A New Kidney, A New Life
Living with a chronic condition is very difficult and frustrating for everybody involved. Chronic diseases do not only affect the patient, but also the patient’s family and social environment. Therefore, chronic conditions, especially renal failure create profound social problems. All patients who have recovered from chronic renal failure with a kidney transplant and have held on to life have a common characteristic: Nearly all of them celebrate two birthdays; one the day they were born, and the other the day they started living a healthy life in the aftermath of a successful transplantation. Sometimes, their second life is presented by a relative, who loves them very much, and sometimes by a benefactor, who will always be remembered with the donated kidney even after they have passed away and will live forever in their prayers. That’s why they will always give the donor of their kidney a special place in all their prayers and wishes.
Other people who will always be mentioned in their prayers and wishes are the doctors and specialists who did their best to perform the transplant. The healthcare team and the transplant center play a significant role in both the success of the transplant and the healthy long life that the patient begins in this new period after the transplantation. In this second life, the transplant center becomes the patient’s second home, and the healthcare team their second family.
The first requirements needed to accept this responsibility are experience and specialization. A well equipped hospital that has state-of-the-art devices is the most important parameter that complements the success of a healthcare team.
We, the team of the Organ Transplantation Center at the Koç University Hospital, constantly feel this responsibility in our hearts. We are here to bring you and many more a second life, and to be your second family.