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KidneyTalk! Shows - 2008

PKD: It Runs in the Family
With a family history of PKD - many of her family members have not made it past their 50th birthday - Linda Oakford made two life-affecting decisions in her early 20s which actually helped her meet her husband! This is an inspirational story of courage, of selflessness, and strategizing to life’s realities while finding the silver lining. Tune in for hope and courage now.
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Posted week of November 19, 2008

Back to the Future: Returning to Old Ways of Dialysis—with Improvements, of course!
Mike Paget, who has been in the renal community for thirty years and serves as RSN Director of Operations, reminisces about dialysis and dialysis machines in 1977 in England for which he provided service and maintenance as an electrical engineer . Home hemo and overnight dialysis were the norm back then in this country with socialized medicine. Mike tells some fascinating stories about the early treatment modalities along with a description of the English version of “Universal Healthcare”—something to hear about on Election Day!
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Posted week of November 5, 2008

Avoiding the Telltale Symptoms of CKD - What’s the Cost?
Valerie Thomerson was both new on the job and finding a new home with her husband when she “just blew off all the symptoms,” she said. She had all the warning signs but no family history of disease, and, besides, the new job called for all her attention. How did a security guard save her life? Why did the triage nurse have to take her blood pressure three times before he believed the reading? Now living with a transplanted kidney from a donor at her church, Valerie’s story is both inspiring and fascinating.
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Posted week of October 22, 2008

How a Firefighter Fought for his Kidney
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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Posted week of October 8, 2008

Shedding a Light on Depression
Am I depressed? After 11 years as licensed clinical social worker and administrator of a dialysis facility, plus 5 years working for the renal network, Mark Meier has the know-how to pull away the stigma, the secrecy, and the shame of depression to reveal a treatable illness whose symptoms have been experienced by most people at one time or another. Tune into this remarkable show to learn more about depression, what causes it, why diabetes and CKD patients may be more susceptible to it, and how you can find your way back to the sunny side of the street.
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Posted week of September 24, 2008

The Heart of Kidney Disease
Nephrologist Carol DiRaimondo,  MD, gives some no-nonsense, straight-as-an-arrow talk about why it’s vitally important for people with kidney disease to take care of their heart—and how to do it. Because patients on dialysis are at a higher risk for heart disease, they will be especially empowered by this discussion. Find out what you can do to prevent heart disease or work your way towards a healthy heart in this information-packed show.
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Posted week of September 9, 2008

Hemo for Night-Owls: What One Person Discovered Two Transplants and 34 Years Post Diagnosis
A kidney patient since she was 11, Diana Headlee-Bell has had two transplants and, since her second kidney transplant rejected, has been in in-center nocturnal hemodialysis 3 nights a week for 9 years. Why she likes it and how she manages it are two of the many questions Stephen and Lori ask. This alternative therapy modality can have many benefits. Listen to the show to find out what they are and –above all– discover another hemodialysis modality!
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Posted week of August 19, 2008

What in the World is Mineral and Bone Disorder?
A Nephrology nurse since 1970, Gail Wick has seen treatment for chronic kidney disease improve considerably.  But one of the hidden side effects, happening long before kidneys fail, is secondary hyperparathyroidism, now known as Mineral and Bone Disorder.  Find out what it is and how to cope with it from an expert.
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Posted week of August 5, 2008

The Pursuit of Happiness
Sally Traore came to the United States all the way from West Africa at age 14 to get an education and pursue the American Dream.  She started to get headaches and learned that her kidneys were failing fast and would need dialysis.  Her Mom was a world away when she received the news and was grateful that her daughter could receive life saving treatment.  Listen to her inspiring story of courage and her optimistic attitude as she navigates her new life with kidney disease.
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Posted week of July 22, 2008 

Peritoneal Dialysis: What it is. How it works.
Sherai Onibasa is a peritoneal dialysis patient as well as an RSN PEPP Patient Speaker. She’ll tell you a lot about PD—how it works, how to live with it, what the advantages are—so be sure to tune in on her KidneyTalk show. Why did Sherai choose PD? Listen to this sparkling show and find out!
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Posted week of July 8, 2008

A True American Hero: The Marine with a Heart of Gold Donates his Kidney  
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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Posted week of June 24, 2008

Straight talk on the Big Three: Sodium, Phosphate, and Potassium
Do you ever feel like your food choices are too limited? Are you discouraged when the low sodium food you just discovered is high in phosphorus? Did you know that sometimes your favorite protein might have unexpectedly high salt? Gaynell Irving gives listeners some straight--very straight—talk about negotiating the fast food menu, salt substitutes, thirst, dairy products, liquids and much more. Here’s some encouragement to drive straight on the food highway.
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Posted week of June 10, 2008

