March 5, 2024 • 28 mins
LJ Dong, also known as LJ the Medium, embodies resilience and determination in her journey with Nutcracker Syndrome. Despite facing significant health challenges, LJ's refusal to discard her kidney led her on a remarkable path toward organ donation advocacy.
As the American Miss National Mrs. for 2024, LJ leverages her platform to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Her diverse background as an ordained Interfaith Minister, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Certified Motivational Speaker, Reiki Practitioner, and author underscores her holistic approach to health and wellness.
In her books, "The Spirit of Hope" and "Think Like a Medium, Act Like a Warrior," LJ likely shares insights into her personal struggles and triumphs, inspiring readers to embrace a warrior spirit in facing life's challenges.
Moreover, LJ's starring role in "The LJ Documentary - The Story of a Warrior Spirit" further amplifies her message of resilience and advocacy. By sharing her own story, LJ empowers others to consider the impact of organ donation and the potential for transforming lives through selfless acts of generosity.
Through LJ's advocacy efforts and unwavering determination, she not only raises awareness for Nutcracker Syndrome but also highlights the importance of organ donation, ultimately making a profound difference in the lives of those in need.
2024 Living Donor Meetup in NY
Nutcracker Syndrome Facebook Page
LJ’s Website
Documentary
Instagram
Books by LJ on Amazon
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Laurie Lee (00:33):
Hello and welcome back to Donor Diaries.
This is your host, lori Lee.
I have a super interestingguest today who has taught me a
lot about something I've neverheard of, and that is a disease
called nutcracker syndrome.
Meet LJ Dong, also known as LJthe Medium.
Lj is a fascinating human whoembodies resilience,
(00:55):
determination and positivity.
Thank you so much for being myguest today.
Lj, how are you?
LJ Dong (01:01):
I'm doing pretty good.
I'm excited to talk to youagain and I'm just grateful to
be here, so thanks.
Laurie Lee (01:07):
Yeah, absolutely, and you taught me something I
didn't know about kidneys andour pre call, and I'm really
excited to share it with ouraudience today.
To get started, can you tell usa little bit about yourself, so
?
LJ Dong (01:18):
I always like to say I'm a little bit of everything
wrapped in a small package.
I am a psychic medium, I am amotivational speaker, I'm an
author, I'm a living kidneydonor.
Probably the best title to sayis I'm an entrepreneur.
And today we connected becauseof organ donation and I'm an
advocate and I go out and raiseawareness, because I was
(01:39):
diagnosed with a rare disease in2017 and ended up donating my
kidney.
So everything that I've beenthrough which actually started
in 2013 due to a spine injury,spiraled into surgeries led me
to paying it forward anddonating my kidney.
So I wouldn't be who I am today,had I not gone through all the
pain and trauma that I'd beenthrough in my past.
Laurie Lee (02:01):
That's incredible, but I have to point out you
missed a very important titlewhen you were describing who you
are.
LJ Dong (02:07):
Uh-oh.
Laurie Lee (02:08):
What did?
LJ Dong (02:08):
I forget.
Laurie Lee (02:10):
You have a very specific title in New York.
LJ Dong (02:14):
I am the American Miss, national Misses.
I was representing Mrs New Yorkand I actually won the title in
Maine this past November andI'm holding the title this year.
Laurie Lee (02:26):
Congratulations.
And that gives you a reallyunique platform to be able to
discuss things with the public,such as organ donation.
LJ Dong (02:33):
Yes, Thank you so much for the reminder because still a
shock to me that I participatedand I won.
Not only did I win the nationaltitle, I won the health and
wellness category, spokesmodelcategory and I also tied for
interview out of all the girlsthat competed in the entire
pageant system.
What was pretty amazing aboutthat is that my platform is
(02:54):
organ donation, so I got toshare that in my interview and I
got to share that in myspokesmodel speech as well.
And what's nice about the titlethat I had, such as being a
medium or being a speaker, I getto go out there and share about
organ donation because a lot ofpeople don't know so much about
it and I'm grateful thateverything kind of ties in
together, because I had acompletely different life 10
(03:17):
years ago and I have to tell you, one of the things I really
like about you is that you don'tlead with that title and you
also never seem to lead withwhat's gone wrong, and it sounds
like you've had some major upsand downs with your health and
that kind of seems to just beyour motivation to help people.
Absolutely, absolutely.
It was in 2013,.
I was actually working in theoperating room until I became a
(03:39):
professional patient and I had aspine injury.
In a nutshell, I had broken myback.
I was just married, just cameback from my honeymoon, and my
life completely changed.
I was unable to walk and neededto undergo multiple surgeries,
and I was probably in awheelchair for about two years,
and during that time, I used topray and say you know, if I can
walk again, if I can get better,I will find a way to pay it
(04:02):
forward.
And that was like my I guessyou could call it bargaining and
I kept just saying that I'mlike I'm going to pay it forward
, I'm going to get better andI'm going to pay it forward, and
I'm a very ambitious person andI have very supportive parents,
thankfully.
So there was no you're going tojust stay in bed today, even if
you could get up.
I had a lot of that and afteryears of rehabilitation and
going through all that, I evenjust had my fourth spine surgery
(04:22):
surgery last year.
But in the process, I kept atthat and one day I was diagnosed
with nutcracker syndrome andwe'll get to that.
But I had the chance to save alife and donate my kidney.
So I said, oh, this is how I'mgoing to pay it forward.
So I didn't know how I wouldpay it forward or how my life
(04:44):
would unfold.
But even as a psychic right,everyone's like you didn't know
that.
Now, sometimes, when it's toopersonal, you can't help.
I didn't know how the futurewas going to play out, and if
you told me I was going todonate my kidney, I would have
been like you're right andhonestly, it was a blessing in
disguise.
Laurie Lee (05:01):
How did you break your back?
LJ Dong (05:02):
I was at work and I also had found out I have some
other issues going on whichmakes your connective tissue and
your joints and your bones veryfragile.
So something that somebody elsemight be doing might not be in
the same situation and get hurtas me, but because of everything
underlying that I had thelifting that I did, I fractured
and broke my my back and in aninstant, and you said that you
(05:25):
used to work in an OR.
Laurie Lee (05:26):
What did you do in the OR?
LJ Dong (05:28):
Yeah, so I was a surgical assistant, so I was.
I used to work the overnight,so I used to work in the trauma
Department, trauma OR, soeverything you saw on the news
what was coming in on thegraveyard shift.
So I was right up in all of itand I think that's kind of the
crazy part.
So I remember being andstanding and helping the surgeon
in Spine surgeries and I usedto watch that and it's like oh,
(05:49):
like I couldn't, my stomachcouldn't handle it, even though
I had to be right, you'reassigned to a case, you have to
go do it.
So when I went into the OR forFor spine surgeries, it just I
don't know if my soul knew, butI had like a weird feeling and
I'm like Like these are one ofthe hardest surgeries to watch.
