Reliving the Dream: Travels With Transplant Fuels Inspiration

Posted April 23, 2024

From ReMend Mentor, Jeanmarie's Travel Blog:

"I started planning this trip years ago, and then the pandemic happened. I postponed my dream once again. I allowed self-doubt to take over my thoughts, feeling that it wasn’t realistic to combine international travel and a transplant. The self-doubt was strong. While scrolling through Instagram, I found an account called Travels With Transplant.

I was so inspired by the tips Vanessa was providing for traveling with a transplant. It gave me a confidence boost to see all the magnificent places she has traveled with a transplant. That is when I decided I was going to make my dream a reality. I reached out to Vanessa and discussed the trip I was about to take. I had so many questions for her to help ease my thoughts about traveling. Vanessa is such an amazing transplant recipient with an inspiring story herself.

Vanessa received her kidney transplant over 5 years ago, at age 33, as a result of progressive autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. As a career pilot, she has traveled extensively both pre and post-transplant. She credits a great deal of her success to budgeting extra time for her health, keeping plans flexible, and maintaining a positive attitude. She loves advocating travel solutions to the transplant and chronic illness communities who inspire her daily through their own life and travel journeys.

I asked her to share some of her top tips while traveling. She was so gracious in her response. I learned so many great things to make my trip go so much smoother and remove some of the anxiety about traveling so far from home.”