Lou Grant Rides Again! in Nephrology News and Issues Magazine
Mark Neumann is the Executive Editor of NNI, a position Stephen compared to the curmudgeonly but beloved character played by Ed Asner on TV. Find out directly from Mark how you as a patient can submit an article or write a letter to the editor, get the inner scoop on Mark’s favorite topics, the recent issues he has covered and what he has learned in over 18 years on the job. Get informed! Stay informed!
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Posted week of May 27, 2008

Get Information, Get Tested, Get Hope!
Dr. Roberto Vargas works hard at preventing kidney disease, and working for the best outcomes if someone already has it. In this invaluable show, you will learn what the early warning signs of kidney disease mean, why some minority cultures are at higher risk, and the importance of getting tested, especially if there’s been kidney disease in your immediate family. Dr. Vargas holds out hope for patients not to progress to a higher stage of CKD, and even, when conditions are favorable, to regress back to an earlier stage. This is a must-listen for everybody – diagnosed or not.
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Posted week of May 13, 2008

Don't Clown Around with Kidney Disease!
Kathe LeBeau, Program Manager for RSN’s weKAN program, and a student in "Clown School," went in for gallbladder surgery only to discover that her kidneys had 50% of their function. She cancelled the surgery and began a journey of self-discovery by learning about the disease. Travel her amazing path with her and learn why Kathe opted for home hemodialysis. An exciting show that reminds us to live our lives as though we didn’t have kidney disease, but observe the guidelines!
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Posted week of April 30, 2008

KidneySchool.org: It Might Just Save Your Life!
Dori Schatell, Executive Director of the Medical Education Institute, visits KidneyTalk to talk with Lori and Stephen about the Institute’s Kidney School (www.kidneyschool.org). No, it doesn’t have a football team, and no cheerleaders (Stephen was so disappointed), but this online educational program for people with kidney disease consisting of 16 interactive modules of about 20 minutes each will tell you something that makes a difference in your life!
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Posted week of April 16, 2008

An Interfaith Kidney Transplant
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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Posted week of April 1, 2008

Dialysis Without Fear
The Offer Family went through a crisis that many kidney dialysis patients know about: going from leading a carefree, regular life one day to walking into a dialysis clinic for treatment the next. But Daniel Offer is a physician as well as a medical researcher and professor at a university. He was still shocked, as was his family, which includes his wife and his daughter. So they wrote a book together called Dialysis Without Fear to help other people going through dialysis treatments.
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Posted week of March 17, 2008

Living On Both Sides of the Knife
Can you imagine what it must be like as a transplant surgeon to undergo liver transplant surgery yourself? Probably as difficult as a doctor trying to imagine what kidney patients to go through just waiting for the results of their continual tests! Steven Woodle, M.D., transplant surgeon at the University of Cincinnati Hospitals, Department of Surgery, who “transplanted” Stephen Furst’s kidney, has been on both sides of the knife. A renowned surgeon and a leader in transplant surgery, Steve Woodle has a lot of wisdom and hope to offer those not sure about getting a kidney transplant. And just imagine what Stephen can do with this topic!
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Posted week of March 3, 2008

Keeping Dialysis Units Up to Snuff
Spending time in dialysis units is what Glenda does to help protect Patients Rights. Observations, questions and inspections insure that units meet the minimum Medicare requirements. Listen and learn what your dialysis unit should provide to YOU—and what it doesn’t. Glenda Payne has been a nurse for over 30 years and works for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as an educator and surveyor.
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Posted week of February 19, 2008

Sunny Delight!  Understanding Vitamin D
What does Vitamin D do for your body? What foods are the best source of Vitamin D? Why are so many people who have chronic kidney disease deficient in Vitamin D?  Gail DeWald who has over 24 years as a Certified Nephrology Nurse, will answer these questions.
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Posted week of February 6, 2008

How to Deal with Difficult Staff
Do you smell microwave popcorn while at dialysis? Has a nurse or technician yelled at you because of your fluid intake? Is waiting in the lobby for 30 minutes or more for your dialysis appointment acceptable? Listen to this weeks show as social worker, Ramiro Valdez, Ph.D gives advice to Lori and Stephen about how to deal with these and other situations. Learn that the staff is sometimes afraid of the patients, just as the patients are afraid of the staff.
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Posted week of January 23, 2008

A Conversation with a Nurse
Mary Houglum is the type of nurse that every dialysis patient would love to have. Her compassion and desire to be a nurse came from a night nurse she had in the hospital when she was 8 years old. This program will let you hear how she takes the time to listen to her patients to answer questions, resolve issues and explain treatments. Mary tells Lori and Stephen that it is important for the patient to be open and honest with their nurses.
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Posted week of January 9, 2008