The Wonderful World of Iowa

Call me crazy, but Iowa City is magical to me the way the Emerald City must have been to Dorothy. I absolutely love this place. Of course, I am sure it has a little something to do with the fact that my fabulous team of doctors changed and saved my life there. I love going back for my follow up appointments. This past weekend was extra special. I had so many wonderful things happen in a 48 hour period.

To start the weekend off, I had my 3 month follow up post transplant with my favorite doctor ever, Dr. Thomas. Now not to offend any of my other fantastic doctors, I had some great pre transplant doctors and of course without the talents and miraculous hands of Dr. Alan Reed, I wouldn't even have this beautiful kidney. I honestly believe with the strange things that happened that day of transplant in the OR, had I not had Dr. Reed as my surgeon, I do not believe the transplant would have gone as well. Just my opinion....and I realize I am a bit biased. But back to Dr. Thomas. Just being in the mere presence of this man makes me feel safe and that my kidney is being well taken care of. I think having a doctor that can make you feel comfortable, safe and that you (the patient) can 100% trust, is one of the most important factors in this whole process. Not to mention, he is a complete genius and I am so blessed to be able to call him my nephrologist!



Second, this weekend was most special because I got to meet my soul sister who held my hand (long distance) and together we walked through the fire of ahus together. I finally, after 3 years, met Alyssa. She is so beautiful, brave, kind hearted and was my strength through the very dark days of ahus. I watched her in her sickest days, I watched her go on PD and watched in October of 2010, as she got her new kidney. She was my inspiration throughout the long and tumultuous road of ahus and this weekend we got to meet and celebrate our miracles of healing and our new lives together. I don't know how I would have made it all those years without her! I love you Lys!!!!



And last, this weekend came to a sweet end for the Ziegler family as we got to attend the conference held at the University of Iowa for the Foundation of Children with aHUS. I met so many wonderful people that I have talked to and has helped me get to this point in my life today. I also got to meet people from the company, Alexion who are the pharmaceutical masterminds, which invented my miracle drug Soliris. The conference was full of knowledge and empowerment for patients and their families suffering from this disease. Meeting everyone felt like a family reunion....and really it was. Nobody understands what aHUS is like, quite like the people at this conference. It was a true blessing to be there and also speak at the conference.