How kidney failure, dialysis, and a life-saving transplant changed the way I live, travel, and cope with healthcare burnout.
People ask me why I travel so much.
The truth is… I almost didn’t get the chance to.
Travel has always been part of my life, even if the trips themselves were simple. Growing up, our family vacations were often small getaways — trips to Amish country or beach vacations to Myrtle Beach. Nothing extravagant, but they were some of my favorite memories.
Those trips showed me something important early on: the world is a big place, and there is so much to see beyond your own backyard.
In my 20s, I convinced my sister to join me on an 18-day trip through Europe for college students. It was my first real international adventure, and it completely changed me.
I was hooked.
There’s something magical about experiencing a new country — the culture, the food, the landscapes, and the feeling of realizing just how big and diverse the world really is.
But then, life took over.
Medical school and residency consumed my 20s. Becoming an OB-GYN had been my dream for years, but the road to get there meant long hours, intense training, and very little time for anything else — especially travel.
Finally, in 2017, I graduated from residency.
I remember feeling like life was finally beginning. After years of sacrifice, I was excited to start my career and finally have the freedom to travel again.
But just three months later, everything changed.
During a routine checkup, my lab results came back abnormal. My creatinine — kidney function for those outside the medical world — was dangerously high.
Within a week, I was admitted to the hospital for a kidney biopsy.
What followed was a long and difficult road.
High-dose steroids.
Autoimmune medications that made me incredibly sick.
Endless doctor appointments.
And to make things even harder, shortly before graduating from residency, I had gone through a divorce from my high school sweetheart.
At that point in my life, I truly felt like I had hit rock bottom.
I moved back home to Ohio to be closer to my family and started a new job. Eventually, my kidneys failed, and I was placed on the transplant list.
Then, dialysis began.
Dialysis is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It drains you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It takes hours of your life every week and leaves you completely exhausted.
I was 32 years old and felt like I was 80.
But somehow, through all of it, I kept working as a physician — about 32 hours a week. Caring for patients still gave my life purpose, even when my own health was falling apart.
After 16 months on dialysis, something incredible happened.
A close friend made an unbelievably selfless decision.
They donated a kidney to me.
That gift saved my life.
The wait for a kidney transplant can often be three to five years. Because of that generosity, I was able to get my life back much sooner.
Slowly, my energy returned. I started to feel like myself again.
And eventually, I started traveling again.
One of the first big trips I took once I was healthy was to Iceland — with my kidney donor. It was one of the most meaningful trips I’ve ever taken and something I will never forget.
Standing there together in one of the most beautiful places in the world, I was reminded of something I had learned the hard way.
Life is fragile.
We assume we’ll always have time.
Time to travel.
Time to explore.
Time to do the things we keep putting off.
But life doesn’t always work that way.
Health isn’t guaranteed.
Time isn’t guaranteed.
So now, I live differently.
I take the trip.
I see the places I’ve always dreamed about.
I create memories with people I love.
If there’s one thing my story has taught me, it’s that life is too short to keep waiting for “someday.”
That lesson didn’t just change how I travel.
It changed how I approach my career in medicine, too.
Working in healthcare is one of the greatest privileges of my life, but it can also be incredibly demanding.
Long hours.
Night shifts.
Emotional highs and lows.
The constant responsibility of caring for others.
Like many people in healthcare, I’ve experienced burnout.
For years, I focused on taking care of everyone else and rarely stopped to ask whether I was taking care of myself.
My illness forced me to slow down and reevaluate everything.
After my transplant, travel became more than just a hobby — it became a way for me to reset, recharge, and reconnect with life outside the hospital.
Stepping away, even briefly, reminds me that there’s a big world beyond call rooms and hospital hallways.
And when I return to work, I come back with more energy, perspective, and gratitude for the job I love.
Through this blog, I share more than just travel stories.
You’ll find:
✈️ Travel Guides and Destination Inspiration
💳 Tips for Traveling Smarter Using Reward Points
🧳Practical Travel Planning Advice
🩺Honest Conversations About Healthcare Burnout
🌍 Encouragement to Step Away, Reset, and Experience the World
All to help busy people see more of the world.
And the best memories often start with a plane ticket.✈️