So I never would have imaginedthat I'd be on the OR table four
times for spine surgery.
Laurie Lee (06:11):
And you said maybe that was something that you
sensed.
And you also mentioned you werea medium.
So I have to share this withyou because, first of all, I
totally believe in mediums andpsychics and I've known some
good ones.
You totally blew me away thefirst time that we spoke.
I asked you.
I was like is there anyone herewith me?
And you said your papa or your,your pop-pop, is here.
(06:31):
Do you remember saying that?
Yes, and that's the personwho's died in my life, who I was
closest to and who the factthat you nailed pop-pop.
And then you said that hisTotodog was with him, and I
didn't tell you this in our lastcall, but he always had a
miniature schnauzer and Onewould die.
He'd wait a year, he'd getanother one and he had miniature
(06:54):
schnauzers his whole life.
So the fact that he isSomewhere else, maybe standing
behind me again right now withhis mini schnauzers, makes me so
happy.
And Then the other thing yousaid that was crazy was you kept
talking about a specific nameand it didn't resonate, and I
understand that when you talk toa medium, sometimes those
things resonate later.
But what was crazy is is thatthe person who you were
(07:17):
describing, who had a heartattack had passed two days
earlier and I didn't know yet.
LJ Dong (07:22):
Well, I have goosebumps when you message me that and
I'm used to it.
Sometimes I do readings and itmight not register in the moment
.
I always call that psychicamnesia, because we're trying to
think of the people that wereclosest to us or we're trying to
think of the person that wewant to come through, that we're
not like aware of it and thenall of a sudden we find out.
I always tell people keep it inyour back pocket, because it
could be days to months when Iget validations.
(07:44):
So when I have goosebumps rightnow because that blew me away
and I was just grateful for thevalidation that you shared that
with me, I was so sorry to hearof the loss and that you didn't.
You know you had it known yetbut it's amazing who does come
through and when they comethrough.
And Just like your grandfatherand I think your your
grandmother and it wasinteresting that morning I don't
(08:05):
remember what I had the nightbefore.
So that morning I was exhausted.
I just like rolled out a bed toget on the call with you, so it
wasn't like I was on yet, butthat just goes to show when
we're writing and we're likewho's around us?
Right, and I just met you forthe first time.
Who's around us, that our lovedones are there, and especially
that gentleman that had comethrough who had passed recently,
(08:26):
and I think it was sointeresting, especially him
being an organ donor as well andcoming in to our call, talking
about organ donation.
So I believe in synopsis andit's amazing, like just to give
you a small example I was doingI do a celebration of life event
every year to Celebrate mykidney bursary.
So every year I get together, doa fundraiser Just a whole lot
(08:49):
of fun have speakers, recipients, donors come speak.
And during my last celebrationof life fundraiser I also like
to do readings at the end, right, so people come here about
organ donation and I give thegift of spirit, and spirit was
like coming through and givingme details or evidence and
raising awareness.
So like one loved one camethrough and they were passing,
(09:11):
they had passed from suicide andthe person that was coming
through for had just startedlike a mental health awareness
and we were also raisingawareness for mental health that
night.
So it's just amazing, like whythose people that night, right
it was who needs to come throughand when and what better way to
go hey, I'm gonna go show LJ orgonna go through to LJ to get
to my loved one to say I see youraising awareness for me.
(09:32):
I see everything that you'redoing and also the celebrations
that come from that person'spassing and that they're still
not missing anything, even fromthe other side.
So I thought that was amazingand that kind of happened with
us, that someone else who was anorgan donor, who had passed
away, which you hadn't realizedat that moment of our call to
realize and acknowledge you andwho you were, to that person,
(09:55):
the work that you're doing andthe gift that he left behind and
the gift that you're doing bysharing people's stories.
Laurie Lee (10:00):
So it's pretty amazing, yeah, I have goosebumps
all over again.
And it was weird too becauseyou know it didn't resonate.
I found out he died, and itwasn't till like three nights
later.
I was falling asleep and I waslike this is who was, who was
with me?
This is what LJ said, and itjust took a minute to sink in.
And then, when it did, Icouldn't fall asleep.
And then he was like I wish Iwould have asked her more.
LJ Dong (10:24):
Well, we could always connect again poppy too.
Laurie Lee (10:27):
And that's a different podcast.
But yes, I would love toconnect again in the spirit
realm.
LJ Dong (10:32):
Yeah, you're loved.
There was a lot of people andI'm glad that it did come to you
a couple of days after, becauseit's nice to know who's around.
And I always say to peoplesometimes it's the person like
you least expect, or you're noteven you know.
It's just I don't know.
It's just amazing.
Laurie Lee (10:48):
Well, thank you for sharing your gift with me.
It was really special to be therecipient of that.
LJ Dong (10:53):
Of course.
Thank you for allowing me to.
Laurie Lee (10:56):
So let's back up.
You were saying in a nutshell,and that kind of alludes to what
you're talking about withkidney disease Tell us a little
bit about the kidney diseasethat you had.
LJ Dong (11:06):
So it was called Nutcracker syndrome, and it's
when your left renal vein iscompressed between your aorta
and your superior mesentericartery, and the best way I
describe it when people areasking me cause, we can get lost
with medical terms.
It's like imagine a garden hoseoutside and you're trying to
run the water and then you stepon it and there's that kink, so
(11:27):
the water's not really comingout so good.
So imagine that's the vein andthe blood's trying to pass
through.
So it wasn't able to get to mykidney.
Eventually my kidney would havedied.
I had tried a major surgerywhich was like a left.
It was called the left renalvein transposition.
It was Like my whole abdomenwas cut.
It was a major, major surgery.
Unfortunately, that surgeryfailed and the doctor had said
(11:50):
to me you know, one of myoptions was to redo the surgery,
which I was not confident,after it failed by my first post
op appointment or two, that Icould have an effect to me.
But it wasn't something that hewould do.
So I said, okay, can I donate?
And he thought it was drastic.
This particular doctor, likewhy are you gonna donate?
I said what are you gonna dowith it?
You know it.
Just if you, if you justremoving it as a healthy, is the
(12:12):
kidney still healthy.
And that's what's unique aboutnutcracker syndrome is that More
often than not, if it's caught,your kidney is still healthy,
your vein is not.
So what I did was I tried toreach out to some Organizations
just to find out more aboutkidney transplants and how to
donate a kidney.
If that was the case, if thatwas the route that I could go
and one hospital had turned medown when I called.
(12:34):
I think they were just likeit's so rare.
I was trying to do a little bitof research and I did want to
just share this real quick, justto show you just how rare it
was.
Going through a bunch ofarticles like the National
Institute of Health and it saysReno nutcracker syndrome is
especially rare it's about 0.8%and difficult to diagnose.
