The following interview with a donor by the name of Barbara Thomas contains valuable information from the perspective of someone who has successfully undergone the process of donating a kidney.

As Barbara mentions in the video, the health insurance of the recipient (assuming they are insured) should cover almost all of the costs associated with the transplant (Barbara did have to pay out of pocket for things like transportation to and from the hospital).

Modern advancements in medicine and surgical procedures have fortunately made it so that experiences like Barbara’s have become much more common. Today, it is safer than ever to donate a kidney and quite possibly save someone’s life by doing so.

We strongly encourage you to watch the above video for detailed information about the experience of living kidney donation.

At just 9 years old, Emily Clark had already battled kidney cancer twice and had one kidney removed. Emily’s mother, Claire, was gearing up to donate one of her own kidneys to her daughter when doctors noticed that Emily’s kidney function had improved from 18% to 35%, practically overnight.

Emily’s parents attribute this miraculous turn of events to her having a guardian angel watching over their eldest daughter.

Read the full article here.

The patient, Nancy Kammerer, was undergoing a routine kidney transplant when surgeons accidentally cut a part of her pancreas, which subsequently required that the damaged organ be removed.

At 56-years old, Nancy is now a diabetic who will have a life-long dependency on insulin. This new aggravated condition forced her to leave her occupation at Wells Fargo. In the malpractice lawsuit, Kammerer also alleged that the surgeons were negligent because they used a medical record in her patient file that was inaccurate.

Although the hospital denied any liability in the incident (which occurred in 2008), this recent large settlement may be an indication that they feared the courts might have a different point of view.

Kidney transplantation, like any major surgery, can be very dangerous. The risk factor is one disadvantage of a kidney transplant that you may want to consider if you are a candidate for the surgery. However, unfortunate incidents like this one that Ms Kammerer experienced are in the minority of cases.

Another form of hepatitis, serum hepatitis, or Hepatitis B, may also occur in people on dialysis. The most common way that serum hepatitis spreads is through contact with blood. People receiving dialysis treatment are at a higher risk of acquiring Hepatitis C and (serum) Hepatitis B than others because of the nature of the treatment, possible contact with an infected needle (which should not occur) and because of blood transfusions. A test, known as the Hepatitis B Antigen test, determines who is infected with serum hepatitis. The spread of Hepatitis C and serum hepatitis may be prevented when the dialysis staff members practice universal precautions, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and when they isolate patients known to have a positive Hepatitis B Antigen test or abnormal liver enzymes. In addition, a Hepatitis B vaccine is available that is very effective in preventing infection with serum hepatitis.

Corticosteroid therapy is the most frequent cause of post-transplantation hyperglycemia. Steroids may increase production of glucose from gluconeogenesis, impair peripheral use of glucose, and cause elevation of glucogen levels by a direct anti-insulin effect at the cellular level. An undetermined threshold dose of corticosteroid may be required to provoke diabetes in susceptible individuals. Some studies have shown post-tranpslant diabetes to be related to steroid does, increased patient age, black race, a positive family history of diabetes, increased body weight, and human leukocyte antigen A28. These findings have not been consistent.

Typically, the onset of steroid diabetes is mild, without associated ketoacidosis; it may resolve on withdrawal or reduction of the steroid dose. Both cyclosporine and tacrolimus contribute to glucose intolerance by inhibiting insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and by inducing peripheral insulin resistance. Animal studies have revealed a decrease in islet cell insulin content as well as a severe degranulation and hydropic degeneration of islet cells after treatment with cyclosporine. Human studies have shown both improved glucose tolerance curves and insulin output after conversion from cyclosporine to azathioprine and prednisone. Cyclosporine dose reduction may improve glucose intolerance.

Several important events will be taking place in multiple locations across Turkey, Spain, India, the United States, and many more. For more information, check out the official site.

World Kidney Day first began in 2006, and each year it features a new theme. Last year’s theme was “Protect Your Kidneys: Control Diabetes.”

Education
Being educated on kidney failure and selected treatment is of the utmost importance. Knowledge of what is happening inside your body, the reaction to dialysis, why medication is needed and why certain foods and fluids must be restricted is crucial to your overall understanding of what is happening. The feeling of helplessness and dependency of the medical staff can be reduced by knowing and understanding kidney failure and treatment. Putting this knowledge to use will help you to feel better and can give you a sense of being in control of your own life. Fears and anxieties can be the result of lack of information; the unknown, which we all fear, can become known through education.

Fitness
Physical fitness should be important to everyone, regardless of kidney function. Mild and regular exercise can help rebuild strength, help with insomnia and anemia and strengthen bones and muscles. A physical fitness and exercise program developed with the help of a physician can give you a feeling of accomplishment and overall well-being.

Communication
One important way to maintain important personal relationships is via communication. Talking things through with your partner, family members and friends is very important in maintaining relationships. Sharing feelings, concerns, fear and anger with others not only helps you feel better, but it will also help your family and friends to better understand and accept what is going on with you. Closing out those people who are important to you can hurt the relationship by making them feel no longer needed or wanted. Ongoing communication, like education, may help you to become aware of your feelings. Once you are aware of your own feelings, you can begin to accept kidney failure as an unfortunate, but challenging, part of life, and then you can go on living.

Motivation
Setting personal goals, completing projects and continuing to lead life as close as possible to the way you did before kidney failure is very important. Continuing enjoyable activities, being with loved ones and continuing to plan your life should not change with kidney failure. Most people’s feelings of self-esteem or self-worth depend on what they do and accomplish. Although kidney failure and treatment can change some external aspects of your life, your essential worth and value to yourself and others can and should remain unchanged.

From the video:
Did you know that the typical wait time to receive a kidney transplant from a diseased donor in Ohio is between three to five years?

Although AAKP is located in Florida, there are chapters throughout the Unit3ed States, many of which are active in ongoing educational activities and social events. For more information about AAKP and where to find local chapters, visit their website or call them toll-free at (800) 749-2257.

If you are to receive a living donor kidney, the following will be arranged and completed prior to transplant:

• tissue typing from both yourself and the potential donor
• full donor workup or medical evaluation
• periodic physical examinations by the local nephrologist or transplant center
• blood tests and X-rays (other types of tests may also be required)

If you are receiving a transplant from a cadaver, the following will be completed before your name is placed on a waiting list:

• you are tissue-typed and the results are placed in a computer with other names on the waiting list
• a tube of blood serum must be sent regularly from the dialysis center to the tissue-typing laboratory for sensitivity screening
• periodic physical examinations, X-trays and blood tests are ordered

Also, the hospital or dialysis center must be assured of your whereabouts by receiving the telephone numbers and addresses so that you can be reached in the event a kidney becomes available.

If a Cadaver Kidney Becomes Available

You will be notified when a potential kidney becomes available. Once notified, you should stay close to a phone to receive information on the time of hospital admission. Arrangements for traveling to the hospital should be made and you will probably be told not to eat or drink anything in preparation for the surgery. You may need to be dialyzed before the surgery depending upon when you were last dialyzed, your blood chemistries and your general medical condition.