Gratitude and vulnerability don’t usually come easily. But when Mikaela was diagnosed at 16, she didn’t waste any time exemplifying both qualities while still in the hospital. Listen in as she shares about attitude, meds, horseback riding, and a path towards helping others.
(2:06) Feeling alone and reaching out,…
(2:55) The events leading up to diagnosis…
(6:11) “When I was in the middle of it, I just felt so uncomfortable. I felt so sick. I was so tired, and I felt so grateful that I was older and able to talk when I got diagnosed because hearing it was a kid's disease… I couldn't imagine going through it when I was younger, and I couldn't vocalize to other people how I felt.”
(8:24) Swelling, school, Covid, and a supportive family…
(11:05) Great doctors and great teachers…
(13:23) “My answer would be my kidneys hate me or my kidneys are misbehaving just cause they're doing their own thing and it was easier sometimes not getting all the way into it.”
(16:55) Plans after graduation…
(18:30) “I became so interested in how intertwined the body is, how one little thing kind of effects everything else. And that just fascinated me. So I was like, I get to learn more about that. I get to help people, which I just love doing.”
(19:41) Horseback riding…
(21:17) Finding the right meds to get to healthy kidney function…
(27:18) Losing a horse…
(29:31) Figuring out correct dosing routines…
(37:25) Talking about blood draws and IVs…
(41:53) “The attending that was on my case would make a list in the morning of things to do. So, I would stay motivated. They offered to discharge me when I was really sad. When my horse passed away, they were like, you can go home and you can just come back in a few days.”
(44:56) Boston Children’s Hospital…
(47:09) What were things that made school easier and plans for college…
(49:58) Advice from Mikaela… “You need to reach out. You need to talk to people. You're going to collapse if you try to carry this all on your own.”