Articles and Information: Hope > Success Stories
A Dream Come True for Stephen (Podcast)
Do you know what an altruistic donor is? What should you know about your transplant before you leave the hospital. Listen as Lori helps calm Stephen’s nerves by answering his questions, as he prepares for his kidney transplant!
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A Healing Presence: Howard Netter, MD
My father, Howard Netter, M.D., spent much of his life welcoming new people into this world. His work as an obstetrician-gynecologist perfectly melded his love for medicine with his absolute respect and joy for humanity. I recently returned to my hometown of Albany, New York to practice holistic medicine and energy healing. After speaking with streams of my father's precious patients I realized that this wonderful clinician and surgeon was, in fact, always practicing holistic medicine as well! He truly cared for every patient's mind, body, and spirit. He offered precisely what each patient needed to feel: supported, nurtured, and respected...When faced with deteriorating renal function and health challenges due to Polycystic Kidney Disease, he practiced what he believed: You must actively participate in your own health care process.
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A True American Hero: Marine Donates a Kidney (Podcast)
After two tours in Iraq, this soldier returned to a Thanksgiving Dinner that changed his life. There he learned that Daniel, a scarcely known cousin of his wife, desperately needed a kidney. So Darren Smiley practiced one of the tenets of his faith, to make life better for people. With this touching story of a patriot and compassionate human being, Renal Support Network salutes and honors the troops risking their lives to defend ours in this special celebration for July 4th, American Independence Day.
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Advertising For a Kidney
We were shocked that our idea had brought attention to so many. The reporters couldn’t believe what an amazing idea it was to post an ad on this website for a kidney donor. They stated the website had never been used as a medical venue before. Once again, we didn’t know this. We just posted the ad because we knew we had to find a way to save our father’s life.
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An Interfaith KidneyTransplant (Podcast)
Rabbi Andrew Bossov needed a kidney. Reverend Karen Onesti said, “I’ll give you one of mine.” Catching up at their Interfaith Clergy meeting, and unaware of his condition, Rev. Onesti asked Rabbi Bossov why people were asking him how he was feeling. The rest of this heartwarming tale is the subject of a show filled with hope, faith and the goodness of human beings toward each other—and particularly timely at the beginning of April, National Donate Life Month.
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Bush Baby Travels the Globe - Learning about Love, Joy, and Support While Living with Kidney Failure
This is a story about a little stuffed koala bear-like animal that has traveled the globe to visit people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), bringing them love, joy, and support from fellow travelers with kidney failure. The tiny toy creature, called "Bush Baby," has journeyed to five continents, staying with one enthusiastic host or hostess after another.
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Capt. Ardell Lien Makes History as the First Heart/Kidney Transplant Patient to Sail Solo Around the World
He set sail in his tiny craft on May 5, 2005, from San Diego, CA. During his epic solo voyage, he visited 19 ports, survived hurricanes, gales, tropical storms, and blistering heat.
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Celebrating 35 years and Counting (Podcast)
Are you old enough to remember Woodstock? Do you know what you were doing the week of Woodstock (assuming you weren't at the concert, that is)? A die-hard rock-n-roll fan, Charles Rosenberg remembers quite well. On KidneyTalk this week, Lori and Stephen visit with Charles, a living legend in the kidney community. In 1971 he received a cadaveric kidney transplant and has just celebrated his 35th anniversary. Listen in as Lori and Stephen discuss with Charles the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens on all the years of living with chronic kidney disease and transplantation. Lori also asks about an important piece of legislation regarding organ donation that has been enacted in New York thanks to Charles.
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Coming Full Circle
Because of the gifts I found deeply buried in the treasure chest of kidney failure, I will never, ever forget that I am to turn around and help those coming up behind me, so that they can turn around and help those coming up behind them, who can then turn around and help those coming up behind them.
