The Greatest Joy in Life – My Granddaughters
Elona Rutkauskienė is a warm, always-smiling woman whose life was transformed by a transplant. Her list of activities and commitments is extensive. With a big heart and a natural capacity for caring for others, Elona has been sharing her warmth, energy, and concern for many years. She serves as the chairperson of the „Gyvastis” association council and is the project coordinator for the Vilnius chapter.
Elona’s most important work is helping other patients – those who are seriously ill and unable to care for themselves. Along with her supportive husband, she can often be seen delivering food and medication. They do these tasks quietly, without seeking attention.
When the war in Ukraine began and disabled Ukrainians arrived in Lithuania, Elona made sure they were also included in the „Gyvastis” community. “It feels good to see people enjoying themselves with us, forgetting their troubles, smiling, and socializing. Every gathering becomes a true inspiration for me — I leave filled with positive emotions, energy, and a great mood.”
Her favorite activities include crafting, which she not only creates herself but also teaches to other „Gyvastis” members in her workshops. She makes a variety of items, such as jewelry, Christmas wreaths, decoupage, polymer clay creations, and more.
I Cherish Every Day
Elona learned she had polycystic kidney disease at the age of 29. She inherited this serious illness from her mother, who passed away from the same disease at a very young age. The disease also claimed the lives of Elona’s grandmother, sister, and cousin. Before her transplant, Elona’s life was sustained by dialysis treatments for three years.
She went through many psychologically difficult stages while ill. Sometimes her poor health and uncertainty overwhelmed her, leaving her unable to see any future: „What really helped me was a visit to a psychologist who opened my eyes, taught me to view my illness differently, to make peace with it, and to find ways to continue living. I followed her advice, and things became much easier.”
Today, Elona speaks about her life with much more joy: „A donor’s kidney saved my life — I’ve been living a full life for fourteen years. My biggest fear, that my daughters, who were still in school at the time, would be left as orphans, did not come true. Over these years, they finished school, earned higher education degrees, got married, and now my husband and I are proud grandparents of four granddaughters, who themselves are now in school. I’m grateful for life, cherish every day, and thank the donor’s family for everything.”
Looking at My Son, I Understand the Gift of Life I Received
Rimvydas Vekerotas has been living with a donated heart for 18 years, the same age as his son Justinas.
Rimvydas’s health began to decline at the age of 31, after a bout of the flu: „At first, I ignored the flu symptoms — I didn’t have a high fever, so I kept going to work. I had been healthy and never visited doctors, but the post-flu ailments began to disrupt my life. I felt weaker and weaker, constantly exhausted.”
Doctors diagnosed Rimvydas with a progressive heart disease caused by the flu. His heart rapidly weakened, leaving no other treatment options. He was placed on the heart transplant waiting list. „There was no telling how long I would wait or whether I would make it. My heart couldn’t beat without assistance, so I was fitted with a pacemaker. When that no longer helped, they scheduled an artificial heart implantation surgery.”
Amid this uncertain time, Rimvydas’s family received surprising news – they were expecting a baby. „I was afraid I might not live to see my child. And I already knew it would be a son! That’s when I decided to write a letter to my unborn son. If fate didn’t go my way, my son would know that I was aware of him and eagerly awaited his arrival.”
December 19, 2005 To Eglutė and Justinas, I’m lying in the hospital, just days away from the surgery where they will implant and connect an artificial heart, because my own heart is barely working. I’ll be the fifth person in Lithuania to undergo this. I have no other choice. A donor heart would be better, but I might not live to see one. I love you both very, very much. There’s always a risk in surgery – you either come back or you don’t – but I’m determined to live and to hold my son. Justinas, I’m writing because not leaving any message would be terribly wrong. As I write, tears are running down my face. I’ve been waiting for you my whole life, a life full of mistakes I hope you won’t repeat. That’s why I must survive, no matter what. Last night, I dreamed of us sitting in a park under an old oak tree, holding hands on the green grass. You were smiling and full of joy. I love you so much.
After living with an artificial heart for a few years, Rimvydas finally received the call he had been waiting for: „It was a Sunday morning. The doctor called and asked if I had eaten breakfast yet. I said no. He told me not to eat and to come in — there was a donor heart.” The transplant surgery was long, followed by an extended recovery period. Rimvydas recalls, “When I woke up from the long anaesthesia, I had one thought: the donor – my heart was transplanted, meaning the donor had passed. I thought about him, thanked him, and drifted back into the anesthesia-induced sleep.”
Today, Rimvydas is an active advocate for organ donation. He says he’s lost track of how many interviews he has given and how many meetings with students or schoolchildren he has attended: „This is my way of thanking the donor and his family. I live, I work, I’m raising my son!”
„Thanks to the Donor’s Family, I Live a Beautiful Life”
Challenges in having children after a transplant are not something only women face. Mindaugas Pacevičius, a proud father of two, can attest to that. Both of his children were born after he received a kidney transplant.
Mindaugas had kidney problems from a young age, and before starting school, he was diagnosed with kidney failure. At the time, he didn’t fully understand what the diagnosis meant: “When the surgeons created a fistula for dialysis, I realized it was serious. And when they started sticking needles in me for dialysis… I don’t even want to remember that feeling now.”
Fortunately, Mindaugas didn’t have to endure dialysis for long – just about six months. What stood out to him most during that period were two things: constant fatigue and headaches. „I went swimming because I really wanted to swim. But after each practice, I was completely exhausted.” This exhaustion perhaps overshadowed the fear he felt one evening after a swim when he got the call about his transplant. „While they did numerous tests, checking compatibility with the donor, it felt like forever. I kept falling asleep from the fatigue until finally, the doctors confirmed they would transplant the kidney.”
Mindaugas tells his story with a smile and makes jokes, but now, as a father himself, he realizes the stress his parents must have felt during his illness and transplant.
After the transplant, Mindaugas had to adjust to a new routine – taking medication at specific times. Also, to regain strength, he initially had to refrain from sports. But the dialysis was over! Gradually, his life stabilized: “I’m glad everything worked out. I recovered. I met the wonderful Edita – next year, we’ll celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.”
When planning to have children, Mindaugas and Edita had many consultations with doctors, including geneticists and nephrologists. To ensure no harm came to the baby, doctors changed Mindaugas’s medication. He had to take the new medication for six months to reduce the risk of birth defects, but this also significantly increased the risk of kidney rejection. At the same time, Edita underwent genetic testing to assess any potential risks. „But everything went smoothly, and now we have two wonderful children,” the happy parents share.
At the end of our conversation, Mindaugas speaks warmly about organ donation: „Thanks to the donor’s family, I live a beautiful life – I have a wonderful wife, children, a job I love, friends – and I can enjoy life.”