It's so rare, in fact, that thediagnostic criteria were not
(12:56):
established until 2017.
Even though the syndrome iswhere rare, there is a high
morbidity associated with it,with complications including
Reno van thrombosis or renalfailure.
So it just goes to show thatwe're in 2024 and I was already
diagnosed in 2017, having mykidney donating 2018.
So there's not a lot ofStatistics yet because some
(13:19):
people might not have symptomsuntil it gets really bad.
I wanted to share this about7,000 people in my support group
all over the world.
So I went to the first hospital.
Like I said, they denied me,and the second hospital I went
to was open to the idea oftaking a nutcracker Kidney and
donating it to somebody else.
They went back 20 years of likerecords and could not find
(13:43):
anyone else with nutcrackersyndrome that donated it.
So I said to him well, what arelike?
What else can I do?
So it was either go in thegarbage, like just take it out.
Obviously the goal would belike let's just get it out and
get LJ feeling better.
But I just couldn't.
I just couldn't let that go.
So he met with the board.
I did a lot of convincing.
I said let's give it a shot,because the worst that can
happen is you end up not keepingit.
(14:05):
I got the go ahead.
I went through all the livingdonor tests and then that
morning of the surgery mydoctor's like I'm not gonna
guarantee anything.
And I just said to him this ishappening, I don't care.
That's pretty much what it was.
It's happening, we're doing it.
I couldn't see another way.
It was just.
I just saw it all unfoldbeautifully.
I woke up from surgery and thefirst thing I had asked was how
(14:27):
was my recipient doing?
And they're like how are youdoing?
I'm like no, how's my recipientdoing?
And she got my kidney.
We just hit five Years of herhaving lefty.
We call it lefty.
I even have a tattoo to my arm,lefty, with my kidney date.
It was interesting and fromthere it kind of led to
Advocating and I'm like I got totell more people about this
(14:49):
option that you don't have to gothrough a left renal vein
transposition, you don't have tolose a kidney.
Maybe you could donate a kidney.
So I try and get involved asmuch as possible to share more
about nutcracker syndrome,because you had not heard of it
either.
Since sharing my story, dozenshave donated their kidney, so I
lost track of how many, becauseI I'm going back five years now
(15:10):
so I am waiting.
I'm trying to update that inthe support group because now
it's 7,000 people.
I think when I joined thesupport group, maybe with a
thousand people.
So yeah, I can't wait to see.
I'm waiting for a response.
I'm just trying to do like alittle um, what do they call it?
A survey?
Okay, if you donated, since Idonated, let me know.
I used to keep a tally and thenthat's how busy it got.
(15:32):
So I'm just grateful thatsharing my story or someone
listening to this podcast no,we're here, somebody with
nutcracker syndrome and knowingthat there is treatment and
options out there.
Laurie Lee (15:43):
You have experience in the medical field, do you
feel like maybe that was why youasked that question?
LJ Dong (15:49):
Yeah, because I think I can't wrap my head around
something being healthy andtossing it.
It's like okay, you have freshfood in the fridge, why are you
going to throw it out?
To me it's like do somethingwith it.
If you're not going to eat it,maybe you give it to a neighbor.
Or someone comes over andyou're like here I have
leftovers.
Take this.
I don't know if it had to dowith being in the medical field.
I just couldn't understand itand I just couldn't let
something good go to waste.
Laurie Lee (16:10):
So are nutcracker kidneys oftentimes damaged, or
is this the case for most peoplewith nutcracker syndrome that
they have a healthy kidney thatcan be transplanted into
somebody else?
LJ Dong (16:20):
From what I've witnessed so far through the
journey is that most of the timethe kidneys are healthy enough
to donate.
The issue is that there's notenough awareness for a doctor to
know that they can do that, orpatients with nutcracker
syndrome like myself.
I didn't know I could do that,so I don't think there's enough
education about treatment, andnow that I don't have the kidney
(16:41):
anymore, I'm actuallynutcracker free, so I could
cross that illness or I couldcross that disease off of my
list.
That's something.
There's no more kidney vein.
There's no more kidney.
There's no more nutcrackersyndrome.
There's nothing beingcompressed, so technically it's
a cure.
We could change medical history.
I just think doctors need tolearn more and say, hey, we
could take this out.
Back to your question could itbe damaged?
(17:01):
Yes, that was one of thewarnings that I had, because I
had already had surgery.
It could have come out withscar tissue.
If it was scarred or anythingwas wrong with it, then they
wouldn't have been able totransplant it into somebody else
, and that wasn't the case.
Other options that people haveis called an auto transplant.
I wasn't a candidate for that.
(17:22):
It's where you take your ownkidney and they put it in your
pelvis Again.
Oftentimes the knot that I'veseen in those cases just from
what I've read and learned sonot a doctor don't know any of
that information, but frompeople that have shared their
story is that usually if you'retaking the kidney out, there is
a possibility that you can't putit into your pelvis and now
(17:43):
that kidney is no longer yoursanyway and you cannot donate it
at that point.
But let's just say they took itout and it was good and it was
healthy and there was no scartissue that can now be passed on
.
Laurie Lee (17:54):
And this only affects the left kidney, from
what I've seen.
Yes, okay.
So that would mean that thisisn't necessarily a viable
option for everybody, but ifthey have a healthy kidney and
they're not in danger of theirright kidney failing that, this
would be an option for somebodywith nutcracker.
LJ Dong (18:11):
Absolutely.
So that was the number onething is going through a living
donor test.
They're not just going to takeyour kidney out, they do the
living donor test.
They're very thorough to makesure that you're safe.
So, yes, they want to make surethat your right kidney is
functioning strong and healthy,that you can live with just that
one kidney.
So that's the beauty of it isthat they do make sure that
(18:32):
you're okay and you're safebefore you go on to donate a
kidney.
And so I was lucky to do thatand to share that, because I
think, if more people know aboutit, I think it's nice to know
that there's options, because Imay have just gone straight for
donation rather than go througha chance of maybe getting better
by doing that other majorsurgery.
Laurie Lee (18:52):
So I assume that you were seeing a nephrologist when
you were diagnosed withnutcracker syndrome.
Right, yeah, and neurologist.
What did you have to do to getthose doctors to start
considering transplant as anoption?
LJ Dong (19:06):
So first I called the National Kidney Foundation
because I didn't know where tostart, so I asked them where is
the nearest transplant hospital?
So once I did meet with NewYork Presbyterian which is where
I proceeded to donate and Iasked, they pretty much told me
that they would need to meetwith the team and see that this
would be okay, because theyalways have to make sure that
(19:27):
you're safe and you'rewell-being.
They understand that it'samazing that you want to donate,
but we have to make sure thatyou're going to be okay also.
So from there, I just wentdirectly into living donor tests
and I want to say within fourweeks I had my kidney out.
It was so fast because I wassuffering so badly.
They wanted to help me get itdone as soon as possible.
