Most individuals are born with a pair of kidneys. However, only one kidney is essential for maintaining a healthy life. Kidneys play a vital role in the body’s waste management system, ensuring chemical balance by filtering out waste and excess water from the blood to produce urine. Additionally, they contribute to regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, and promoting bone health.
Kidney disease ranks among the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, yet it often progresses silently with minimal warning signs and limited public awareness. Approximately 37 million adults in the U.S. are affected by chronic kidney disease, with a staggering 9 out of 10 individuals unaware of their condition.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that can lead to end-stage renal failure, accounting for about 2% of kidney failure cases annually in the U.S. Symptoms may include elevated blood pressure, flank or back pain, and abdominal swelling. Unfortunately, these signs often go unnoticed until the disease reaches an advanced stage.
Detecting kidney disease is relatively straightforward and can be conducted during a routine visit to your healthcare provider through a simple blood and urine test. While high blood pressure and diabetes are primary causes of kidney disease, inherited conditions also contribute to kidney failure. Timely intervention can help prevent kidney disease progression, reducing the risk of severe complications such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and mortality.
Protecting your kidneys involves avoiding Ibuprofen and opting for Tylenol, maintaining physical activity, managing a healthy weight, consuming kidney-friendly foods and fluids, and undergoing regular kidney function assessments. Even minor lifestyle adjustments can yield significant benefits. Once end-stage renal disease sets in, treatment options are limited to dialysis or kidney transplantation.
As someone with inherited polycystic kidney disease, I have experienced symptoms that went unrecognized until my 60s. This disorder results in the formation of cyst clusters within the kidneys, severely impairing their normal function and causing a substantial increase in kidney size. In my case, the presence of numerous cysts has led to a single kidney weighing up to 30 pounds.
PKD runs prominently in my family, affecting both my younger sisters, several cousins, and resulting in my mother’s demise due to PKD-related complications. Consequently, I am in need of a kidney transplant, having been on the transplant waiting list for over four years and undergoing dialysis for more than three years.
Currently, I undergo peritoneal dialysis seven nights a week at home, a process that involves removing waste from the blood by exchanging fluid within the abdominal cavity (peritoneal cavity). However, a rare complication last summer led to fluid leakage around my lungs, necessitating hospitalization for the removal of 2 liters of fluid. Following this incident, I temporarily transitioned to hemodialysis until my diaphragm healed, allowing me to resume peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis mandates the use of an artificial kidney machine to purify the blood for several hours multiple times a week, typically at a dialysis center. Kidney transplants can be sourced from living or deceased donors, with Pennsylvania actively advocating for organ and tissue donation due to its life-saving potential.
Despite the critical need for organ donors, thousands of patients succumb annually while awaiting a suitable organ match. By registering as an organ and tissue donor, an individual can potentially save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of 75 others through tissue donation. Notably, kidney donations from living donors exhibit significantly longer viability compared to those from deceased donors.
Given the rising demand for kidneys, individuals like myself face extended wait times for compatible donors. A donation from a living donor offers a swifter transplant process, promising a healthier, longer life free from the constraints of regular dialysis sessions. Anyone in good health can opt to become a kidney donor, irrespective of blood relation to the recipient.
The comprehensive screening process for potential donors serves to identify any underlying health issues early on, enabling timely intervention and management. Becoming a living kidney donor represents a profound act of altruism, granting the recipient the gift of life with transplanted kidneys typically lasting 15 to 20 years on average.
While the disparity between kidney demand and supply persists, with approximately 100,000 individuals awaiting a kidney transplant at any given time, raising awareness about the importance of organ donation remains crucial. By sharing information about the need for kidney donors through various platforms, individuals can potentially save lives and alleviate the suffering of those grappling with kidney disease.
For further insights into my journey and how you can contribute, please visit my website. If you are contemplating kidney donation, feel free to reach out to the living donor team at the University of Pennsylvania Kidney Transplant Institute for guidance and support. Your willingness to spread the word about kidney donation can serve as a beacon of hope for individuals like myself and the millions affected by kidney disease. Your assistance and advocacy are sincerely appreciated.