My Recent Trip to the Mayo Clinic
- Noal Cattone
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 6
Three weeks ago, on Wednesday morning in Rochester, MN, I had my second meeting with a member of the transplant team for a final evaluation of my psychological readiness for a second kidney and to review my compliance with my dialysis nurse and meetings with a social worker. If I received good marks, this was to be my final appointment at Mayo before the transplant committee authorized my listing!
I must admit, I was a little nervous meeting with the doctor for a second time. My first appointment with him was far from a formality. It was stressful and I felt scrutinized and judged for experimenting in college. But experimenting was secondary. I was a Regent's Scholar with great grades throughout high school and college. I had a full scholarship and thrived as a member of the ski racing team. Today, I like to think of myself as a bulletproof superhero spreading strength, love and peace. I maintain a clean lifestyle, and I live in a fairy tale on Bainbridge Island. But I left that meeting with a four-item list to check off order to make the cut for a transplant:
The deal breaker: I needed to test negative for any multiple myeloma or abnormal plasma cells in my blood and bone marrow.
Compliance with all dialysis runs and lab draws requested by the Puget Sound Kidney Center.
Continue eating a well-rounded, kidney friendly diet while taking phosphorus and potassium binders as directed.
Complete 6-10 therapy sessions with a social worker for drug abuse and depression. This one took me by surprise
Warning to future applicants for a second transplant: When filling out intake forms for psychiatric evaluation or conversion with your psychiatrist directly, be prepared to be asked about your past. I was fully transparent about all the fun memories from college. In my case, I drank, bummed cigarettes, and experimented with some recreational drugs. It’s all part of my record now and has made my journey longer and more frustrating. In fairness, Mayo wants to ensure they are providing a kidney to a worthy person who will take good care of themselves and their donated kidney! My college experiences were 30 years ago and play no role in who I am today. Still, my psychiatrist required 6-10 counseling sessions to remedy my past drug and alcohol use. I was diagnosed with 6 issues, word for word:
Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 GFR <15 Dialysis Dependent - (Dialysis keeps me alive!)
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood - Spending 25 hours per WEEK doing dialysis and chemotherapy away from my family takes its toll!
Alcohol Mild Use Disorder, Uncomplicated
Nicotine Dependence Cigarettes in Remission
Cannabis Mild Use Disorder (Abuse) In Remission
Casual drug abuse disorder in remission
After all the fuss and 6 sessions of counseling, the doctor was finally satisfied I was ready for transplant. My appointment ended on a high note with him congratulating me for successfully checking all 4 boxes! We parted with a handshake and his promise to advocate for my transplant listing.
High as a kite, I thought I was home free! I would be listed the following week and cleared for transplant! Unfortunately, the next day after returning home I was informed by my hematologist that I need to complete 6 more weeks of daily chemotherapy and then have a biopsy in July before the committee finalize my listing status. Although frustrating, I trust Mayo’s reasoning and agree it's much better to be safe than sorry.
I am closer than ever to giving my family a normal life back, a freer life that is not shackled by my 8 long years of deteriorating health. I dream of rekindling romance with Sarah and finally giving my 10-year-old son, Cruise, his real father back, someone he has really never experienced. Up until now I have mostly been a witness and observer, watching Cruise make memories while I sit on the bench. The prospect of making Cruise smile and creating memories together makes my heart pound with excitement. I can't wait to ski with him and start a snowball fight with the lifties while on the chairlift or watching his excitement rappelling for the first time. Just being able to participate in any activity he wants to do without physical limitation, like running through the sprinkler or wrestling on the grass would be euphoric. We could ski as a family, spend time at our cabin or just be whimsical, without every decision being governed by my chemotherapy appointments or dialysis schedule.
I look forward to the empowerment our health gives us, providing the freedom and energy to care for others fully, grow happiness and for me, show the world how much I appreciate the life I have been given. Thank you to each and every one of you for all the moral and financial support and acts of kindness you’ve shown me. I wouldn’t be here without you!
I know we will succeed. July is just around the corner.
To learn more about my fight with a rare kidney disorder and smoldering muliiple myeloma, how you can provide financial support to me and my family, explore kidney donation, or book a PT appointment, follow the links below.
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