(19:47):
So once the living donor testcame back what a green light
like I got a date immediately,so I donated April 5th 2018.
Laurie Lee (19:55):
And tell us a little bit about your kidney donation.
LJ Dong (19:57):
I ended up donating.
I went into the hospital thatmorning, like I mentioned, saw
the doctor came out.
I got to see a picture of mykidney which I always think is
pretty cool, and from therebeing in the hospital, I did
have a couple of bloodtransfusions.
I did have a little bit of ahard time in the beginning.
I was transferred to anotherfloor, but once I got blood I
was like a completely differentperson.
(20:19):
So I felt much better and I wasasking to meet my kidney
recipient and she was asking tomeet me.
So the day that I was beingdischarged, my husband wheeled
me down and we got to meet and Iwent over to her.
We were both really emotional.
I just held her hand and, Idon't know, I just have
goosebumps.
It was like we recognize eachother.
(20:39):
This is the way it was supposedto happen.
I was just so thankful that ithappened the way it did.
I'm a big believer thatblessings can come out of
difficult situations, so Iwanted to pay it forward and
something good.
So I use this example and Ishare that that's something
positive come out of somethingnegative.
Laurie Lee (20:57):
So what advice do you have for anyone out there
with Nutcracker who isconsidering kidney donation?
LJ Dong (21:03):
I one would tell them to not lose hope.
So I use the word hope a lotbecause I like the acronyms.
It's to have only positiveexpectations and also hold on
pain ends.
So I use those two acronymsjust to tell people to have hope
, to do your research I say thisin a light way, but don't jump
into surgery right away Meaningfind out what is the best option
(21:26):
for you, because what might begood for one person might not be
good for someone else.
Some people I would say get yourlist, get a couple of opinions,
reach out to people in thesupport groups, talk to
different transplant centers.
If you want to donate, don't bediscouraged if one transplant
hospital turns you down.
So I was turned down by onetransplant hospital.
(21:46):
So sometimes it might just behey, going to another hospital
and team and being fortunateenough that they understand the
disease or willing to learnabout it and see if they can
help you.
So that's what I would say isto have hope, do your research,
do everything you can to stay ashealthy and strong in the
process because sometimes itcould be a quick process and
sometimes not and really connectwith other people and to know
(22:09):
that you're not alone.
And there's Lori, there's me,there's podcasts, there's
support groups.
There's more now than I everhad in 2017 that really not much
information existed and Ididn't know any donors at the
time, so there's so manyresources out there.
So just have hope and don'tfeel discouraged that we're all
here to help each other and stayconnected, like Lori said.
Laurie Lee (22:31):
I love your acronyms for hope.
Did you make those up?
LJ Dong (22:34):
No, I've heard of them.
I can't say credit.
I can't say credit for it.
I've heard of them and it juststuck with me and I use it.
Laurie Lee (22:41):
I love both of them.
They're beautiful, Thank you.
So what's next for you?
Lj.
LJ Dong (22:46):
Being open to what doors open.
In June I'll be cruising.
I'm representing Mrs Italy andthe Universal Petite pageants.
So I was born in Italy, sothat's another part of who I am
so being, you know, mrs New Yorkwas amazing and I won, but I
also want to be Mrs Italy, sothat's coming up in June.
(23:08):
So I'm doing a lot ofpreparations for that and just
kind of keeping up with my workand my clients and helping
people the best I can.
And the other big thing that'scoming up is organ donation
meetup in New York City in Aprilas well.
So those are my two big events.
I do volunteer.
I do a lot of things when I'mnot, you know, working and
(23:28):
writing.
I'd ask people to follow me ifthey are an organ donor and they
want to meet up with us in NewYork City.
They created something now.
It's like the little beanstatue, like the big bean in
Chicago, so something littlebean.
I personally have not seen ityet.
I know that there's a memorialservice also that's going to be
held at St Patrick's Cathedral.
We have a lot of fun thingsplanned, so I'm co-organizing it
(23:51):
and would love to see otherdonors because next year we're
going to try and break theGuinness World Records and see
how many living donors we canget in New York City.
So I know that's next year, butthis is in preparation.
But I would encourage people.
It's spring, new York City isbeautiful, there's a million
things to do.
We have a great itinerary,great food.
(24:13):
So that's going to be coming up.
April's around the corner.
I can't believe it.
So, and then off to representMrs Italy and just see what
happens in between, becauseusually I always say this, I
always plan something and thenlife goes in another direction
or the universe goes.
Nah, we're going to do thisinstead.
So I've just learned just to gowith the flow, because I didn't
(24:33):
know my way of paying it forwardwas organization.
I didn't think my break in myspine was going to break me into
the spirit world I always justlike to share, to just trust
that everything's happening fora reason, that you're going
where you're supposed to andyou're meeting the people that
you're meant to, and that'sthat's a big thing to just trust
, because sometimes when we'regoing, I always say there's
always a light in the darkness,because when we're going through
(24:55):
a difficult time it's very hardto see how am I going to get on
the other side, how my house isgoing to look like in a year
from now, and we're not sure howthings are going to turn out.
So I've learned, and it's justtrust, that okay, if this is
happening to me, somethingbetter is even going to happen
to me.
So I always look at things likeoh, I just went through this, I
just went through anothersurgery.
I can't wait to see theblessing that's going to come
(25:16):
out of it.
As hard as it is that there'sso many days I wanted to give up
, but I think that's veryimportant.
Laurie Lee (25:23):
That is truly inspirational and I love your
positivity.
LJ Dong (25:27):
Thank you.
Laurie Lee (25:27):
I'm drawn to it.
Thank you, I'm glad.
LJ Dong (25:31):
Well, anything else you want to add before we end today
?
If I could share my information, I'd love to.
If anyone wants to connect withme, is that okay?
Yeah, absolutely so.
If anyone wants to connect,they can reach out.
Ljthemediumcom is my websiteand I also wrote two books that
they can find on Amazon.
So I do talk about organdonation in both books the
Spirit of Hope and then my newbook that was released last year
(25:54):
Think Like a Medium, act Like aWarrior.
Yeah, I do share more about myjourney there.
I do have a documentary onYouTube, the LJ documentary, the
story of a warrior spirit.
I hope that anyone that tunesin or connects with me, that you
feel hope and inspiration.
And if I could just leave youwith my favorite quote, which is
also tattooed on my body thebest is yet to come.
Laurie Lee (26:15):
Thank you so much, LJ.
It was truly a pleasure gettingto talk to you again today.
LJ Dong (26:20):
Oh, I'm so happy, lori.
Thank you so much.
Laurie Lee (26:23):
And keep up the great work.
LJ Dong (26:24):
You too, I appreciate it.
Laurie Lee (26:27):
Thank you.
If you're interested inlearning more about LJ, you can
check out her website,documentary and other resources
mentioned in the show notes.
