Long time no blog huh? Since joining Medichat I have also joined several kidney groups on facebook and just recently started my own group called Caregivers to loved ones on dialysis. It's an amazing feeling starting something like this group and watching it grow and seeing everyone coming together and chatting.

My mom is still continuing to do well on her weekly dialysis treatments. About a week ago after her last treatment of the week on Saturday she became extremely dizzy and fell :( luckily she did not injury herself but she was feeling crappy the whole weekend. Turned out the idiots at the dialysis center removed to much fluid at once! I just don't think these dialysis technicians and charge nurses in the dialysis centers realize just how VERY important it is they take their jobs seriously! It's not just a pay check people, you're responsible for peoples lives. 

March is Kidney Awareness Month and I post daily on my facebook Timeline about facts about kidney disease and organ donations. The general public has no clue how important it is to keep your kidneys healthy. Just a simple blood or urine test can tell you how your kidneys are doing. 

Pretty much every ethnic group in the United States was the subject of racism or ethnocentrism at one point in history. Native Americans were robbed of their land; African Americans were condemned to a life of slavery; citizens of Asian origin were rounded up during the red scare; the Irish and Italians were discriminated against; and let us not forget what citizens from Latin American origins go through today. However, most people assume nowadays that racism is going away. When I was in college I used to hear how blacks are not really discriminated against anymore. Now the focus is on Latin Americans and those who follow the Muslim religion. As I expected, that is not true, not at all. Racism is all around us poisoning our life and sometimes helping kill innocents.

A new study of more than 2,200 patients treated at the Emory Transplant Center showed that black patients with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) had a 59% lower rate of kidney transplant than whites at this southeastern center. How bad is this? Extremely bad, especially since African Americans suffer from End Stage Renal Disease disproportionately compared to other races. For example, the incidence of kidney failure in blacks is 998 per million, while in whites it is 273 per million. African Americans constitute only about 15% of the total U.S population; however, they constitute about 30% of kidney failure cases. Not only this, but African Americans also develop kidney disease at an earlier age than Caucasian, 56 years old for blacks compared to 66 for whites. So, since African Americans seem to be more prone to kidney failure, one would think that transplant rates would be proportionate to the number of cases. Yet, in the case of Emory Transplant Center, black patients have a 59% lower rate of transplant. How does this make sense? Don’t all people have the right to life? Shouldn’t all people be treated equally when it comes to life saving treatments?!

Amelia Rivera is a three-year-old girl who desperately needs a kidney to survive.  However, unlike most patients, she was denied even the chance to try and find a matching kidney. Finding a donor is not an easy job. There are always more patients waiting for a kidney than there are willing and able donors. But there is hope. After a few tests needed to find a match are done, a kidney patient is placed on a waiting list. The wait can be long and it depends or urgency, age, and other medical problems. If a willing stranger happens to match that patient, a donation is possible. If the stranger happens to also match another patient who is in more urgent need of a transplant, or higher on the list, the patient must wait for a different donor. Kidneys can also come from deceased donors.  Even while on the list the patient is encouraged to try and find a donor on his own as this can sometimes shorten the wait time.  

Many patients in need of a kidney never actually find a donor even though they are on a list. However, they still have the security that, while on the list, there are people out there who are trying to help them find a match. Amelia Rivera and her family are on their own in this battle.

Hello everyone!

My mom ended the week continuing to do awesome on her dialysis treatments. Today after her treatment, I took her and my dad grocery shopping. I am still SO amazed at the energy and determination to live and enjoy life! My mom also put up the Christmas tree and decorations inside the house this week.

My mom is on the transplant list but I am thinking of starting a social media campaign to look for a living donor for my mom.  Even though she has adjusted her life etc to being on dialysis 3x a week, I would LOVE for her to live out her golden years w/o having to be on dialysis.  

Hello everyone :)!

Been awhile since I blogged! Well first off my mom is still doing great with her dialysis treatments. With  Thanksgiving being on Thursday that of course meant it was that time of the year where my mom's schedule would change for her treatments.  She had her regular scheduled treatment on Tuesday then was to return Wednesday at 2:45pm instead of her usual 5:30am schedule.  So my mom said she wanted to skip that treatment and return on Saturday. I was concerned and didn't want her to do it but other then practically forcing her physically into the car, I let her skip and was ON her with her fluid intake and diet. When she returned for her treatment yesterday she did good. She brought in below her fluid amount that they expect and did her normal 5:30am to 9 ish treatment w/o having to stay on longer. Other then fatigue from the holidays my mom is hanging in there and doing awesome for a 75yr old on dialysis! I am SO very thankful to share Thanksgiving with my parents! It is a blessing to still have my mom in my life. 

