Janine Roberson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 7.
The chronic disease caused five stages of kidney failure, and the kidneys were so severely damaged that Janine was treated 10 months ago, including a successful kidney mammary transplant.
But now, after years of dialysis treatment and the aforementioned surgery, Janine, now 37, has a quality of life “more than ever,” Cedars Sinai said in a media release.
“She’s not diabetes anymore,” a hospital official said.
That’s not the only reason for Janine’s smile.
On June 13, she received her associate degree from El Camino College in Torrance, and helped children with chronic illnesses and served as parents’ mentoring, with the aim of becoming a child’s life expert in search of a double major in child development and psychology.
“That’s what Roberson and her family needed,” hospital officials said. “She remembers a lot of isolation and fear when she grew up managing diabetes, but these challenging times made her a stronger adult.”
Janine Roberson and her Cedars-Sinai transplant team. From left, Maicolorein Faustino, Erika Faralan Cruz, Alice Peng, MD, Roberson, Todd Brennan, MD, Steven Wisel, MD, and Reiad Najjar, MD. Photo: Cedars-Sinai.
The decision to return to school helped a former graphic designer through one of the most challenging times of her life. She had a medical disorder and had undergone peritoneal dialysis (a procedure that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter blood).
It’s not easy to do that while on the waiting list for a new pancreas, but her experience has been exacerbated by false hopes.
Another month passed before Janine found another donor. This time it’s a match.
“I was afraid to raise my hopes,” Roberson said through the release of Cedars Sinai. “when [the doctor] Come to my hospital room and I asked, “Is this really going on?” And he said, “It’s going on,” and I started crying. ”
After a successful procedure on August 22, 2024, Janine, one of five pancreatic transplants performed at the medical center last year, recovered in 12 days and began reaching new milestones, including hiking in the local canyon and seeing members of her favourite bands and members of BTS.
“She had a big indication that he said, ‘I got a new kidney to come here!” [at the concert]” said a hospital staff member.
After experiencing much of this without someone to love on her side (Janine’s family and friends do not live in the area), graduated Janine celebrated with the people who helped her stay alive.
“Janine has incredible resilience, as demonstrated by the many obstacles she has overcome,” said Brennan, a professor of surgery at Cedars Sinai. “Resilience helps her become a strong candidate for successful double organ transplants, helping her to ensure a quick recovery and helping her achieve her goals.”
Steven Wisel, MD. Photo: Cedars-Sinai. Todd Brennan, MD, MS. Photo: Cedars-Sinai.
“Janine is the perfect example of the true benefits of pancreatic transplantation,” added Wisel, surgical director of pancreatic transplantation. “It’s not only freedom from insulin injections, but a new lease in life. She quickly learned to thrive as a recipient of the kidneys (kidneys).
As a sign of gratitude, Janine says she plans to write a letter to a family member who is grateful to the organ donor. However, she wants to give them time to heal from their losses and share more experiences.
“I want them to know how grateful I am and that I am the right person to be the gift of their loved one,” she said. “[‘Pa’] I always wanted to see me feel healed. He knows I’m excited to do new things, live new things, see new things. ”
Janine Roberson dedicated her graduation hat to her late father, “PA.” He had the greatest impact on his resilience. Photo: Cedars-Sinai.
And while graduating college is great, the successful port allowed Janine to enjoy one of the sweetest things life has to offer: dessert.
In fact, when she finished the surgery, the nutritionist asked what she wanted in her first solid food meal for dessert. Two options were ice cream or chocolate cake.
After a temporary eyebrow raised, she chose a chocolate cake.
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