Additionally, there are linksprovided to the Nutcracker
support group Facebook page andinformation about the Living
Donor Meetup event happening inApril at the Little Bean in New
York.
Lastly, there's an invitationto join an event aimed at
(26:49):
breaking the Guinness WorldRecord for the greatest number
of living organ donors gatheredin one place, which is scheduled
to take place in April of 2025.
The current record was set in2016.
That was an event that Ico-organized with my friend,
kate Griggs.
Now LJ and Kate are working onbreaking that record.
They need 411 donors to achievethis goal.
(27:12):
I will be one of them and Ihope that you are too.
Thanks so much for listening toDonor Diaries.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
(27:47):
Thanks for watching.
Hello and welcome back to Donor Diaries.
This is your host, lori Lee.
I have a super interestingguest today who has taught me a
lot about something I've neverheard of, and that is a disease
called nutcracker syndrome.
Meet LJ Dong, also known as LJthe Medium.
Lj is a fascinating human whoembodies resilience,
(00:55):
determination and positivity.
Thank you so much for being myguest today.
Lj, how are you?
LJ Dong (01:01):
I'm doing pretty good.
I'm excited to talk to youagain and I'm just grateful to
be here, so thanks.
Laurie Lee (01:07):
Yeah, absolutely, and you taught me something I
didn't know about kidneys andour pre call, and I'm really
excited to share it with ouraudience today.
To get started, can you tell usa little bit about yourself, so
?
LJ Dong (01:18):
I always like to say I'm a little bit of everything
wrapped in a small package.
I am a psychic medium, I am amotivational speaker, I'm an
author, I'm a living kidneydonor.
Probably the best title to sayis I'm an entrepreneur.
And today we connected becauseof organ donation and I'm an
advocate and I go out and raiseawareness, because I was
(01:39):
diagnosed with a rare disease in2017 and ended up donating my
kidney.
So everything that I've beenthrough which actually started
in 2013 due to a spine injury,spiraled into surgeries led me
to paying it forward anddonating my kidney.
So I wouldn't be who I am today,had I not gone through all the
pain and trauma that I'd beenthrough in my past.
Laurie Lee (02:01):
That's incredible, but I have to point out you
missed a very important titlewhen you were describing who you
are.
LJ Dong (02:07):
Uh-oh.
Laurie Lee (02:08):
What did?
LJ Dong (02:08):
I forget.
Laurie Lee (02:10):
You have a very specific title in New York.
LJ Dong (02:14):
I am the American Miss, national Misses.
I was representing Mrs New Yorkand I actually won the title in
Maine this past November andI'm holding the title this year.
Laurie Lee (02:26):
Congratulations.
And that gives you a reallyunique platform to be able to
discuss things with the public,such as organ donation.
LJ Dong (02:33):
Yes, Thank you so much for the reminder because still a
shock to me that I participatedand I won.
Not only did I win the nationaltitle, I won the health and
wellness category, spokesmodelcategory and I also tied for
interview out of all the girlsthat competed in the entire
pageant system.
What was pretty amazing aboutthat is that my platform is
(02:54):
organ donation, so I got toshare that in my interview and I
got to share that in myspokesmodel speech as well.
And what's nice about the titlethat I had, such as being a
medium or being a speaker, I getto go out there and share about
organ donation because a lot ofpeople don't know so much about
it and I'm grateful thateverything kind of ties in
together, because I had acompletely different life 10
(03:17):
years ago and I have to tell you, one of the things I really
like about you is that you don'tlead with that title and you
also never seem to lead withwhat's gone wrong, and it sounds
like you've had some major upsand downs with your health and
that kind of seems to just beyour motivation to help people.
Absolutely, absolutely.
It was in 2013,.
I was actually working in theoperating room until I became a
(03:39):
professional patient and I had aspine injury.
In a nutshell, I had broken myback.
I was just married, just cameback from my honeymoon, and my
life completely changed.
I was unable to walk and neededto undergo multiple surgeries,
and I was probably in awheelchair for about two years,
and during that time, I used topray and say you know, if I can
walk again, if I can get better,I will find a way to pay it
(04:02):
forward.
And that was like my I guessyou could call it bargaining and
I kept just saying that I'mlike I'm going to pay it forward
, I'm going to get better andI'm going to pay it forward, and
I'm a very ambitious person andI have very supportive parents,
thankfully.
So there was no you're going tojust stay in bed today, even if
you could get up.
I had a lot of that and afteryears of rehabilitation and
going through all that, I evenjust had my fourth spine surgery
(04:22):
surgery last year.
But in the process, I kept atthat and one day I was diagnosed
with nutcracker syndrome andwe'll get to that.
But I had the chance to save alife and donate my kidney.
So I said, oh, this is how I'mgoing to pay it forward.
So I didn't know how I wouldpay it forward or how my life
(04:44):
would unfold.
But even as a psychic right,everyone's like you didn't know
that.
Now, sometimes, when it's toopersonal, you can't help.
I didn't know how the futurewas going to play out, and if
you told me I was going todonate my kidney, I would have
been like you're right andhonestly, it was a blessing in
disguise.
Laurie Lee (05:01):
How did you break your back?
LJ Dong (05:02):
I was at work and I also had found out I have some
other issues going on whichmakes your connective tissue and
your joints and your bones veryfragile.
So something that somebody elsemight be doing might not be in
the same situation and get hurtas me, but because of everything
underlying that I had thelifting that I did, I fractured
and broke my my back and in aninstant, and you said that you
(05:25):
used to work in an OR.
Laurie Lee (05:26):
What did you do in the OR?
LJ Dong (05:28):
Yeah, so I was a surgical assistant, so I was.
I used to work the overnight,so I used to work in the trauma
Department, trauma OR, soeverything you saw on the news
what was coming in on thegraveyard shift.
So I was right up in all of itand I think that's kind of the
crazy part.
So I remember being andstanding and helping the surgeon
in Spine surgeries and I usedto watch that and it's like oh,
(05:49):
like I couldn't, my stomachcouldn't handle it, even though
I had to be right, you'reassigned to a case, you have to
go do it.
So when I went into the OR forFor spine surgeries, it just I
don't know if my soul knew, butI had like a weird feeling and
I'm like Like these are one ofthe hardest surgeries to watch.
So I never would have imaginedthat I'd be on the OR table four
times for spine surgery.
Laurie Lee (06:11):
And you said maybe that was something that you
sensed.
And you also mentioned you werea medium.
So I have to share this withyou because, first of all, I
totally believe in mediums andpsychics and I've known some
good ones.
You totally blew me away thefirst time that we spoke.
I asked you.
I was like is there anyone herewith me?
And you said your papa or your,your pop-pop, is here.
(06:31):
Do you remember saying that?
Yes, and that's the personwho's died in my life, who I was
closest to and who the factthat you nailed pop-pop.