RO

Chronic Kidney Disease, or CKD affects more than 10% of United States Citizens over the age of 20. So you’d think all citizens would be aware of the condition and all conditions that can result from having CKD. But last month one of my friends came to me and told me that in order to lose weight he is on a strict calorie counting diet and had stopped drinking water completely and only drinks coffee and soda because it helps him lose “water weight” by making him have to go to the bathroom more often. Water is vital to cleaning our kidneys and proper diet is needed to ensure good kidney function. When I heard what he said I realized many people are still unaware of their kidney health, role of the kidneys and how to avoid damaging the organs. So I started this blog in an attempt to raise awareness about CKD and maybe statements like my friend’s will never be uttered again.

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that can be found on either side of the spine. The main function of these organs is the removal of waste and excess water from the blood. Not only this, but the kidneys also produce certain hormones that have important ramifications in the welfare of the whole body. If you take medications, or drink alcohol, or even just eat junk food, the kidneys are what remove all those toxins from the body. 

Hi Everyone!

Even though I have alot of my plate with our upcoming wedding, I still took time out on Oct 1st recently to attend and participate in the 2nd annual walk to help fight kidney disease here in San Antonio, Texas. 

It wasn't a huge event but it was wonderful seeing some many people supporting the fight and spreading the word. They had a local restaurant giving samples of healthy chicken, there was also fruit, bottled water and juice available. The important part of the event to me was the free health screening that was provided to check your blood pressure, cholesterol level and your numbers on how your kidneys are doing. It was wonderful seeing so many people in line getting tested. I was also one of them. I happy to report that all my numbers were good. My blood pressure was slightly high but I was told it wasn't nothing to be worried about but make sure I get my blood pressure checked on a regular basis'.  

Well, if you would have asked me just over a year ago what I'd be doing now, I'm sure I wouldn't have said trying to survive kidney failure.

Just over a year ago, my doc sent me to a nephrologist due to the results of a 24 hour urine collection and the rest has been one crazy ride.

From Biopsy to fistula surgery x2 I have never experienced the emotional rollercoaster I've been on in my life. 
And it just gets better...lol!  I knew one day I'd face dialysis, but when the neph says, yep it's time,2 days later from that conversation, I'm on dialysis...now I've completed one week of treatment and I have to say I'm not really sure how I feel...emotionally that is...I'm not writing to cry and feel sorry for myself, but as a way for me to make sense of what is happening, how to cope and definately find the positive in this challenge.

It's hard to find the positive, and I don't have the answers, but as I journey through this I can only hope to find the positive things and not dwell on the negative...but forgive me if I slip and get a bit negative every now and then...

All of the information that is given to you, the tests, the results and trying to understand them has about done me in.  To be a better patient and survivor, I need to understand it... but hold the phone folks, I can only take so much information at one time...i'm not a spring chicken and get really confused easily... what was that, creatnine what?  how's my what? You want me to do what? 

Oh I know they try to ease you into it... first time, general info, next time social worker ( and that was interesting) next time, handbook for patients at my center, next time doc comes, changes meds, adds meds...next time... dietician?  My mind is mush... one day the light will go off and ding ding ding, I'll get it... right?

Everyone is so nice at the center, but, really I don't want to chat about how I feel with everyone in the room... oh, whisper... but then I can't hear you over the machines...

I'm not complaining, just sharing how I feel, I have much to be thankful for , I'm blessed with great insurance, a great job with folks there that support me and care...family and friends that are supportive and want to help... but I don't know what to have them help me with... one day I might know... but for now... I can only say, nothing...hopefully they will understand...

I love it when they say you look so good, doesn't she, I really thought you'd look different... lol!  What is kidney failure supposed to look like?  Oh I know, there are folks at my center that don't look healthy...and I feel for them... but sometimes, I wish I looked the part I'm playing... or just a little bit... because I feel like crapola... thanks for the opportunity to put this on "paper", it is a bit helpful... I'd welcome comments... I'll add more another day :)

Hello everyone!

Life has been super busy since September started but my mama is still doing good in her treatments..This past Saturday she got off the machine 30 minutes earlier then she normally does simply because she was ready to go home and relax for the weekend!

I had my bridal shower over the weekend and in the back of my mind I was thinking of that horrible weekend when I almost lost my mama and how despite the flaws and politics involved in dialysis treatments, I am SO happy I live in a day and age where this technology is available to my mama to choose this treatment to prolong her life. 

Hello Everyone :)

The last few weeks have been SO busy, I haven't had time to keep you all updated on my mom.  No new changes (Thank Goodness) My mom is still going to her treatments and not having any major issues. The only incident we had was two weeks ago after dialysis as always she wanted to go grocery shopping and take care of some other errands and by the end of the day she was SUPER tired to the point she was feeling light-headed. After resting for a few hours she felt better and I told her I was NEVER going to let her try and do so much again after her treatment because all it takes sometimes is one minor set back to ruin all the good progress. 

This past weekend I had a marriage preparation class to take a requirement by the catholic church before getting married that was Saturday and Sunday from 8-5 and I am so blessed and lucky that my Uncle once again stepped in and picked up my mom from her treatment on Saturday.