Last night my wife, one of our sons, a nephew and a niece went to Foxwoods Casino (Ledyard, CT) and had one heck of a time. Picture this: a 20 something (my son) and his two 40 something cousins plus a 50 something year old (my wife) and me (60…don’t remind me).
The bigno hall holds just under 4,000 cut-throat, diehard bingo players…and 5 newbies (us).
I was mesmerized watching some little old ladies with 18 or 27 bingo games going at once when I was frantic just trying to find the called numbers on my own 9 cards. Matter of fact, halfway through the games I confessed that this was hard work. Oftentimes I was 2 or 3 numbers behind what was being called and annoying one, lil’ ole bingo queen to my right with my constant “What number did he call?” Her response, “Shush”. Honestly, I felt busier than Lucy in the episode where she and Ethel were trying to wrap candy as fast as it would travel along the conveyor.
Now, why am I talking about bingo to those of you who are awaiting a donor kidney (or those of you contemplating being a living kidney donor)? It is simply this. At the present stage I am in with my own kidney failure, conventional wisdom would dictate that I should stay home, by the phone, hospital bag packed and wait for that miraculous call: “We have a donor kidney for you.”
Admit it, some of you who are on a kidney transplant waiting list are doing just that.
Life goes on. And I’m convinced that our well being is based more on our mental condition then on our physical condition.
It is great that you heeded your transplant center’s advice to have a bag ready to go with you to the hospital when you receive THAT call. Super that you are following your kidney-friendly diet. But trust me on this one, your cell phone works whether you are sitting watching television or out to dinner, dancing or playing bingo.
“Andy, you do not understand how I feel.” You are right, I do not know how anyone besides myself can truly feel. I cannot be you. And, unless you are visually impaired, been through bypass heart surgery and have diabetes related kidney failure, you cannot be me feelingwise.
The point is this: it is mostly our decision how we all handle this kidney thing emotionally.
It sure is easy to drag everyone coming within 10 feet of us to our self-imposed pity party. From experience I can assure you that if you put on your game face (you know, that smiley face) every day your attitude will definitely change from being an emotional train wreck waiting by the phone to living a happy, fulfilling life.
Now, who is in for our next bingo trip to Foxwoods?
I too was on a transplant waiting list 20 years ago; I had rejected my brother’s kidney after contracting CMV virus from my (now ex…) husband. That kidney lasted 11 yrs (the chronic rejection was 4 years of that).
I did not wait by the phone. I had kids to raise! I had a pager, and my husband had a cell phone. It is important to keep being YOU, and not putting life on hold while waiting for a kidney.
I hope you get a kidney soon; I treat mine with the respect it deserves. It’s only right…
Thanks for the upbeat comment.
All the Best,
Andy