And then you said that hisTotodog was with him, and I
didn't tell you this in our lastcall, but he always had a
miniature schnauzer and Onewould die.
He'd wait a year, he'd getanother one and he had miniature
(06:54):
schnauzers his whole life.
So the fact that he isSomewhere else, maybe standing
behind me again right now withhis mini schnauzers, makes me so
happy.
And Then the other thing yousaid that was crazy was you kept
talking about a specific nameand it didn't resonate, and I
understand that when you talk toa medium, sometimes those
things resonate later.
But what was crazy is is thatthe person who you were
(07:17):
describing, who had a heartattack had passed two days
earlier and I didn't know yet.
LJ Dong (07:22):
Well, I have goosebumps when you message me that and
I'm used to it.
Sometimes I do readings and itmight not register in the moment
.
I always call that psychicamnesia, because we're trying to
think of the people that wereclosest to us or we're trying to
think of the person that wewant to come through, that we're
not like aware of it and thenall of a sudden we find out.
I always tell people keep it inyour back pocket, because it
could be days to months when Iget validations.
(07:44):
So when I have goosebumps rightnow because that blew me away
and I was just grateful for thevalidation that you shared that
with me, I was so sorry to hearof the loss and that you didn't.
You know you had it known yetbut it's amazing who does come
through and when they comethrough.
And Just like your grandfatherand I think your your
grandmother and it wasinteresting that morning I don't
(08:05):
remember what I had the nightbefore.
So that morning I was exhausted.
I just like rolled out a bed toget on the call with you, so it
wasn't like I was on yet, butthat just goes to show when
we're writing and we're likewho's around us?
Right, and I just met you forthe first time.
Who's around us, that our lovedones are there, and especially
that gentleman that had comethrough who had passed recently,
(08:26):
and I think it was sointeresting, especially him
being an organ donor as well andcoming in to our call, talking
about organ donation.
So I believe in synopsis andit's amazing, like just to give
you a small example I was doingI do a celebration of life event
every year to Celebrate mykidney bursary.
So every year I get together, doa fundraiser Just a whole lot
(08:49):
of fun have speakers, recipients, donors come speak.
And during my last celebrationof life fundraiser I also like
to do readings at the end, right, so people come here about
organ donation and I give thegift of spirit, and spirit was
like coming through and givingme details or evidence and
raising awareness.
So like one loved one camethrough and they were passing,
(09:11):
they had passed from suicide andthe person that was coming
through for had just startedlike a mental health awareness
and we were also raisingawareness for mental health that
night.
So it's just amazing, like whythose people that night, right
it was who needs to come throughand when and what better way to
go hey, I'm gonna go show LJ orgonna go through to LJ to get
to my loved one to say I see youraising awareness for me.
(09:32):
I see everything that you'redoing and also the celebrations
that come from that person'spassing and that they're still
not missing anything, even fromthe other side.
So I thought that was amazingand that kind of happened with
us, that someone else who was anorgan donor, who had passed
away, which you hadn't realizedat that moment of our call to
realize and acknowledge you andwho you were, to that person,
(09:55):
the work that you're doing andthe gift that he left behind and
the gift that you're doing bysharing people's stories.
Laurie Lee (10:00):
So it's pretty amazing, yeah, I have goosebumps
all over again.
And it was weird too becauseyou know it didn't resonate.
I found out he died, and itwasn't till like three nights
later.
I was falling asleep and I waslike this is who was, who was
with me?
This is what LJ said, and itjust took a minute to sink in.
And then, when it did, Icouldn't fall asleep.
And then he was like I wish Iwould have asked her more.
LJ Dong (10:24):
Well, we could always connect again poppy too.
Laurie Lee (10:27):
And that's a different podcast.
But yes, I would love toconnect again in the spirit
realm.
LJ Dong (10:32):
Yeah, you're loved.
There was a lot of people andI'm glad that it did come to you
a couple of days after, becauseit's nice to know who's around.
And I always say to peoplesometimes it's the person like
you least expect, or you're noteven you know.
It's just I don't know.
It's just amazing.
Laurie Lee (10:48):
Well, thank you for sharing your gift with me.
It was really special to be therecipient of that.
LJ Dong (10:53):
Of course.
Thank you for allowing me to.
Laurie Lee (10:56):
So let's back up.
You were saying in a nutshell,and that kind of alludes to what
you're talking about withkidney disease Tell us a little
bit about the kidney diseasethat you had.
LJ Dong (11:06):
So it was called Nutcracker syndrome, and it's
when your left renal vein iscompressed between your aorta
and your superior mesentericartery, and the best way I
describe it when people areasking me cause, we can get lost
with medical terms.
It's like imagine a garden hoseoutside and you're trying to
run the water and then you stepon it and there's that kink, so
(11:27):
the water's not really comingout so good.
So imagine that's the vein andthe blood's trying to pass
through.
So it wasn't able to get to mykidney.
Eventually my kidney would havedied.
I had tried a major surgerywhich was like a left.
It was called the left renalvein transposition.
It was Like my whole abdomenwas cut.
It was a major, major surgery.
Unfortunately, that surgeryfailed and the doctor had said
(11:50):
to me you know, one of myoptions was to redo the surgery,
which I was not confident,after it failed by my first post
op appointment or two, that Icould have an effect to me.
But it wasn't something that hewould do.
So I said, okay, can I donate?
And he thought it was drastic.
This particular doctor, likewhy are you gonna donate?
I said what are you gonna dowith it?
You know it.
Just if you, if you justremoving it as a healthy, is the
(12:12):
kidney still healthy.
And that's what's unique aboutnutcracker syndrome is that More
often than not, if it's caught,your kidney is still healthy,
your vein is not.
So what I did was I tried toreach out to some Organizations
just to find out more aboutkidney transplants and how to
donate a kidney.
If that was the case, if thatwas the route that I could go
and one hospital had turned medown when I called.
(12:34):
I think they were just likeit's so rare.
I was trying to do a little bitof research and I did want to
just share this real quick, justto show you just how rare it
was.
Going through a bunch ofarticles like the National
Institute of Health and it saysReno nutcracker syndrome is
especially rare it's about 0.8%and difficult to diagnose.
It's so rare, in fact, that thediagnostic criteria were not
(12:56):
established until 2017.
Even though the syndrome iswhere rare, there is a high
morbidity associated with it,with complications including
Reno van thrombosis or renalfailure.
So it just goes to show thatwe're in 2024 and I was already
diagnosed in 2017, having mykidney donating 2018.
So there's not a lot ofStatistics yet because some
(13:19):
people might not have symptomsuntil it gets really bad.
I wanted to share this about7,000 people in my support group
all over the world.
So I went to the first hospital.
Like I said, they denied me,and the second hospital I went
to was open to the idea oftaking a nutcracker Kidney and
donating it to somebody else.
They went back 20 years of likerecords and could not find
(13:43):
anyone else with nutcrackersyndrome that donated it.