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Dialysis Success (Podcast)
On this week's show, Lori Hartwell and Stephen Furst talk with a spirited woman who embodies the wonders made possible by dialysis. The definition of "dialysis success" for this long-time kidney patient, Roanne Dale, is looking great and feeling great while on dialysis. While this might sound like an oxymoron, one look at Roanne proves that dialysis success is achievable. Roanne's experience with kidney failure began back in the early 1970s. While on a tobogganing adventure with family members (for those of you from warm climates, a toboggan is a type of snow sled), her younger sister had a traumatic accident resulting in severe injuries. Because of the injuries, Roanne’s sister suffered kidney failure.
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Donate Life Rose Parade Float - 2008
The increasing need for donated organs has motivated the transplant community to adopt creative techniques to inspire people to choose to be organ and tissue donors. Among such efforts, perhaps the most innovative and far-reaching is the entry of the Donate Life float in the world-famous Rose Parade, held on New Year's Day every year in Pasadena, Calif.
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Hope, Sprinkled with a Generous Dose of Humor, is How My Husband Dealt with Kidney Failure
It's no different in the world of kidney disease. Shortly before we met in 1967, my husband, Jerry, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In 1980, he began a 25-year stint on home hemodialysis (HHD). During those years, he was a model for everything positive and hopeful about living well with CKD.
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How a Firefighter Fought For His Kidney (Podcast)
After a career of 37 years in Fire Service saving other people’s lives and possessions -- Firefighter, Fire Marshall, and Chief of Emergency Services at a university-- John Garcia was locked in a battle with CKD for his own life. He didn’t have anything but flu symptoms when his doctor called up and said, “Get to the hospital, your kidneys are failing!” Listen to this latest KidneyTalk show podcast for the story of John’s heroic fight for his life, his experience with home hemodialysis, and the moving story about the roles his son and daughter played as caregiver and kidney donor. A very special KidneyTalk show!
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How to Get Involved in Your 'Network'
Have you ever had times when another patient helped you and you thought, “I want to be like that and help other patients have a better quality of life”? There is something about being a kidney patient that often causes us to see other patients as family and want to help them live healthier, happier, and longer lives. A great way to do just that is by becoming involved in your local ESRD (end-stage renal disease) Network.
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If You Could Read My Mind, Love
So many times I wish my wife could have read my mind. How much easier that would have been! Despite our closeness, despite the extraordinary number of hours spent together on my dialysis nights, despite long rambling conversations about everything and nothing, she still wasn't privy to all my thoughts.
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Just an Annoyance: Confronting the Dialysis 'Baggage'
When faced with a chronic disease, every person reacts differently. Becoming “the patient” is never as simple as lying down and gracefully submitting to whatever treatment is recommended. Entering the world of ongoing illness, we drag along a conglomeration of baggage—upbringing, past experience, relationships, culture, religion, and fears.
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Living Life as Job Did
Thomas Slater is a cancer survivor of 23 years. His mission is to share his miraculous story with those who need inspiration, motivation, and need to hear an empowering story.
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Lori's Lines "Turning Scary Emotions into Hope for a Wonderful Life"
Our emotions typically are triggered because of a fear of the unknown and how living with CKD will affect our lives and those that we love. People often become extremely emotional during times of emotional stress, and we can be happy one minute and tearful the next. If this sounds like you, the first thing to realize is that you are not alone! Research has shown the most people go through many emotional stages when they are first diagnosed with an illness. In my case, I have had CKD since I was a small child, and my lifelong journey has been heralded by many changes in both the status of my disease as well as how I deal with it emotionally.
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Mr. Right and My Left Kidney (Podcast)
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! We have a great love story for you this week! We have two shows we are airing in honor of Valentine's Day. The first one is this week's show about finding love later in life. Next week, we will find out how Sweet Life Is! Joan Saltzman, author of Mr. Right and My Left Kidney, joins Lori and Stephen on KidneyTalk to discuss the juicy details of how she met her husband John, how they fell in love over the Phillies/Toronto World Series, how John’s kidney disease played a part in their new marriage, and how she made the decision to donate a kidney to him. Everyone say, "Ahh".
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My 'I Can' Attitude Has Guided Me Through the Rough Time of Kidney Failure
I feel strongly about it and often say that "everyone has a story." This is usually followed by someone telling me how boring and mundane their lives have been. I used to be like that until I sat back and took a close look at my own life.
