I'm Built For This - Dealing with Invisible illnesses

Happy Kidneyversary to 'MEric'my donor Kidney ,  As of 15th January 2010 you have been in my body keeping me alive for the last 12 years. Your previous owner looked after you very well, apart from the odd cigarette and bottles of Pink Lady and Lambrusco, while hitting the disco back in the day.  Like your previous owner you are one of the most stubborn, feisty and resilient living things I have been fortunate to come across.  You 'MEric' have certainly taking a licking but you keep on ticking'.  But for the selflessness and humility of your generous owner, there is a strong possibility I would not be here today.  It's strange to think of all the wonderful experiences I would have missed out on, the grandchildren I would not have met, and the fantastic people across the world, who I would not have had the pleasure to meet.  In addition just over 3 months time I get to walk my beautiful daughter Lauren, down the aisle.  'MEric' you made that possible.  So,

The Story of 2021 So Far!  What can I say about 2021 and my first year with 'Stanley the Stoma' ? ……."It's been emotional " Since 2010, the month of January has always been the month in which I celebrated receiving a gift of life kidney transplant from my wife Mandi, on the 15 th   January 2010.  But now there was a new date to add to the calendar which will also have an added significance . On January 3rd 2022, I ‘celebrated’ the first year of receiving a Stoma  https://blackmenshealth.org.uk/2021/06/18/my-stoma-story-im-still-standing/    after my bowel ruptured, and I was dragged forcibly to hospital my Mandi in excruciating pain proclaiming “I’ll be ok in the morning, just give me a paracetamol”   Little did I know at the time, that I was literally 24hrs from dying with sepsis after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. Filming an awareness video for Sepsis UK   As my stomaversary (yes that’s a thing), has been getting closer this week , I have been feeling ver