So I said to him well, what arelike?
What else can I do?
So it was either go in thegarbage, like just take it out.
Obviously the goal would belike let's just get it out and
get LJ feeling better.
But I just couldn't.
I just couldn't let that go.
So he met with the board.
I did a lot of convincing.
I said let's give it a shot,because the worst that can
happen is you end up not keepingit.
(14:05):
I got the go ahead.
I went through all the livingdonor tests and then that
morning of the surgery mydoctor's like I'm not gonna
guarantee anything.
And I just said to him this ishappening, I don't care.
That's pretty much what it was.
It's happening, we're doing it.
I couldn't see another way.
It was just.
I just saw it all unfoldbeautifully.
I woke up from surgery and thefirst thing I had asked was how
(14:27):
was my recipient doing?
And they're like how are youdoing?
I'm like no, how's my recipientdoing?
And she got my kidney.
We just hit five Years of herhaving lefty.
We call it lefty.
I even have a tattoo to my arm,lefty, with my kidney date.
It was interesting and fromthere it kind of led to
Advocating and I'm like I got totell more people about this
(14:49):
option that you don't have to gothrough a left renal vein
transposition, you don't have tolose a kidney.
Maybe you could donate a kidney.
So I try and get involved asmuch as possible to share more
about nutcracker syndrome,because you had not heard of it
either.
Since sharing my story, dozenshave donated their kidney, so I
lost track of how many, becauseI I'm going back five years now
(15:10):
so I am waiting.
I'm trying to update that inthe support group because now
it's 7,000 people.
I think when I joined thesupport group, maybe with a
thousand people.
So yeah, I can't wait to see.
I'm waiting for a response.
I'm just trying to do like alittle um, what do they call it?
A survey?
Okay, if you donated, since Idonated, let me know.
I used to keep a tally and thenthat's how busy it got.
(15:32):
So I'm just grateful thatsharing my story or someone
listening to this podcast no,we're here, somebody with
nutcracker syndrome and knowingthat there is treatment and
options out there.
Laurie Lee (15:43):
You have experience in the medical field, do you
feel like maybe that was why youasked that question?
LJ Dong (15:49):
Yeah, because I think I can't wrap my head around
something being healthy andtossing it.
It's like okay, you have freshfood in the fridge, why are you
going to throw it out?
To me it's like do somethingwith it.
If you're not going to eat it,maybe you give it to a neighbor.
Or someone comes over andyou're like here I have
leftovers.
Take this.
I don't know if it had to dowith being in the medical field.
I just couldn't understand itand I just couldn't let
something good go to waste.
Laurie Lee (16:10):
So are nutcracker kidneys oftentimes damaged, or
is this the case for most peoplewith nutcracker syndrome that
they have a healthy kidney thatcan be transplanted into
somebody else?
LJ Dong (16:20):
From what I've witnessed so far through the
journey is that most of the timethe kidneys are healthy enough
to donate.
The issue is that there's notenough awareness for a doctor to
know that they can do that, orpatients with nutcracker
syndrome like myself.
I didn't know I could do that,so I don't think there's enough
education about treatment, andnow that I don't have the kidney
(16:41):
anymore, I'm actuallynutcracker free, so I could
cross that illness or I couldcross that disease off of my
list.
That's something.
There's no more kidney vein.
There's no more kidney.
There's no more nutcrackersyndrome.
There's nothing beingcompressed, so technically it's
a cure.
We could change medical history.
I just think doctors need tolearn more and say, hey, we
could take this out.
Back to your question could itbe damaged?
(17:01):
Yes, that was one of thewarnings that I had, because I
had already had surgery.
It could have come out withscar tissue.
If it was scarred or anythingwas wrong with it, then they
wouldn't have been able totransplant it into somebody else
, and that wasn't the case.
Other options that people haveis called an auto transplant.
I wasn't a candidate for that.
(17:22):
It's where you take your ownkidney and they put it in your
pelvis Again.
Oftentimes the knot that I'veseen in those cases just from
what I've read and learned sonot a doctor don't know any of
that information, but frompeople that have shared their
story is that usually if you'retaking the kidney out, there is
a possibility that you can't putit into your pelvis and now
(17:43):
that kidney is no longer yoursanyway and you cannot donate it
at that point.
But let's just say they took itout and it was good and it was
healthy and there was no scartissue that can now be passed on
.
Laurie Lee (17:54):
And this only affects the left kidney, from
what I've seen.
Yes, okay.
So that would mean that thisisn't necessarily a viable
option for everybody, but ifthey have a healthy kidney and
they're not in danger of theirright kidney failing that, this
would be an option for somebodywith nutcracker.
LJ Dong (18:11):
Absolutely.
So that was the number onething is going through a living
donor test.
They're not just going to takeyour kidney out, they do the
living donor test.
They're very thorough to makesure that you're safe.
So, yes, they want to make surethat your right kidney is
functioning strong and healthy,that you can live with just that
one kidney.
So that's the beauty of it isthat they do make sure that
(18:32):
you're okay and you're safebefore you go on to donate a
kidney.
And so I was lucky to do thatand to share that, because I
think, if more people know aboutit, I think it's nice to know
that there's options, because Imay have just gone straight for
donation rather than go througha chance of maybe getting better
by doing that other majorsurgery.
Laurie Lee (18:52):
So I assume that you were seeing a nephrologist when
you were diagnosed withnutcracker syndrome.
Right, yeah, and neurologist.
What did you have to do to getthose doctors to start
considering transplant as anoption?
LJ Dong (19:06):
So first I called the National Kidney Foundation
because I didn't know where tostart, so I asked them where is
the nearest transplant hospital?
So once I did meet with NewYork Presbyterian which is where
I proceeded to donate and Iasked, they pretty much told me
that they would need to meetwith the team and see that this
would be okay, because theyalways have to make sure that
(19:27):
you're safe and you'rewell-being.
They understand that it'samazing that you want to donate,
but we have to make sure thatyou're going to be okay also.
So from there, I just wentdirectly into living donor tests
and I want to say within fourweeks I had my kidney out.
It was so fast because I wassuffering so badly.
They wanted to help me get itdone as soon as possible.
(19:47):
So once the living donor testcame back what a green light
like I got a date immediately,so I donated April 5th 2018.
Laurie Lee (19:55):
And tell us a little bit about your kidney donation.
LJ Dong (19:57):
I ended up donating.
I went into the hospital thatmorning, like I mentioned, saw
the doctor came out.
I got to see a picture of mykidney which I always think is
pretty cool, and from therebeing in the hospital, I did
have a couple of bloodtransfusions.
I did have a little bit of ahard time in the beginning.
I was transferred to anotherfloor, but once I got blood I
was like a completely differentperson.
(20:19):
So I felt much better and I wasasking to meet my kidney
recipient and she was asking tomeet me.
