Recovery: Photo 2

Photo by Amber Hunt

Out one incision (left), and in another. And yes, dad did gain weight while in the hospital. During the procedure, he was loaded with seven liters of fluid to keep his kidneys pumping hard. It took several days for him to drop that load and return to his skinny self.

Having cut through muscle to retrieve the kidney and implant it, we were both very sore. For weeks following the operation, it was extremely painful to laugh and cough. It wasn't until I sneezed, though, that I learned the true meaning of pain. It felt as if I had ripped open the staples and stuck a fork inside. No exageration.