There was a time when I wasn’t sure I would live long enough to write these words.

My name is Christine Mae Buhler, and this is more than just an introduction. This is a small piece of my heart.

I was only a child when lupus became part of my life. At an age when I should have been thinking about school, playing with friends, and simply being a child, I was learning about hospitals, treatments, and things I didn’t fully understand.

There were years when I thought I had finally left sickness behind. I went to school, grew up, made plans, and started believing that maybe I could have a normal life after all.

But life had another chapter waiting for me.

My kidneys began to fail. Then came seizures, hospital stays, and eventually dialysis.

I remember how frightening it was to have my life revolve around a machine. Three times a week, I had to give up a part of my freedom just to stay alive. There were days when I felt tired of being strong. Days when I wondered, “Mao na ba gyud ni akong kinabuhi?” — Is this really what my life is going to be?

But somehow, I kept going. 'Padayon'.

Even when I didn’t know where the road was leading, I kept taking the next step. And then came the day that changed everything.

On October 15, 2025, my sister gave me her kidney. She gave me something much bigger than I could ever put into words.

She gave me time.

Time to see another sunrise.
Time to make memories.
Time to love and be loved.
Time to build a future I was once afraid I wouldn’t have.

To my sister, I will never be able to say 'salamat kaayo' enough.

Today, I live in Germany with my husband, learning how to live a life beyond dialysis and beyond the transplant itself.

And perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the things I once considered ordinary are not ordinary at all.

A quiet morning. Going somewhere without planning around dialysis. Being able to make plans for tomorrow. Waking up and realizing that my body is still giving me another day. These little things now feel like gifts.

I created this website because I want to share the part of my story that happens after survival.

The healing.
The gratitude.
The fear that sometimes still comes back.
The scars that remind me where I’ve been.
The people who carried me when I couldn’t carry myself.
And the faith that reminded me that my story was not finished yet.

I am not a doctor or a medical professional. I am simply Christine—a woman who became sick too young, who spent years fighting, who was once afraid of what tomorrow would bring, and who was given a second chance.

If you are reading this while going through your own difficult season, I hope you know this:

'Ayaw kawala ug paglaum.' Don’t lose hope.

There were times when I thought I had reached the end of my story.

“Abi nako, mao na to. Pero naa pa diay kinabuhi para nako.” I thought that was the end. But there was still a life waiting for me.

Maybe you can’t see what is waiting for you yet. I couldn’t see it either.

But sometimes, the chapter that feels like the end is only making room for a chapter you never imagined you would get to live.

This is my story.

My life after survival.
My life after dialysis.
My life with a second chance.

And I am still learning, one ordinary and precious day at a time, how to live it. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