So the day that I was beingdischarged, my husband wheeled
me down and we got to meet and Iwent over to her.
We were both really emotional.
I just held her hand and, Idon't know, I just have
goosebumps.
It was like we recognize eachother.
(20:39):
This is the way it was supposedto happen.
I was just so thankful that ithappened the way it did.
I'm a big believer thatblessings can come out of
difficult situations, so Iwanted to pay it forward and
something good.
So I use this example and Ishare that that's something
positive come out of somethingnegative.
Laurie Lee (20:57):
So what advice do you have for anyone out there
with Nutcracker who isconsidering kidney donation?
LJ Dong (21:03):
I one would tell them to not lose hope.
So I use the word hope a lotbecause I like the acronyms.
It's to have only positiveexpectations and also hold on
pain ends.
So I use those two acronymsjust to tell people to have hope
, to do your research I say thisin a light way, but don't jump
into surgery right away Meaningfind out what is the best option
(21:26):
for you, because what might begood for one person might not be
good for someone else.
Some people I would say get yourlist, get a couple of opinions,
reach out to people in thesupport groups, talk to
different transplant centers.
If you want to donate, don't bediscouraged if one transplant
hospital turns you down.
So I was turned down by onetransplant hospital.
(21:46):
So sometimes it might just behey, going to another hospital
and team and being fortunateenough that they understand the
disease or willing to learnabout it and see if they can
help you.
So that's what I would say isto have hope, do your research,
do everything you can to stay ashealthy and strong in the
process because sometimes itcould be a quick process and
sometimes not and really connectwith other people and to know
(22:09):
that you're not alone.
And there's Lori, there's me,there's podcasts, there's
support groups.
There's more now than I everhad in 2017 that really not much
information existed and Ididn't know any donors at the
time, so there's so manyresources out there.
So just have hope and don'tfeel discouraged that we're all
here to help each other and stayconnected, like Lori said.
Laurie Lee (22:31):
I love your acronyms for hope.
Did you make those up?
LJ Dong (22:34):
No, I've heard of them.
I can't say credit.
I can't say credit for it.
I've heard of them and it juststuck with me and I use it.
Laurie Lee (22:41):
I love both of them.
They're beautiful, Thank you.
So what's next for you?
Lj.
LJ Dong (22:46):
Being open to what doors open.
In June I'll be cruising.
I'm representing Mrs Italy andthe Universal Petite pageants.
So I was born in Italy, sothat's another part of who I am
so being, you know, mrs New Yorkwas amazing and I won, but I
also want to be Mrs Italy, sothat's coming up in June.
(23:08):
So I'm doing a lot ofpreparations for that and just
kind of keeping up with my workand my clients and helping
people the best I can.
And the other big thing that'scoming up is organ donation
meetup in New York City in Aprilas well.
So those are my two big events.
I do volunteer.
I do a lot of things when I'mnot, you know, working and
(23:28):
writing.
I'd ask people to follow me ifthey are an organ donor and they
want to meet up with us in NewYork City.
They created something now.
It's like the little beanstatue, like the big bean in
Chicago, so something littlebean.
I personally have not seen ityet.
I know that there's a memorialservice also that's going to be
held at St Patrick's Cathedral.
We have a lot of fun thingsplanned, so I'm co-organizing it
(23:51):
and would love to see otherdonors because next year we're
going to try and break theGuinness World Records and see
how many living donors we canget in New York City.
So I know that's next year, butthis is in preparation.
But I would encourage people.
It's spring, new York City isbeautiful, there's a million
things to do.
We have a great itinerary,great food.
(24:13):
So that's going to be coming up.
April's around the corner.
I can't believe it.
So, and then off to representMrs Italy and just see what
happens in between, becauseusually I always say this, I
always plan something and thenlife goes in another direction
or the universe goes.
Nah, we're going to do thisinstead.
So I've just learned just to gowith the flow, because I didn't
(24:33):
know my way of paying it forwardwas organization.
I didn't think my break in myspine was going to break me into
the spirit world I always justlike to share, to just trust
that everything's happening fora reason, that you're going
where you're supposed to andyou're meeting the people that
you're meant to, and that'sthat's a big thing to just trust
, because sometimes when we'regoing, I always say there's
always a light in the darkness,because when we're going through
(24:55):
a difficult time it's very hardto see how am I going to get on
the other side, how my house isgoing to look like in a year
from now, and we're not sure howthings are going to turn out.
So I've learned, and it's justtrust, that okay, if this is
happening to me, somethingbetter is even going to happen
to me.
So I always look at things likeoh, I just went through this, I
just went through anothersurgery.
I can't wait to see theblessing that's going to come
(25:16):
out of it.
As hard as it is that there'sso many days I wanted to give up
, but I think that's veryimportant.
Laurie Lee (25:23):
That is truly inspirational and I love your
positivity.
LJ Dong (25:27):
Thank you.
Laurie Lee (25:27):
I'm drawn to it.
Thank you, I'm glad.
LJ Dong (25:31):
Well, anything else you want to add before we end today
?
If I could share my information, I'd love to.
If anyone wants to connect withme, is that okay?
Yeah, absolutely so.
If anyone wants to connect,they can reach out.
Ljthemediumcom is my websiteand I also wrote two books that
they can find on Amazon.
So I do talk about organdonation in both books the
Spirit of Hope and then my newbook that was released last year
(25:54):
Think Like a Medium, act Like aWarrior.
Yeah, I do share more about myjourney there.
I do have a documentary onYouTube, the LJ documentary, the
story of a warrior spirit.
I hope that anyone that tunesin or connects with me, that you
feel hope and inspiration.
And if I could just leave youwith my favorite quote, which is
also tattooed on my body thebest is yet to come.
Laurie Lee (26:15):
Thank you so much, LJ.
It was truly a pleasure gettingto talk to you again today.
LJ Dong (26:20):
Oh, I'm so happy, lori.
Thank you so much.
Laurie Lee (26:23):
And keep up the great work.
LJ Dong (26:24):
You too, I appreciate it.
Laurie Lee (26:27):
Thank you.
If you're interested inlearning more about LJ, you can
check out her website,documentary and other resources
mentioned in the show notes.
Additionally, there are linksprovided to the Nutcracker
support group Facebook page andinformation about the Living
Donor Meetup event happening inApril at the Little Bean in New
York.
Lastly, there's an invitationto join an event aimed at
(26:49):
breaking the Guinness WorldRecord for the greatest number
of living organ donors gatheredin one place, which is scheduled
to take place in April of 2025.
The current record was set in2016.
That was an event that Ico-organized with my friend,
kate Griggs.
Now LJ and Kate are working onbreaking that record.
They need 411 donors to achievethis goal.
(27:12):
I will be one of them and Ihope that you are too.
Thanks so much for listening toDonor Diaries.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
(27:47):
Thanks for watching.
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