up to my transplant,
being too sick to leave hospital with endless
infections, operations, renal failure, no
energy, short of breath and requiring on-going
blood transfusions. I want to acknowledge
the staff at the Waikato Home Dialysis Unit,
as their training and support allowed me a
six-month period being on dialysis at home
with a machine and I gained some sort
of independence. During this time I had
incredible friends and people who would
bring me chocolate brownies from a café in
Hamilton East called Rocket. My appetite
was poor back then, needing a feeding tube.
However, I could tolerate brownies!
I was one of the first patients to be put on the
transplant waiting list from Waikato hospital
in 2001. Dr Ian Dittmer, Dr Helen Pilmore,
Dr Maggie Fisher, Dr Kim Wong and Dr Peter
Sizeland championed my cause and did
everything to keep me alive on dialysis so I
would be a successful transplant candidate. I
am forever grateful to them, because in 2002 I
received my kidney from a deceased donor.
I am now fifteen and a half years into my
transplant journey, living each and every
day with gratitude and heartwarming love
for my gift and I certainly have my appetite
back! My family and I celebrate my transplant
anniversary every year, it is bitter sweet. I
think about my daughter, my husband, my
donor and the borrowed time I have been
so generously given from my donor. This gift
of life has given me time to see my daughter
grow into a teenager, to travel the world,
to create a beautiful home and to fulfill my
passion for teaching.
I love my lungs. Thank you will never be enough. As a transplant recipient I am focused on
making my life count and honoring my donor
and those who have changed my life and the
lives of so many individuals fortunate enough
to receive transplants. Life is truly precious.
Lisa My family and I attend the annual Service
of Thanksgiving every year in recognition of
those who have given the gift of life to others.