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My Terrific 'Normal' Life
I was born June 13, 1970 in Houston, Texas, a healthy, “normal” baby girl. At age 3, my family moved to Kenner, Louisiana, outside New Orleans. As a child, I loved sports. I played volleyball, basketball, and softball. I was best at softball. I played each summer in a neighborhood league. One of my childhood friends that I played with, Paige Weber, was the best in the league. She went on to play softball on a statewide level
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My Triumphant Journey as a Documentary Film Maker (Despite Kidney Disease)
While quickly approaching my 25th year on dialysis, I wanted to write this article to let other chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients know that there is life after renal failure. While everyone is different, a person who follows an optimal dialysis prescription, controls his or her diet, and finds time to exercise can have a pretty good life, despite CKD.
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Social Networking at the Transplant Cafe (Podcast)
Nelson Freytes went to the hospital and ended up in a coma. He awoke with a new liver. What makes this story so fascinating is he never knew he needed a transplant until he had one. Nelson wanted to connect with others and as a result created transplantcafe.com. Join us for a cup of java and hear some ways he's made his transplant work for him.
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Something For Everyone at the U.S. Transplant Games
The success of transplant athletics--specifically, the U.S. Transplant Games--has created new opportunities to demonstrate the success of transplantation and the critical need for additional donors.
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Spring Fling: Earning Your Dialysis Dollars
"Have you earned your Dialysis Dollars today?"
That was a common question heard throughout the Jane Phillips Dialysis Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. We began this motivational program for our patients in November 2006. The social worker and dietitian worked together to develop a way to involve patients in their own healthcare and well-being. Our goal was to get as many patients as possible interested in their lab work and attitude in an effort to improve their health, increase happiness, and encourage hope.
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The 'Cookie Lady'
How many cookies does it take to get from Hawaii to Denver, the site of 2004 annual Renal Support Network (RSN) National Patient Meeting? To find out the answer, we asked Marsha Hatakeyama, the official “cookie lady” and fellow member of weKAN.
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The Great Equalizer: My Life as a Kidney Kid and Beyond
There comes a time in people's lives when they face a tragedy, a life-changing moment or string of events. It is how individuals handle adversity that will truly define them. It shows the world what they are made of and what their mark on their loved ones, their community, and even the universe, will be.
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The Little Engine That Could: My Life as a Kidney Patient With Lupus
How would you describe your life? Has it turned out as you expected? Has life taught you some lessons along the way? These thoughts often cross my mind.
The diagnosis of lupus came in 1988 during my junior year of college. I was only 20. Systemic lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to go a bit haywire, harming its own cells. Lupus can attack any of the vital organs. In my case, it attacked my kidneys.
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The Miracle Continues
Throughout history the word heroism refers to people that, in the face of danger and adversity; or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice, for some greater good. Patrice Smith, a total stranger, donated a kidney to our 21-year-old daughter, liberating her after 3 years on dialysis. With pure altruism, Patrice contacted our family, persevered through the evaluation process, traveled across the US and gave a beautiful gift of love and life – giving Jenna the chance to pursue her dreams, and live the life of a normal young woman.
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The Renal Teen Prom-Part 2 (Podcast)
This is the second part of our two part series on RSN's 8th annual Renal Teen Prom. Last week we visited with the teens, guests, and volunteers. This week Lori and Stephen talk with the great celebrities who came out and lent their support to this fantastic event. The teens were excited to have the chance to mingle with the celebs and collect their autographs. The prom just wouldn't be the same without the wonderful support of the stars! The locale of the prom-Notre Dame High School-came alive with guest appearances by Sinbad, Alexa Vega, Gary Sinise, John McCook, Christy Carlson Romano, and the LA Clippers Dance team.
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Ticket to Work Program
Are you a candidate for this program? If you are a beneficiary of the Ticket to Work program, you may be eligible for hiring. The jobs available to those with disabilities are at various skill levels including entry level positions.
A Ticket to Work holder, are those beneficiaries that were issued a ticket, who would choose to assign those tickets to an employment service of their choice. The service in return would help them to find work and maintain employment. The services can include vocational rehabilitation services or other services that will help achieve the work goal.
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