The Gift of Life Blog: Becoming an Altruistic Kidney Donor

Info about kidney stones...

There have been several good things happening in my life since I decided to become an altruistic donor. One is that I'm learning more about how our bodies, especially our kidneys, work.

A few people I know have had kidney stones and I know how painful this can be based on their experiences.
After doing a little research, here's what I discovered:

Kidney stones are hard masses like crystals that build up inside of the kidneys. They vary in size from a grain a salt to a golf ball! They form because the urine has too much of certain minerals, acid, or salts. The kidneys are supposed to keep them balance, but if they don't work like they should, kidney stones develop.

What is your "Real Age?"

I just came across a great website (www.realage.com). After you complete the survey of many health- and family-related questions, it calculates your "real age," not your chronological age.

Based on my answers (I answered truthfully...no sense in cheating is there?), I am 7 1/2 years younger than I am. I know the places that need work, so I hope to get younger soon!

Getting ready for the stress test...

I had a stress test many years ago when I was under a lot of stress. Although I'm a LOT older, I am sure I will do fine. For anyone who has never had one, following is a brief explanation and photo.

A cardiac stress test indirectly reflects arterial blood flow to the heart during physical exercise. Walking on a treadmill is the usual method of testing.

(This photo shows how I will be monitored during the test.)

When compared to blood flow during rest, the test reflects imbalances of blood flow to the heart's left ventricular muscle tissue that performs the greatest amount of work pumping blood.

The results will also reflect my overall physical fitness.

Another day of reflection...

Yesterday was the first Thanksgiving I was without family. Thank God, my friend, Peggy invited me to the mountains to spend the day with her friends and later, her mom and brother.

Like so many others, I'm struggling financially, but I am thankful for all the people who love me, my ability to work hard, and my health! 

I'm doing more walking with my dog and getting myself ready for next week's stress test. Since I live with it every day, I'm sure I'll do fine!

A Thanksgiving Prayer...

Happy Thanksgiving to my children, family and friends!   Love.

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry.

 

When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless.

 

When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home.

 

When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer.

 

And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency,
bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough
to help by word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.

 

Amen

 

- Samuel F. Pugh

This is how a "Never Ending Altruistic Donor (NEAD) chain" works...

Because I am an altruistic donor, I was excited to hear that UCLA is hoping to begin a NEAD.

A NEAD™ chain begins with one non-directed (altruistic) potential donor who gives to a person waiting for a transplant, and that recipient’s willing—but incompatible—donor gives to another person waiting, and so on.

Each living donor in this system gives to a stranger, and the chain of donors is kept going as long as possible.

In a NEAD™ chain, a non-directed potential donor is matched up with a recipient
who has a willing, but incompatible donor. Then that recipient’s incompatible donor
then gives to another incompatible pair, and so on.

My hope is to have the operation this year. What a great Christmas present this would be!

Do you know how a paired transplant exchange works?

Sometimes a loved one may want to donate a kidney but their blood type is incompatible with the recipient. Some transplant centers will help incompatible pairs of recipient/donors through a process called paired exchange, which involves two living donors and two recipients.

If the recipient from one pair is compatible with the donor from the other pair, and vice versa— the transplant center may arrange for a “swap”—for two simultaneous transplants to take place. This allows two transplant candidates to receive organs and two donors to give organs though the original recipient/donor pairs were unable to do so with each other.

In paired exchange, an incompatible donor/ recipient pair (such as a mother and son that don’t have compatible blood types) are matched with another incompatible donor/recipient pair for a “swap."
Each donor gives a kidney to the other person’s intended recipient.

Just as with any transplant operation, both donors and candidates are evaluated and tested medically and psychologically to assure the benefits outweigh the risks. Both surgeries must be scheduled for the same time in case either donor changes his or her mind at the time of surgery. Surgeries can take place at the same or different hospitals. It is more advantageous if the surgeries take place at the same hospital though this may mean extra costs of travel and housing for one couple.

Still playing the waiting game...

Whenever sometimes asks me what life is, I immediately think, "The Waiting Game." I'm waiting for my next test on 12/4 (stress and meet the doctor who will do the operation), waiting to hear about the resumes I sent, waiting to get an unemployment check...waiting.

However, the things for which I'm waiting are nothing compared to those who are waiting to get a call that a match has been found for their organ donation. Reminding myself to stay positive and be thankful that I'm healthy and can donate an organ to someone who needs it brings me back to reality.

Taking care of our kidneys...

As I read more about kidney disease, I've turned my focus to the things we can do to keep them healthy to prevent kidney disease. Following are steps tips that we can all do:

1. Step 1

   Do not drink carbonated drinks in excess, (especially the dark ones...Coke, Pepsi, etc.) daily as they can erode our kidneys. (I remember using Coke to take the rust off my bike when I was a kid many, many, many years ago). Either stop drinking carbonated beverages or  at least limit them to one drink every few days. Drink lemonade, tea, or water!

2. Step 2

   Do not ignore a urinary track infection (UTI) that can cause inflammation. If you do, these infections can cause major problems in your urinary tract ( bladder and kidney infections). When caught early, UTIs are treated with an antibiotic.

3. Step 3

   Do not abuse prescription or OVER THE COUNTER drugs. Take them as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Abuse can cause damaging health effects to your liver, brain, and kidneys.

The kidney diet...

Wastes in the blood come from food and liquids that we eat. If you have a kidney disease, you must adhere to a kidney diet to decrease this waste in your blood. To bolster your kidney function and even delay total kidney failure, follow a kidney diet.

This diet is low in sodium, phosphorous and protein. It is important to eat high-quality protein and limit fluids. Some kidney diets also call for limited potassium and calcium. Since we are all different, speak with a dietician to develop a kidney diet that is tailored to your needs.

A kidney-friendly diet controls protein, phosphorus, and sodium levels. We need protein for muscle growth and tissue repair, but if you have a kidney disease, your body cannot get rid of the waste created when the protein is used and it builds up. A kidney diet controls the amount of protein used.  Phosphorus also needs to be controlled so you do not lose calcium resulting in weakened bones. Sodium needs to be controlled to avoid high blood pressure. A kidney diet may also be higher in fats and carbohydrates than a normal diet.

Kidney-friendly, high calorie foods include unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils, sugar and sweets such as candy and jelly, and canned fruit in heavy syrup.